Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
2005
Album Summary
Coles Corner is the fourth studio album from English pop/rock musician Richard Hawley, released on 5 September 2005 in the UK and on 6 September 2005 in the US. The title immortalises the legendary Sheffield landmark Coles Corner, a popular meeting place of old and new lovers. The album was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize for best album.
WikipediaWhat a cozy and snug album. I want to curl up with some hot cocoa and watch the rain while this is spinning.
What a beautiful pop record I had no idea the lead singer was the bassist from Pulp. This album just oozes a nighttime listening experience. The orchestral arrangements and guitars bring this cathartic experience dealing with relationships and breakups. I love the lyrics extremely relatable with some great songs as well. Extremely consistent album I love it. Easy 9/10 for me
It's...fine I guess? I think if it had been either a little more or a little less twee I'd have liked it a lot more, but it's not played straight enough to be good or broad enough to be fun.
not really familiar with this genre, but sounds like Arctic Monkeys got something from this (I do know they both come from sheffield and have worked together in the past)
All I had to do was look at the cover to know it was some British thing I've never heard of. This could be an exciting prospect except that it turned out to be some kind of thoroughly bland nostalgia act. Wait, can you even call it a nostalgia act when the person making the music wasn't alive during the time period they are emulating? He sounds very reverent to his inspirations and all, but he also sounds utterly boring. Not only that, but the clean modern production kind of neuters the aesthetic. And his voice just simply isn't capable of pulling off what he's trying to achieve. I'm five songs in and I really don't want to finish this...
I really like the style and vibes from this album. Love the voice and liked all the songs.
I was very surprised by this album. I’d never heard of Richard Hawley before. He sounds like someone who would perform in the Roadhouse on Twin Peaks. I also get some slight Elvis Costello vibes, especially his album with Burt Bacharach. Loved it.
I love this album. Richard Hawley is a weird one - a Big Name in British music, who will always garner critical praise and find top-notch collaborators. But as a popular act, he'll never cut through. That's probably because he's ploughing quite a lonely furrow as Britpop's own Roy Orbison / Johnny Cash revanchist. I'm glad somebody's doing it, as this is gorgeous, lovingly crafted and thick with atmosphere. Hawley shepherds the ghosts of the past with grace and charm, yet there's enough of the man himself here to prevent this being a glorified tribute act.
He didn't do himself any favors by placing the title track, which is generic blue-eyed soul, as the opener. I was ready to hate this album after the first couple of songs, but the sound matured as the album went on. A strange experience. Best track: Wading Through (The Waters of My Time)
The corner is still remembered by many Sheffielders above 30 years of age as the place to arrange to meet one's date.
Pleasant enough to listen to in the background but if you heard one song from it you've heard it all. This Aussie gives it two Caramello Koalas out of five.
unexpected. this is like "music to die slowly to".. music for an old folks home. i feel like i'm getting older listening to it. some pat boone 50's thing going on here. pretty boring... born under a bad sign has some morrissey potential in it, but otherwise forgettable.
English rock artist with a 1940's flair, almost smooth crooner meets rockabilly. Strange to see this type of album from the middle of the 2000's. That being said...needed on this list?
I'm sure somebody thinks this is well-written, well-performed music. To me, it's awfully boring.
Hawley kind of effortlessly blends elements of country, 40s-50s rock, and other bits into this album. But it doesn't feel very special or impactful for me. I'm enjoying the songs, but I'm questioning why it was included on the list? It's hard to motivate myself to listen to this one, hence the 1/5
Feels like a bland redo of those golden voice type of american singers in 2005. Why is this even on the list? It's not bad, it doesn't hurt my ears, but is boring as hell. Two songs really stand out though: Coles Corner and The Ocean are pretty good.
Album acilis ve kapanis sarkilari cok guzeldi. Bir de ocean sarkisi favorim.
Me encantó. Tiene como un mood que me gusta mucho, los arreglos, las letras y la voz. No tengo mucho que decir más que lo disfruté bastante. Sobre todo "Coles Corner", "Hotel Room" y "The Ocean", que sí me pareció maravillosa. Me gustó el cierre instrumental y pues bueno, qué bonito cuando un disco te hace sentir así. 9.5/10
Aunque lo conozco, nunca había escuchado un disco completo. Maravilloso. Mucho rockandroll 50s, onda crooner, Roy Orbinson, Lee Hazlewood, Nancy Sinatra, Harry Nilsson, Dylan. Hermoso, me hizo sentir bien, que se agradece en estos días tan oscuros.
Vraiment bon et rafraichissant, j’ai reecoutee dans lammeme journee car j’avais adore.
Sikke et lækkert album. Har den gamle fede lyd fra Frank Sinatra Robinson et virkelig Hyltebjerg album som jeg skal lytte meget mere til på nogle sene aftner
such as easy listen, i avoided it first day but it is actually very good
Jao što Richard Hawley zna kako do moga srca. Coles corner mi je definitivno na listi najdražih albuma uz Late night final.
Un'atmosfera natalizia senza il Natale, da mettersi sotto le coperte con la cioccolata calda mentre fuori nevica. Anche la seconda canzone continua sulla falsariga, anche per via della voce piena e che sembra provenire da 50 anni prima. 'Darlin' wait for me' è struggente al limite della commozione. Anche 'The Ocean' è veramente bella. Stupendo e non lo avevo mai sentito nominare! 5*
Nisan čula za Richarda, a jako mi se sviđa. Zvuči puno starije od 2005-e haha. I baš je smirujuće
Slušala san navečer i baš odgovara toj nekoj noćnoj atmosferi. Dobar đir skroz, ugodno, malo retro, sve u svemu-sviđa mi se :)
A modern, singer-songwriter interpretation of crooner music. Works better than you might expect.
holy shit, beautiful album I am obsessed with the diversity these tracks have It’s like Nick Cave meets Johnny Cash and that last song sounded like Hans Zimmer or something overall beautiful album - 10/10
Been looking forward to this. 4 at least. And 1 point for the incredible albumcover. (The building is not even fucking Coles Corner)
Nothing flashy, but sucks you in. Good easy listening with a bit of substance and chill.
12/4 Attempting to rekindle a failing marriage at a countryside hotel. Standout Tracks: Coles Corner, Hotel Room, Darlin’ Wait For Me, The Ocean, I Sleep Alone, Tonight, Last Orders
I may be biased because I like his song with the Arctic Monkeys, but Richard Hawley is cool. Chill, cool rock.
Very chill album. Started with a sorta Sinatra/Peter Cat Recording Co. style of jazzy, later transitioned to folk/county. Starting to notice a theme with this site.
At worst it sounds like watching your 75 year-old relative getting remarried, but at its best it is a gorgeously arranged chamber pop album.
Pues me sorprendió que me gustara un album de este genero musical. No sé si las letras son buenas o no, pero a mí me gustaron. Creo que las canciones que más me complacieron fueron Just like the rain y The Ocean. Mood: Cñor Sad
Really, really enjoyed this album. I was slightly familiar with Richard Hawley from Rewind the Film, but his own work is new to me. Will definitely be checking out more of it. A high 4.
Very interesting that this came shortly after the Frank Sinatra record. It's very old school, and I could see Sinatra having recorded these songs. Good songs, but a lot of them sound similar. Well-produced. Listened twice.
Production: 13/20 Songwriting: 14/20 Innovation: 11/20 Bangers: 10/20 Emotional response: 14/20 =62 Liked it
Gorgeous, gentle, quite beautiful romantic music. Very impressed. Retro, but does that matter?
- stellar recordings, - warm vibes of home, first crooner I've enjoyed - somewhat samey but some standouts (I sleep alone, last orders
Buena voz. Cantante melódico moderno. Piano. Bastante bonito el disco. Un 4 le voy a dar.
6th August 2021 Listened on my phone in the morning before we drove to Norfolk to go camping with Joe, adna and Anna Lewis! Really enjoyed this actually, it was like a cross between brit pop and old school crooning.
What a pleasant surprise. Never heard of this so immediately knew it was something British. I liked the first track but couldn't help groaning knowing this would be a consistent aesthetic choice. But the album spanned a number of genres in this old-school crooner type style and I found myself enjoying much more than I thought, especially on the back end. Some of the country-tinged tunes near the end are really excellent. I didn't expect to dig this here we are. Favorite tracks: Who's Going to Shoe Your Pretty Feet, Coles Corner, The Waters of My Time, Last Orders, Born Under a Bad Sign. Album art: The guy looks like a dweeb but doesn't love make us all look stupid? I really like the colors here. The picture isn't too remarkable but the bold yellow/orange and blue is fantastic. Definitely fits the music. 4/5
Do not listen to this if you're morose or mourning. Wow, I've never heard his solo stuff and this album convinced me I need to dig into it. I don't know how to even categorize this music.
4.0 - Well, I’ll be damned! What a pretty album this is. Ballads of longing, regret and reminiscence, sung in a rich baritone, inflected with old rockabilly/country crooning à la Cash and Orbison.
Lijkt in eerste instantie saai, maar het is naar mijn mening een sfeervol folk/country-album waar ik wel van hou. Verrassend.
he has a great smooth voice and the album feels as good as walk on the beach. Too emotional for me though.
Surprising & interesting album - wide range of styles, maybe not all that many memorable songs but definitely some classics.
This somber, longing album is quite choice for when you are in the crossover zone of romantic and depressed. Standout track is Last Orders.
Never heard him before, but was at a concert Richard Hawley headlined this summer - missed him against my wishes, so chuffed to see this pop up. A lovely, rockabilly, non-ironic album. It's great this.
Iako u trenutcima meni osobno malo dosadan, izaziva toplinu oko srca 🤗 Ne mog to opisat, ovo mi je primjer zasto ovu stranicu koristimo, jer sam nit bi otkrio nit pustio. #mellowyellow
Perfectly pleasant. Not entirely sure it belongs on the list, as the schtick is that he's perfectly and earnestly recreating the sound of a bygone era - so why not give us some of the originals this is aping? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Fave track - "Coles Corner" was a lovely opener, and "Last Orders" a lovely closer, so let's go with them....
Listened to this without knowing anything about it. Didn't even look at the year. It felt like it was 50s or 60s. Surprised it was 2005. I liked it a lot. Soothing, comfortable.
It’s a sweet sounding album, very nostalgic crooner ballads but with a captivating modern beauty. 4/5 - Perfect background music on a Sunday morning
Low key and soulful and pleasant. Not at all what I expected when I saw the listed genre as "Britpop"
These tracks are so beautiful and epic, I especially loved "Born Under a Bad Sign". It had incredible instrumentation and, like the other tracks on here, the vocals were quite nice!
A nice, sweet, romantic album with a medley of musical influences. Hawley's got a great voice and a nice assortment of lyrics that make this a joy of an album to listen to.
This sounds just like a Jim Reeves album. A man, his guitar, and his feelings. This is slow, mellow music that works best if you have someone by your side. Heat up some chocolate, turn the volume up and bring your partner close. Beautiful and simple. Favorite tracks: Born under a bad sign, Ocean, Tonight.
7/10 cheesy and over the top at times but pretty relaxing and enjoyable :)
The description of this album was perfect. A short is Coles Corner wraps itself in the dreams of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Scott Walker and Lee Hazelwood. With a baritone perpetually in anguish over broken love, dead love, bittersweet love ( anything other than happy love), Richard Hawley, like Chris Isaak, shifts to past decades without resorting to complete nostalgia. He lets the strings engulf him, the piano sway him, and thee ballads play him. I wish these were my words but they are how I felt about this listen. Perfect for a rainy night or a overcast day.
i would never have guessed it would sound like it does, having read the wikipedia page first. He is a crooner, with a great voice and cool style, almost out of a different era. great to relax to on a sunny afternoon. i would come back for more, not normally my style of music though.
A charming collection of songs. It’s nostalgic tone awakes the empathy on the listener. I did not have this on my radar, but now, it belongs to my Nick Cave-like playlist.
Beautiful record. Used to listen to this frequently but have no given it much thought over the recent years Lovely cosy sound. It relaxes me
Really liked this album ...from Title track, to Hotel Room, The Ocean, Tonight and Last Orders...A couple of these tracks feel throwback enough that Tarantino would try to hip them up in Pulp Fiction 2: The Pulpening
"Coles Corner" is a lovingly retro record from Richard Hawley- the whole set oozes class, elegance and heartache. Named after a popular meeting place for dates in Hawley's (and my) native Sheffield, the album concerns itself primarily with love lost and found, with a series of ballads in Hawley’s baritone croon. It's not for everyone, presumably even less so back in 2005: it's certainly a far cry from the cheeky-chappy, Britpoppy take on Sheffield's nightlife immortalised by Pulp or early Arctic Monkeys. Instead, “Coles Corner” is a grand and stately affair, with tempos and arrangements running through treacle and lyrics softened almost into total cliche. But it is very listenable, and often dazzling in its simplicity. It's surprising that tracks like "Just Like the Rain", "I Sleep Alone” and "Wading Through The Waters of My Time" were conceived with the album, and aren’t old standards. They sound like Hawley picked them out of a dusty old songbook from a distant and forgotten history, fitting right in alongside the only traditional offering “Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet”. Sometimes a little bit country, sometimes more folksy… all with a 50's crooner delivery. Musically, it’s given a tasteful modern update by crisp, full-bodied production and gorgeous guitar work. Listen to the slide in "Hotel Room", the counter-melody in the "Born Under a Bad Sign" chorus, and the chordal accompaniment running through “Darlin’ Wait For Me”. From the rest of the tracks, “Coles Corner” is the most romantic, absolutely aching with strings. “The Ocean" is the most climactic, reaching a stunning crescendo in its last couple of minutes. And "Last Orders" is the most atmospheric, sounding like the final piano drifting through the haze at the end of the world. I've listened many times walking home on a very late night and it has always fit perfectly… almost pure magic.
From pleasant start to ghostly end, Richard Hawley takes the listener through trips of life in Sheffield in Coles Corner. What sticks out is the numerous nods made towards the pre-Sixties era of music such as traditional pop and country and it keeps the album interesting from beginning to end. Do not ignore this collection. Favorites: Coles Corner, Just Like the Rain, The Ocean, I Sleep Alone, Tonight, (Wading Through) The Waters of Times, Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Feet?, Last Orders.
I started off thinking that this was yet another boring album that’s on here for some historical or music critic reason but by the end I was totally on board. The vocals are basically nick cave from the boatman’s call mixed with frank Sinatra but the production is on a whole other level of mixing genres and it’s all really beautiful sounding
no es mi estilo de musica pero me senti comodo escuchando, buena letra relajante me gusto mucho el album
Trodde inte jag skulle gilla det här men det var bra? iofs är det ju han från pulp så, inte så big av en surprise ändå.
If Johnny Cash grew up in the suburbs playing the piano. This album sounds like what a movie would have in the soundtrack for a character's dinner date, but in a good way. It conveys a story, is suitable for most audiences, and reminds me a bit of BCNR.
Richard Hawley brings a beautiful raw performance to this quietly calm piece of pop-indie. His voice at points is touching and feels honesty with the intentions he’s bringing
This album really grew on me. On my first listen I found it too slow and it took me awhile to get through it but by the closing track it started to come together for me. After that, each listen got better and by my third time through the album had won me over.
Mjög ljúfur og stundum angurvær hljóðheimur. Hann grípur mig ekki föstum tökum en það er eitthvað heillandi þarna og ég gæti vel hlustað á þetta aftur. Ég er enginn stóraðdáandi svona baritóna, en Hawley sleppur fyrir horn. Jájá, fínt.
Usually I'm all in on melancholic music, but you have to be in a very specific mood, to thoroughly appreciate it. I wasn't in that mood during my first listening and as a result the whole album just slowly disappeared somewhere in the background, without me noticing anything special about it. Fortunately, by a coincidence, I gave it another chance, late at night, with a glass of wine for company - and the reception was so so much better. Richard creates an amazing atmosphere around his songs; you can feel as you moved in time 50 years and enjoy a full moon with a loved one on a bench in a park. It also helps, that Richard's voice is so soft and charming, that he slowly hypnotizing you into submisson to this album. As for my favourite song, I think I actually have to choose the first song on the album - titular 'Coles Corner'. The song is slightly different from the rest of the record - even more melancholic, perfect cooperation of violin and sadness in Hawley's voice, makes it the best song on this album. I was ready to quickly dismiss this album as just 'another boring work', but I am so lucky to give it a second chance. Really great album!
Repeated references to this as “retro,” which seems a little off to me - more a factor of this being difficult to define, genre-wise. Wikipedia calls it art- and chamber- pop, but it’s country elements are as strong as the pop, along with a heavy vibe of singer-and-band, which (for all that’s its most iconic stars are of an earlier era) never went away, so is it really retro? Whatever the case, I liked it, and it’s ambiguous but decidedly gentle style was a nice change of pace.
A strange album in that the music is clearly a couple of decades older than the album. It sounds like the soundtrack to a couple generic but wholesome movie classics. Definitely comforting background music. Hard to see it as more than that - but sometimes that's enough.
Morrissey would kill to put out something like this, but with more racism.
Jazzoso, vocerrón y unas composiciones arrechísimas. Me dejó queriendo escuchar el resto de la discografía.
This was super pleasant to listen to. Hard to believe it’s from 2005, it sounded decades older.
I can see what the fuss is about now. Lovely voice. Ditto songs. I can hear the ghost of Johnny Cash in a few.
Interesting album. The Ocean in particular is amazing. The album loses steam later on though.
Starts off a bit drab, but settles cleanly into a kind of groove as it meanders through a few styles. By the time I got to The Ocean I was certain that I had heard the song before, though I can find no record of that happening. Builds, or rather cruises, to the end, capping off a smooth fifty minutes. This is perfect music to slot into a day, though I'm not sure the album is dynamic enough to draw one back for an active listen.
Quite soft and slow, but actually not that bad. Good combination of different genres.
The album sound like crooner music. It is pleasant to listen to. I was surprised by the 'recent' release date.
Mit dem ersten Song hat er mich total abgeholt, mit dem letzten wunderbar wieder rausgleiten lassen, da steuerte ich schon auf eine 4. Dazwischen war mir dann aber zu wenig Variation und zu viel Johnny Cash, und das lag dann nur bei einer zwei. Insgesamt: macht das: 2,5
Ein Mann wie Whisky. Nicht immer aber in gewissen Stunden genau richtig. 3.4
It was a surprise back in the mid 00s, such a rara avis in that musical landscape. I always preferred his posterior Ladies' Bridge, but The Ocean is such a beautiful song
was always going to be a 3, fairly nice songs and voice but instantly forgettable
This was close to a 4, but a few songs near the end brought this down a bit for me. Still a big fan of this - its very somber and croony, but I like how it feels way older than it is Liked: Coles Corner, The Ocean
sacre intro, sinon sympa sans grand renversement de situation, 3/5 vu qu'il y a pas 3.5
Really easy to listen but nothing outstanding. Might return to it one day.
Was very easy listening. Inoffensive - I liked some bits but it was very easy to tune out of.
Fantastic production and a great voice, however, I felt like there was not much sonic variation and many of the songs blandly waltzed along. Nice dinner party background music.
Leonard Cohen-ish, Perry Como-ish, Roy Rogers-ish, lounge singer-ish. That probably sounds worse than I mean it to. It’s not sleazy or anything, just kinda beige. Bland. Nondescript. Perfectly inoffensive, but challenges the listener not at all. Still, there’s something comforting about it, like eating a cupcake or snuggling a teddy bear or slipping on your favorite pajamas and staying in bed all day. There’s value in that. Also, holy crap! This album is from 2005! I would’ve guessed 1958.
Thoroughly enjoyed. Born under a bad sign is my favourite off the album.
Top 3 1. (1) Coles Corner 2. (3) Hotel Room 3. (5) The Ocean Bonus: (11) Last Orders
A lot more interesting in context with what Cole's Corner is, and to me paints a lonely guy who just can't seem to find the love he's looking for. Not my type of music, maybe too slow for me, but the album was good. Its lyrics definitely stand out more than the music for me, except for the title track where the music stands out just as much
All of this guys songs sound like they are the song that plays at the end of the movie as the credits roll. I'm not sure why this came out in 2005 or who this guy is but I liked Ocean. He almost is like a knock off Johnny Cash in a way. And so he is just waiting outside at his own concert for someone to show up and they aren't showing up? Kind a sad.
this one's easier to be objective about, since i'd never heard of him at all, despite pretty clearly remembering being alive when it was released. it was an interesting mix of tracks i did not care for one bit, and a couple i found really nice. great voice, and of course the one standout track for me was the one that got the least play on that album (according to spotify) - which tells me i probably don't really like his overall style that much. but I Sleep Alone was a great one, just sayin'.
This was pretty good, but I had had enough by half way through. It was rather samey
Ik vind het wel lekkere muziek. Leuke melodieën met een aangename stem. Mijn favoriet is "Just Like the Rain". ***
First half is like really dark, and almost kinda boring? It sounds like death, not the band but actual dying. Coudln't explain why I felt that way, I could just feel myself slowly aging as it went on. Second half I liked a lore more. I felt like a good amiunt of the music gained a new sort of personality vs. just the sound of slowly dying to alcoholism and cigarettes'.
Looking at the track list I see songs named "The Ocean" and "Born Under a Bad Sign", so of course I'm thinking Led Zeppelin and Cream covers. Turns out not to be the case. In fact, couldn't be much different from those two bands. Pleasant enough, but not really my thing. 3 stars.
Mellow to the point I forgot I was listening to music. 3 listens of the album with the same drifting off each time. Happy to know that this album was made in the mid-2000's, fully respect people that just disregard current musical trends and just make the music they want to make.
It's always weird hearing this kinda oldies-style music coming from someone way after, in this case 2005. I can never really get it out of my head that it's all a big gag, some ironic hipster thing. This honestly doesn't sound bad, but again: how on earth is this something I needed to hear before I die? Or more to the point, why are the only albums in this style i've had so far been by this guy and fucking Morrisey? About the closest thing otherwise has been maybe Johnny Cash, and even then it's still miles off. I'm over 400 albums in; surely there could have been some kind of original crooner-type in there by now. 3/5 cause it's honestly not a bad listen. Biggest criticism is that it's a bit boring. At 45min he doesn't really break any of my album length rules, but it doesn't mix it up at all.
Mislim da bi mi baš više pasao album, bio je dobar dok sam ga slušao, ali sam zaspao. Tak mi je reko Ivan da si ga pustim taman navečer jer tad paše. Dao bi 4 možda da sam stigo do kraja.
Melancholic, dreamy, smooth, and a tad boring to be honest. Seems influenced by singers like Elvis and Johnny Cash.
Solid album - I had listened to it a few times when it was released and now I again. It is quite pleasant and I may listen to it again in the future, as with so many records: not clear why is in the 1001-list.
A modern 50's pop rock n roll album. Coherent and excellent production, which hides any dud tracks, except for the country ones at the end to which you take notice. Several really great tracks. I like albums where everyone has a different favorite track. Not a fan of the songwriting, which seems like a big component, but there's a lot of other things to like here. Favorites: Darlin Wait For Me, The Ocean, Born Under A Bad Sign, Tonight
I have never heard of this man before in my life. But hear me out, he sounds like a mixture of Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, and Elvis. He has a great sound. Makes you want to sit down with a nice whiskey and with about your existence