Coles Corner

Enjoyed this ride just enough

Maybe I’m overthinking it but I’m confused as to wtf this is

This has the same old pop sensibilities as something like The Smiths does. Like older Post-Punk band also did in a way and that's seldom felt now I think. Although it doesn't go through the same alternative lense as the former, it doesn't feel forced like some modern throwback band can feel. It has that Roy Orbison, proto-twin peaks melancholy and the songs are just good, that's it really.

may sound weird, but it seemed to me the type of songs that would play on the radio in fallout LOL. the songs were beautiful, country-like with richard’s buttery voice and sad lyrics. good album

Baffling inclusion #5 This is from 2005, so it’s certainly from the 1001 albums extension to 1089. The same rule applies to others though- if people aren’t talking about your album 10, 20 years later- is it a classic? Is it worth inclusion? I suppose what Richard Hawley does here is novel, if old fashioned this is essentially a crooner album in the vein of Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin that would have been more at home in the 40s or 50s than 2005. It’s not bad, but it’s not worthy. ⭐️⭐️

I listened to this album last night, a bit tipsy, and was planning to give it two stars. I didn't hate it but I just didn't get it. But then I listened again today and I liked it more. Maybe I need to give these albums more than one listen? Nobody needs to hear this before they die, but this was OK. I likened him to sort of a male Amy Winehouse? Like an old-fashioned crooner who was just born too late.

This reminds me if the latest couple of Arctic Monkeys albums, which isn't really a good thing. Every song here is just soooooo slow and melodramatic. This is easy listen music for a new generation and it is fine at best. Low 3.

4.5

Delightful old-school pop. Not the best Richard Hawley album though. 4 stars

Based on his work as a Britpop guitarist, I didn't really expect Richard Hawley to churn out this Roy Orbisonesque album, but it's cool. "The Ocean" is the obvious highlight, but I think there's plenty of cool stuff here, and I really like when Hawley dips his toes in that rockabilly sound. "(Wading Through) The Waters of My Time", "Darlin' Wait for Me" and "Who's Going to Shoe Your Pretty Feet" are all cool. 4 stars.

Not my favourite type of singer. Bit crusty and dull. Very Richard Snorely. But the arrangements are often pretty nice and splendid, particularly on the grand sweeping high watermark that is The Ocean. You can see how The Arctic Monkeys were inspired to use this as a template on their boring turn of direction with Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. For some reason the last few songs get really sparse and cobwebby and fall off a drab cliff. Old King Cole turned out to be a dreary old soul and his corner could have done with some clipping.

3.5

When I first moved to Sheffield in 1984 I was puzzled by hearing people arrange to meet up on Coles Corner. The iconic Cole Brothers department store was then a modernist glass and concrete structure in Barkers Pool, but I soon found out that the original grand building was on Fargate opposite the Cathedral, with the famous doorway where you could shelter from the rain whilst waiting (hopefully) for your date to turn up on a Friday night. Even though the original signs had been taken down in 1963, the name persisted in local memory. Richard Hawley is also something of a Sheffield legend. He formed several bands, including the Longpigs, as well as playing bass with Pulp for a while, and remains a stalwart of the Sheffield music scene, as a solo-artist, session musician, producer and inspiration for many other people. He’s also a supporter and regular feature of the famous Sheffield Tramlines festival. This album also harks back to the sixties with echoes of crooners like Matt Monroe and Roy Orbison, and nods to a country sound in places (where country is definitely of the Yorkshire variety). These songs are timeless, singing of heartache and longing, especially on the title track where he is hoping that maybe he’ll meet someone with a smile and a flower in her hair on Coles Corner. Steel-city-tastic!

405/1089 there’s a bit of leonard cohen in his voice i feel? though the songs aren’t on that level imo The Ocean is the first song i’ve properly resonated with, he sounds great there and the instrumental sounds fresh and classy, the strings especially omg kinda love that it ended on an instrumental track Overall i liked it but didn’t connect to a lot faves: The Ocean, Last Orders 44/100

Boring and pretty much one-note. There was nothing here that interested me.

Very different. Sounded like something from the 1950's, early '60s. Crowning, folksy. But not my cup of tea.

Not much to hear here. Very nice voice. Decent songwriting. He's a crooner. This feels like the kind of album that gets put on a list because 1001 albums is A LOT.

I don’t want more man with guitar please give me something else I just can’t, I did like the ocean and lowkey last orders was good ambient noise

born under a bad sign was randomly my top song of 2023. but the album was underwhelming :/ a little too slow and boring but I do like his voice quite a bit and this could be very pretty background noise (especially the last song)

Wasn’t anything super special but I fucked with the vibe. Beginning of the album was stronger than the end

dreamy and fine overall, very slow and soft. Not something I'd ever really revisit but I can see if this is someone's jam

I enjoyed but would not relisten, did not do much new or exceptionally well.

every time I start to feel like this list is failing me, something endearing or wonderful to me comes along and hooks me back in - thanks, Richard - glad this came to me on a rainy Sunday

I thought this was just gorgeous, delightfully retro with a modern sensibility, which still felt authentic. It made me feel things fr fr

Parts were ok but overall it was too mellow for me in the places I didn't want it to be

Tell you what man, this was pretty nice. By definition, I think it's supposed to be. "Singer-songwriter," "easy-listening," etc. Whatever. Great little car album, and one that will probably get relegated to the camp of randomly showing back up on my liked songs playlist and briefly thinking "oh yeah, that album. I think I enjoyed that." Fave tracks: - Coles Corner - Just Like the Rain - Hotel Room - The Ocean - (Wading Through) The Waters of My Time

Who is this for? Genuinely! Drunken lounge-singer slogfest stuff. Go home, Hawley, the bar is closed.

I love this album, particularly the piano bits

Wouldn't mind living in Sheffield

One of my favourite albums of all time. This is desert island disc material. 6 stars if I could give it. When the arctic monkeys won the mercury music prize, Alex Turner (fellow Sheffieldian) said: Somebody call the police because we stole Richard Hawley's prize. Of course Arctic Monkeys are great, but this piece is a standalone beauty. 7 stars if I could give it.

What in the name of lounge singing is this shit? I *had* to listen to this before I died? Exactly why, may I ask?

It's alright. Very lowkey which makes it good to listen to late at night, which is a common time for me because I work overnights. Unfortunately some of its tracks skew too close to country for me so it won't be entering rotation.

2.5/5 has a couple good spots but then loses me towards the end. Coles Corner 7.5 good slow jazzy tune. Just Like the Rain 6.5 more up tempo folky Hotel Room 6.5 slow 50's kinda style song Darlin' Wait for Me 6 good but similar to the previous. The Ocean 6 its starting to sound a little similar. Born Under a Bad Sign 5 not noteworthy I Sleep Alone 6 thankfully a little more uptempo and energetic on this. Tonight 4.5 about ready to go to bed from this one. (Wading Through) The Waters of My Time 7 country almost twangy. Nice slide guitar bit at the end. Who's Going to Shoe Your Pretty Feet snoozefest 4.5 Last Orders 5 kinda good kinda dookie

There's some nice sounding stuff on here but it's overall a little too slow, a little too country, and a little too nostalgic for a musical era I don't care about.

Fínasta sunnudagsplata

Þetta var bara flott næs, ef það meikar sens.

Wow this album is very impressive and beautiful. I will concede that a good half of the album was alittle to slow to truly capture my imagination. But the songs on this album that do grab me are AMAZING. The instrumentation is just breathtaking! Like was this guy writing an Oscar worthy soundtrack?! There’s so much depth and weight to the music. It sort of highlights the weakest aspect of the album which is just the vocals. Don’t get me wrong his vocals are far from being subpar. It’s just the grandeur of the music really begs for someone to conquer and over power them, but Richard Hawley doesn’t quite have those kind of pipes. I do, however, really love his delivery. It’s restrained and accommodating to let the music take front and center, which is definitely the correct decision when you can’t belt out wild notes to overcome the music. I’d really love to hear somebody cover this album like (and I know how silly this sounds it’s just the first person I thought of that could handle the weight of this music) Dusty Springfield, or even an Amy Winehouse. Some one with wildly impressive vocal skills. That being said I was really wondering over by this album, it’s just so endearing and pleasant. I just can’t overstate how great the instrumentals are on this album. My favorite tracks were “Cole’s corner, “the ocean”, “hotel room”, “the waters of my time” and I even liked the country song “I sleep alone”. My final comment is that is album also manages to bring in a healthy amount of variety, which I always find very refreshing. Could’ve used alittle more humor for my personal taste though.

если долго писать в эфир что не хватает поющих мужчин - вселенная подгоняет крунеров, отлично) приятный, послушаю потом ещё, но в моменте не ухватила

1 beautiful song and a couple of good ones, but overall, boring. Only giving 3 stars because I really liked Coles Corner

What is this like old country? Nah

Kinda slow, but I fucks with it. Great voice

Had to listen again 😭😭

Boring christmasmusic

A bit too country for me but he does have a nice voice.

The best song I heard from this guy shuffled in after this actual album finished. He sounds very familiar, but less engaging than any of the artists I would compare him to.

4.5

I don't particularly HATE any song on here but by the end of the record, I was sick of crooning ballad-y pop crooners. His voice is good, the music is done well... its fine and all but it's not really anything I want to hear again.

What in the name of bland-ass muzak is this. Yikes. Someone probably enjoys this, good for them, keep them out of my listening space.

Richard is rich in uhhhhh voice idk i am eepy

Day943 - a modern day crooner is a fun choice

Lovely but unlikely to get another listen

Chill, agradable

Not what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed his voice.

I did not think that I would enjoy this when the crooning started but this really was a fantastically enjoyable listen. Calm, beautifully composed with simple but affecting songwriting with a whole lot of heart and tenderness. Highlights from first listen include Hotel Room, The Ocean, Born Under a Bad Sign and Who's going to shoe your pretty feet

кьют, пару песен понравилось, но в целом не мое

Wasn't sure what to expect here but turned out to be interesting. High 2s

A decent album with a very sombre feel. I really liked "The Ocean", but the other tracks were mostly forgettable. Not hugely my genre of music and feel this could've been left off the list even though I enjoyed it overall.

Very nice, not my thing

This was out of time in 2005, and still feels that way. I always found it thoroughly lovely, and it's a real pleasure to return to it. There's the Scott Walker influence, of course, but through the lens of a particularly northern melancholy. 4.5*

I like this. With time, maybe we could even have a thing.

It's all very well done, but this type of throwback pre-Beatles pop music is not my cup of tea.

Solid stuff. I liked it.

Nice album. The music all sounds hauntingly familiar, even though it’s my first time hearing them.

I thought that The Ocean was fine, but outside of that I mostly was just super bored. I caught myself nearly falling asleep at one point. Couldn't get through the whole thing, bailed near the end.

meh, not my type

Kind of jazzy and nice, not bad.

Sleepy, gentle, a little twangy (new age folk), nice instrumentals, but didn't stand out as anything special. I'd had enough by the end, though - really droned on.

How is a 50s crooner throwback essential? Not bad, just derivative and sleepy.

It wasn’t bad. Not sure that it’s a “must listen”.

I probably gave myself a 2% chance of even making it through this album when I looked at it. Listened and really loved it. Very diverse and relaxing.

ich weiß nicht es war schon bisschen langweilig und hat mich nicht abgeholt mag denke ich seine stimme vor allem auch nicht soo fav tracks: wading through the waters of my time

Cool and diferent actually enjoyed something more relaxing. A little too long songs and the intros were long silence in a few song so that took away a bit for me

Hank Williams JR. Kind of country

The album opens with lush strings in the style of Frank Sinatra. That mood persists; the music breathes the tradition of the last seven decades, the singer possesses a magnificent voice, and the backing music is pure retro. It covers the whole spectrum: early rock 'n' roll and rockabilly, country, a dash of pop, jazz, and blues all take turns—all carried by a voice that is truly something special in this day and age. I think Richard Hawley really took a bold step back in 2005. He creates an atmosphere of intimacy that is completely free of kitsch. Even though the music sounds old-fashioned, for those of us who are a bit older, it feels incredibly familiar—and simply beautiful. How did I manage to overlook this record? Perhaps this series isn't so bad after all.

Coles corner - 3 Just like the rain - 3 Hotel room - 3 Darlin' wait for me - 3 The ocean - 3 Born under a bad sign - 3 I sleep alone - 4 Tonight - 3 (Wading through) the waters of my time - 3 Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet? - 3 Last orders - 3

Feels like this is from the 50s.

Reminds me a bit of Murder by Death.

#189/1001 🇬🇧 Alex Turner: "Somebody call 999, Richard Hawley's been robbed!" Mercury Music Award 2006. Best Tracks: Coles Corner, The Ocean, Born Under A Bad Sign, Hotel Room.

Cool, in every sense

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I had never heard of Richard Hawley before and wasn’t expecting much. This album is filled with really beautiful instrumentation and arrangement. The ocean was probably my favorite off this album, really nice melodies and lyrics. He does have a really nice voice that’s easy to listen to as well. Very happy with this one :)

Boring

I don't wish to sound harsh, I do actually respect Richard Hawley for doing his thing and I won't deny these are very well written and well performed songs. I feel like a lot of folks find something unique and appealing from this kind of music. It is a just a little boring and old fashioned for me. But I appreciate that at least he is doing something different. The closing track, last orders, is a nice piece of music. 3/5

Wow, en cuntry-plate som jeg ikke bare likte, men likte svært godt? Nå er det bare delvis cuntry og låtene som låt mest som Johnny Cash var også de jeg likte minst, men sånn på det hele er jeg utrolig positiv. Dette er noen jeg aldri har hørt om og sannsynligvis noe jeg aldri ville hørt på utenom et prosjekt som dette. Om det veier opp for all driten? Kanskje. The Ocean er et transcendentalt mesterverk. Jeg kan også høre litt Scott Walker, men tenker mer på Destroyer.

Mye fint her, altså. Er noe litt croonersk og Scott Walker over det hele. Minner meg også litt om Tranquility Base av Arctic Monkeys. Selv om det høres fint ut så syns jeg ikke låtene er helt med soundet.

Very much a pop album.

Bluesy and mellow. I would listen in the winter near a warm fireplace

I enjoyed some of these songs to an extent, but found the album on the whole to be a bit too sleepy and a bit too croon-y.

Never heard of him or this album. He looks like a guy who's about to get stood up, he sounds like a guy who would've died of old age in the 90's. This is music from the late 50's, early 60's (to fit his look) and doesn't break any new ground. Heavy on strings I should have fucking known, he's from Sheffield upon Avon from the Spotted Dick neighborhood and lives on Leicester Avenue above the Custard Pot Pub in the UK. God damn this list is so slanted for random Brit albums that never made a dent in the US. He must have an audience of elderly Brits who learned Spotify from their grandkids cause he has 26M listens of "The Ocean". Boring ass song. There's a Disc Two on the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, gee thanks! Flat vocal, boring music from start to finish, didn't move the needle or offer anything that hasn't already been done, no hits (in the US), zero influence, and a complete unknown. 2 stars, it's listenable but has no place in the Top 1001. If you are looking for an album to help you sleep, you're in luck!

Que algum maravilhoso! Vocais e arranjos instrumentais são deliciosos. Parece o que Mark lanegan e Johnny cash fariam em uma fusão. QoA Adonis New.

Um punhado de canções com interpretações à moda antiga, algumas de inclinação country. Disco Fraco!

This was very pleasant with some great lyrics and vibe.

This was totally lovely. I think if I had heard it at the wrong time I would have written it off as boring, but listening to this on a summer evening while cooking dinner, I completely melted into the vibe. It's so laid back and romantic in an old-fashioned way, but without being stuffy. The singer's voice is beautiful. The album is very reminiscent of Willie Nelson's Stardust in feel

I ended up liking this album more as I got deeper into it. The first few songs I found boring, but then I liked it more as it went on.

This is a hard album to appreciate after Rage! Sleepy at best

Elvis Costello-ish surf rock

Lovely album. It has the crooner style without sounding dated.

Album #214 Richard Hawley Despite being a Britpop fanatic and often hearing tales of the Longpigs, I have to admit that I’ve been completely put off checking out the band because their name just fills me with a visceral disgust. I’m sure they're great, and one day I will listen to them, but for now I’ll have to settle with listening to their much more digestible-named frontman, Richard Hawley. This may just be internal bias, but I feel like there was a baroque renaissance in Britain in the 2000s, with seemingly everybody realizing that there was a vacant slot open in the Scott Walker department, since Scott himself had long abandoned the sophisticated ballad and moved on to creating nightmare tunes. Richard Hawley’s Coles Corner blends the pomp and circumstance of baroque pop with the vulnerability and minimalism of country to create a really interesting album. The first half is completely grand and encompassing, pulling you into its world with its imagery and suffocating you with its sound, whereas the second half is far more stripped back and acoustic, giving you so much space to breathe that you almost lose track of the music. I will say that I preferred the first half, as I found it to be quite enchanting, and though the second half remained entrancing, it had a little less for me to pick up on first listen. That being said, I can only really conjure up positive feelings about this album, and I’m pretty sure that it will continue to endear itself to me upon further listens. Best Songs: The Ocean, Coles Corner, Hotel Room Worst Song: Who’s Going to Shoe Your Pretty Feet Score out of 10: 8

Well I had never heard of this before and I feel the less for it. Divine.

Smooth

Slow lounge vibes

Que finura! Dejara de ser inglés el camarada :D

Cozy

This is #day703 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… lately I've been feeling like I'm on a streak of inessential albums. Like, help me understand what makes this particular entry so significant that I'd somehow be missing out without it. Haven't we heard this all before? I'm getting weary of selections like this. Oh well, at least I learned the singer was a member of Pulp and Longpigs. Otherwise, this is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day704.

I’m digging what he’s laying down.

Like scott walker's less interesting cousin

Ok

What a weird, cosy, retro surprise. I liked it a lot.

Idk it’s decent I guess. I this he’s got a good voice but it kinda had the same problem as the divine comedy there’s something kinda offputting.

It's a pretty 50's pastiche from a singer with a lovely voice. It isn't really anything more than that, but it is a perfectly nice listen.

Nice, slow, relaxing album, with one outstanding song (The Ocean), but overall not very interesting.

I had to listen to this twice, the first time I was really underwhelmed and could not figure out why it was on this list. The second listen was much more enjoyable, I knew the vibe going in and wasnt trying to second guess. I just relaxed and floated along with smooth jazzy crooner type of vibe. beautiful and almost sensual

C'est pas particulièrement mauvais mais j'ai un peu l'impression d'entendre un album de soft rock aux influences country et folk parmi tant d'autres. Pourquoi pas lui laisser une deuxième chance.

Lento, pesado, buen arreglo de instrumentos. La voz del cantante me cansó demasiado rápido. Tienen sus momentos peak que terminan demasiado rápido. Repetitivo. The Ocean la rompe, be careful.

The title track was really good, the rest seemed like a kind of odd mishmash of 40-50 year old genres done decently.

Just OK. Pleasant enough voice, but the album is fairly boring. The closing song, a longish instrumental, is fairly tedious. I would probably like this if this guy was one of “my guys“, but alas, he is not.

I hate this nostalgic cosplay crap.

Good palette cleanser after yesterday's Slits album. Mostly not really wowing me, but a couple tracks here and there are really good. Kinda got a slight Leonard Cohen/Johnny Cash thing going on with a few of the cuts. Definitely falling into that "I'm too American to understand why this is on the list" category for me though. But I don't really begrudge the pick. It's a solid album.

I had to double-check the date. This released in 2005? Why is it influential? This is digging up old rock n' roll and country and necromancing the shit out of it. It -works-, don't get me wrong. Hawley has pleasant, relaxing vocals, and the album lulls you into a state of tranquility. But come on.

Competently performed but only relevant because some old people who refuse to let go of the past think this deserved to win the mercury prize over *checks notes* arctic monkeys... I am not an arctic monkeys fan at all but, seriously? In what world? If this album were released 50 years earlier it would be praised for its slick production, but the songwriting is simply nostalgic tribalism.

3.75 nice discovery.

Named after a local street corner where couples would meet for a first date, this record from the Britpop bit player sounds like an old man looking back on his life. Boasting a vintage feel that sounds very reminiscent of crooner records from the fifties, Hawley does the style remarkably well and adds some pizzazz to it to stop it feeling like a complete nostalgia act. As "The Ocean" reaches its soaring conclusion, Hawley adds some modern guitar parts that makes the song sound contemporary. Some songs do blend into each other, but there is enough variety to keep me interested. "(Wading Through) The Waters Of My Time" sounds like an old country western song that Elvis could have sung and the album wraps up with" Last Orders", which is an instrumental ambient piece that wraps up the album perfectly. Hawley has a voice that feels out of time and his music makes me feel nostalgic for a time that I wasn't around for.

From Turbonegro to this? Oh, you’re a funny guy, but this will not sit. Die scum! Sorry… I’m still in the Apocalypse Dudes mood.

Really? This was nominated for a Mercury? This? Do I not understand? Last Orders saves this from being completely worthless for me.

Utterly gorgeous. Sounds like the love child of Pulp and the Divine Comedy if they grew up in the 50s.

There's nothing particularly bad about this, I just don't need Roy Orbison style baritone ballads about broken hearts and lost/missed/failed love.

I listened to most of this on my headphones and really didn’t like it. But I didn’t rate it at the time so I felt I had to listen again before commenting. This time I had it on my speakers in my office while I did other things. Listening much less closely I liked it a little better. I don’t know what that means. Not really bad just not my thing?🤷‍♂️

For those who have been waiting for decades for Nick Lowe to turn his charming but limited vocal powers to the project of reviving Neil Diamond's ghost -- Good News! That album exists and has been located. (Neil is actually alive. Thanks, Wikipedia.) The cover photo is a shambolic trainwreck. Get a haircut. And comb your hair. In either order; makes no difference. And then get new glasses. And the all black outfit is ... I mean, come on. Get it together, Hawley! This album has its moments, but overall it is a beguiling blend of the boring and the tedious. With a dash of the tiresome to pull it all together. At least Paul Anka's Nirvana cover on Rock Swings is funny. Closing with something that sounds like it came from a Brian Eno ambient album qualifies as a true surprise.

Another big thanks to this project! I'd never heard of Richard Hawley before, and he's got a big catalogue. He draws his sound and style from music I learned to love via Hank Williams Sr. and Western Swing, which I was introduced to early in high school, and drank deeply of in my ironic art-student mid twenties.

This feels like an album you'd put on in the background when you had family over for a holiday. Pleasant and innocuous. I will likely never listen to Richard Hawley again but I didn't find it offensive in any way.

I did not have high hopes going into this listen, but I was pleasantly surprised. I 100% get that this isn't for everyone, but for whatever reason I bought the vibe and just really enjoyed this. It probably helped that I was in a cozy cabin in Maine, reading and listening to this record with a friend who is a big Richard Hawley fan. Whatever. I liked it.

It started out great, but I felt the second half of the album got gradually more boring. My favourites were the title track, Just Like the Rain, The Ocean and Born Under A Bad Sign.

Ok

3 stars

4/10 Coles Corner is an album in which Richard Hawley peruses his record collection for inspiration, plucks out a selection of tunes and then creates a selection of “inspired by” songs that don’t really add anything new to the music he’s been influenced by apart from a sheen of high-quality modern production. There is a reasonable range of influences here, from traditional mid 20th century pop standards, via bluesy, country and a touch of jazz, but each of those influences seems to be largely imparted in single tracks, rather than being blended together into something fresh and unique. It’s a bit of a weird one, because in passing, I didn’t mind this album. It creates a fairly coherent sound palette, is harmonically rich and full, and doesn’t do anything overtly wrong at any point. He’s also got a really nice voice, with a subtle and warm delivery. But it just didn’t excite me in any way at all. There were times where I felt like I was listening to the kind of thing that Michael Bublé would release as an album track, and others where I felt like this was some spruced up “lost track” from a Johnny Cash record, but at no point did anything really jump out and demand my attention, despite me doing my best to give it that focus. The aforementioned production does give this a modern sheen, but even that feels like it goes a touch too far. The whole thing is reverb soaked and dreamy, but in that slightly undefined dreamy way that you can’t remember the details of when you’ve woken up. The longer this record went on, the less it engaged me, really, and by the end of it, it just felt like a bit of a wash of nothingness. Pleasant enough nothingness, but in all honesty, the only thing I can really remember after three listens through is the general vibe, which is not the sign of an album that managed to resonate with me. Coles Corner - The rich timbre of Hawley’s voice is lovely. This is very pretty in a dramatic, almost musical theatre way, particularly the way the main melodic motif is echoed between the vocals and the strings. It’s a warm and tender piece that’s entirely pleasant, without having much of an edge to it, and while I’m enjoying it well enough, it also isn’t doing much to grab hold of me. Just Like The Rain - This feels a bit lighter of foot and delivers a little more musical range than the opener through its different sections, adding a depth of instrumentation as the track progresses. There’s an edge of country-blues to the rhythm here that gives it a bit of impetus and it does have a bit more that appeals to me musically within the composition, but it’s still nice rather than exciting. Hotel Room - This drifts back towards what Coles Corner was doing, but with a hint of country coming from the slide guitar, which is really nice. There’s a slight jazzy edge to this too and it all calls back to traditional pop of the mid 20th century era but given a more modern, full and clear production style. It’s got a very clear brief and it’s absolutely nailing that, but for me, it’s just a touch safe and a little on the bland side, despite being harmonically rich and warm. Darlin' Wait For Me - The lead guitar here is gorgeous and gives this more of a tonal focus than I was able to find in the first few tracks. From a songwriting point of view, the chord structure feels very familiar, like this has been plucked out of the American songbook, so it’s hardly groundbreaking work, but it’s melodically pleasant, very well performed and produced, and his voice is lovely. The Ocean - Another very nice, easy-listening effort now. I know these are all original compositions, but if someone stuck this on in the background, I’d probably just think we were listening to someone like Michael Bublé singing pop standards. It’s really, really well executed, the orchestration is lovely, but it all feels so safe and samey that I’m just not getting a lot out of it. Born Under A Bad Sign - There’s something of the lullaby to this. There are bits and pieces in this that are very good, like some bits of guitar work, but again, it’s quite bland and repetitive, and the chorus just isn’t doing it for me. I Sleep Alone - This leans more towards the country rock of Johnny Cash. It’s got more rhythmic drive and the groove skips along at a decent, toe-tapping clip. The more laid back vocal works quite nicely against that pace in the rhythm section and I’m getting a bit more out of this than the more laid back efforts. It’s still not lighting a fire in me, but it’s a decent enough listen. Tonight - This is sparse and pretty, but quite boring. As with much of the album, it’s absolutely dripping in reverb. It does get better once the bass comes in to give it a bit of weight and swagger. It’s still very musically repetitive, despite the build of the instrumentation as the song progresses. Four and a half minutes of that same guitar arpeggiation is quite a lot. Meh. (Wading Through) The Waters Of My Time - Back to something more Johnny Cash like. It’s bluesy, it’s pleasant enough, but it’s so derivative as to be largely redundant. Stylistically, I’d say the more stripped back instrumentation and the genre beats that it hits mean that it doesn’t really gel that well with the rest of the record either. Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet - We’re definitely leaning into that croony side of things now with an arrangement of a traditional song. As with much of the album, it’s well performed and produced, but it’s quite bland and uninspiring. I’m getting rather bored of this album now. Last Orders - This is very, very slow. It’s pretty enough, but it feels like the album is just slowly grinding to a halt. I’d probably have a lot more time for this if the album hadn’t started to drag by this point. But it has.

This was a fine Sunday morning listen. I liked the musical influences that would pop in - western, island, etc. But I just couldn't shake the feeling that every song was a Christmas song. I think its his voice.

Mushy man rock that sounded like it should have been from the 60's.

Really enjoyed this and never heard of him. Reminded me of Nick Lowe’s later work. Old sounding but new.

Just timeless songwriting here. A 2000s update on the ethos of Frank Sinatra or Scott Walker. Not afraid of some alt rock drums or more modern layerings of sound. What a wonderful little discovery.

Formulaic. The whole crooning over romantic strings and jazzy instrumentation. Like, I can never take shit like this seriously. I mean, it doesn't sound bad. In fact, it's well-played, well-produced, not even sung terribly. But it's all ready-made. It's "I want to do this and this and this" and then get studio musicians together to play out whatever the idea is ('cause everyone already know what it needs), and it comes together nicely. And it does, like it sounds fine. Background music for people who aren't me or asssociate with me. Would be great for those people who listen to Norah Jones. Same type of shit: music made for people with property and secure investment portfolios.

Listening session: june 27th, while chilling at home during the heatwave Listened to before: no Thoughts: this album has some nice and chill songs and I was surprised to learn it’s from 2005 Favourite tracks: Coles Corner, Hotel Room & Tonight

Let's all be very honest here and admit that the only thing that's particularly remarkable about this album is the fact that it was made in the twenty-first century... most everything on it having already been played out rather comprehensively in the work of artists fifty and sixty years earlier. The music's nice, inherently, I guess, but for real emotional impact it's relying heavily on nostalgia bait that just does nothing for me. To be even more honest I ought to say that I'm always kind of suspicious of men from relatively-modern times who produce apparently heartfelt homages to the mainstream culture of an era predating second-wave feminism...

I was very surprised to find I enjoyed this. It seemed to be an album from the 70s released 30 years late. Very interesting for a 2005 record.

Yknow I’m really surprised I actually liked this one When I saw “early 2000s British soft pop” I groaned and expected to just let it play in the background but I was surprisingly engaged with this one. There’s actually a ton of variety from more standard rock to country to blues to even a bit of jazz, and somehow he actually kinda nails them all. I think he’s got a great voice that brings up the album rather than pulls it down. It definitely feels like an older album that was remastered rather than something that was crafted in the 2000s. I do think that even though every track is pretty solid, the highs aren’t particularly high in this one. Even though I quite enjoyed this one while listening to it it’s not very memorable, and I’d be shocked if I’d remember this album without my review in a year. Still though, from a pure musical standpoint this is super well executed and I have to give the guy credit. Definitely a bit of a hidden gem that’s pretty hard to hate, and after last week’s disaster I’ll happily take that

honestly better than i thought, some catchy tunes

I think the best days of doing this are the ones where I have 0 expectations and then get wowed. They're so rare. But something about this album on this day just clicked. I kinda sighed when I saw the cover art because the damn generator has burned me so many times before but I can’t even be flippant because I am actually genuinely astonished by how much I enjoyed this on a first listen. From the moment those first strings hit I was buying what this fella was selling. I’m pretty sure I’ve read Richard Hawley’s name a time or 2, but I was not at all familiar with his music. Love his voice, love these arrangements. So many of these songs have that "I wonder who wrote that" pop standard feel to them and I'd swear they were out of the Great American Songbook or something, yet all but one is original. Pretty high key obsessed with this sound and will seek out additional work. Absolutely one of my favorite "only-listened-to-it-because-this-website-told-me-to" album so far. I’m telling you, if I get 10 duds in a row followed by something new that I love, the whole thing is worthwhile.

Man, what a surprise. Brilliant, gut wrenching performance and songs. Love this. My first new find from this whole exercise, and if this is the only one it’ll be worth it.

I really liked the opening title track. Felt pretty epic. The rest was melodramatic country twang sad boy chamber pop with very little that really caught my attention.

When this album was denied the Mercury Prize in 2006, Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner proclaimed in his victory speech, ‘Someone Call 999, Richard Hawley’s been robbed!’ That was taking the piss- the existence of the winning Whatever People Say I Am… means that Coles Corner wasn’t even the best album in Sheffield that year- but this is still a good listen. Hawley has a great voice and expresses the hopes and fears of love and heartbreak lucidly across the album. Just Like The Rain and Born Under a Bad Sign are probably the highlights. However, I think the slowness of these crooning tracks held it back a bit for me. Hawley’s voice has made him a popular collaborator for the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers, and Elbow, and there his voice is lent to songs with a bit more pep and urgency to them (as does some of the work in Hawley’s solo catalogue). This is a nice collection of emotional songs, but probably needed a bit more variety to hold my attention.

My mum used to play this a lot in the car so I have fond memories associated with this album. Viewed objectively, it’s a good album. Hawley’s voice is beautiful, and backed up by lush instrumentation. Some tracks like the lush ‘The Ocean’ have an almost hypnotic feel. Other highlights are the title track and opener, ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’, and ‘Tonight’. The sparse piano instrumental ‘Last Orders’ serves as an effective closer.

A melancholy and very retro baroque/chamber pop album, with bittersweet lyrical themes: lost love, loneliness, longing, etc., and influences from many genres including country, blues, jazz, and 50s pop. The melodies and arrangements were beautiful, I enjoyed Hawley’s crooning vocals, and there were several really good standout songs, including the title track, ‘Just Like the Rain’, ‘Hotel Room’, ‘The Ocean’, ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ (not the Albert King song) and ‘I Sleep Alone’. The quality drops slightly towards the end, and it’s perhaps a bit too slow-paced at times, but there’s still enough quality here for 4 stars.

I didn't know about Richard Hawley, so bonus points to discovery with this one. I really liked this album. It was jazzy, more easy listening, singer-songwriter vibes than I listen to regularly. But this made for a peaceful listen. I liked the tone of his voice and I think this record is some of his best material. The Ocean stood out, of course, but I really like the old-school feel of the music despite the fact that this album is only 20 years old. It feels much older than that, but that adds the nostalgia of the doo-wop, 60s pop era. I'm happy with this album.

Really nice songs but the album is so monochromatic and often boring. All the same tempo and mood which is fine but there wasn't enough for any songs to really stand out. I liked the title song, "Born Under a Bad Sign," and "The Ocean" the most. He kind of sounds like a more sedate Morrissey It's really meant for late night listening or for rainy days.

This is fine. Was wondering how much Hawley might have had an impact on fellow Sheffield native Alex Turner, reminds me of Turner's solo stuff and Arctic Monkeys more recent output. It's kind of boring and unoriginal really, and one of the hundreds of albums here that I wouldn't put on the list myself. But alright overall and does have some really nice moments. I liked the songs The Ocean and Born under a Bad Sign. Could see it growing on me with repeat listens

I was up before the fam and threw on this album to get caught up. It was the perfect early morning cup-of-coffee album. Hawley’s voice reminds me of Brenden Perry of Dead Can Dance, but stylistically between Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Dick Dale. This album feels very retro, even requiring me to do a double take on the 2005 release date. At the time this came out rap was club, NuMetal ruled and gender-based ensembles were trend. It doesn’t surprise me this fell between the cracks. Key tracks for me were …I sleep Alone, and Darlin’ Wait for Me. I could definitely hang out on Cole’s Corner again.

Random thoughts: * I'm kinda mixed on this one. The execution is brilliant but do we really need another crooner who was a member of a brit-pop band (Pulp). * The nostalgic notes are dead on and you can feel the depth of his love for the period and time and music. * It's cool that he made the album about a real place (Coles Corner) in his hometown of Sheffield. * I'd probably give this a 2.5 if I could but I'm going with a 2 because of the over indexing on crooners and English musicians.

From start to finish just trash.

It was awful. Sounds like Vegas Lounge music. Not worth a listen.

what a voice & what lackluster music. ugh

What a weird album. I understand this guy is from the band Pulp, which figures: during the the earlier part of the album he sounds like he's doing a poor impersonation of Jarvis Cocker, then it slowly devolves into a poor impersonation of Johnny Cash. Either way, the music style is a huge throwback - I don't think it was awful, however that definitely threw me. I wouldn't listen again.

This is definitely an album you need to be in the mood for. I listened to a few songs one morning, didn't really love it, got caught up doing something and had to start over the next day. This time I thought it was a fun little 50's rock album. I realize it wasn't the 50's but it sure did sound like old fashioned rock and roll. In the right mood? solid album.

Honestly a nice little album. For sure fits the vibe of “young lovers going to the make out spot” Charming, albeit a bit repetitive. But I thought it was well written and deserves to be on this list.

A cozy and highly listenable album. With many of the British pop albums, I wonder why it is on this list.

good new songs

Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for this miserable, plodding croonfest. Or maybe it's a really boring and insignificant album.

p906. 2005. 2 stars. Roy Orbison wannabee without the songs or the voice. This is a single paced dirge. No thanks.

Beautifuleven if a whole album is a bit much

A pretty calm and uneventful album.

iskreno, ovo me dosta ugodno iznenadilo! s prvom pjesmom lik zakasnio više od pola stoljeća, ali neka. i ostatak malo staromodniji, no ne toliko. slušat ću ponovo, pa ću po toj logici dati četvorku

Not for me. 1/5

It's fine

Pleasant enough, very one paced and didn't grab me much but it passed the time.

Doesn't really grab me. I can hear that it's all sad and classy but it's not my bag. Nowhere near bad, I'm just not interested. Maybe it's too slow. Truelove's Gutter is a far superior Richard Hawley album.

After reading some of the reviews I thought “hmm, that seems like something I might like.” But after listening I’ve gotta agree with some of the negatives. Meh. Schmalzy. Mawkish. Bathetic. Nah.

2.5

An entire album at 33 1/3 that should be played at 45. Just ponderous.

Richard Hawley is usually one of those artists who I like a lot but only in small doses. Today though I was in the mood to be swept away by the entirety of this rather lovely album.

Feels like listening to a modernized Sinatra, due to the singers slow way of singing and low voice and the variation in terms of sound, as it blends traditional pop with singer songwriter and country. While this might sounds an interesting experience, I find it to be quite boring nonetheless. All the songs here are super slow with most of them lacking any charm that appealed to me. Not even the soothing orchestration and the very clear sound could really caught my attention. I do however like a lot "The Ocean". Is a really beautiful song that has a sense of growth, as the vocals and instruments get more intense as the track passes. It is truly the best song in here. The rest I think lands in a range between boring and decent.

Boring with a capital B. I cannot imagine a situation where any of these songs would be played. Maybe a funeral parlor? It even seems a little too boring for that.

Jazzy Sinatra achtig

This would be fine at a restaurant where I could sip wine and be able to talk with people at my table, instead of the ones that I compete with old top 40, the football games from the bar and all the people trying to talk over the same.

+ na het nummer de plaat. Eigen! Nog eens luistereb

Not really for me. Sounds like 50’s slow pop.

I liked this. Nice and chill for a day with nothing to do. 4

🫠

Not for me, nothing bad to say about it but just a bit underwhelming

Lovely and unexpected. I love music that feels not just "retro" but outside of time entirely. You feel like this was what Bob Dylan was hoping to achieve with "Love and Theft" -- there are plenty of other equivalent examples. Anyway, this really works, and I could imagine it becoming a five after repeat listens, which I'm looking forward to.

Very chill, would have to listen again in the right mood

Hermoso álbum, con un sonido nostálgico y aterciopelado, canciones llenas de amor y melancolía, tiene una calidad muy buena y la voz de Richard es tremenda, hay algunos temas que no destacan como los demás y eso baja un poco la escucha, aún así es una gran sorpresa que me gustó mucho.

Pretty decent - mellow, almost easy listening (Andy Williams) style tunes

Alright

Sure why not. Soothing or boring - you decide.

Hey, this was pretty good. I like Pulp a lot, so it makes sense that the members would likely have good other projects. Need to relisten; hope I remember.

me gusta el álbum pero no se siente tan trascendental como para tener que escucharlo antes de morir si pudiera le pondria 3.5

I was back and forth with this album. It took me a few days to get through, because I kept getting distracted. My first thought was "if I wanted to listen to old timey crooner music I would just put on Frank Sinatra or one of the other greats". Then I was like "but this is really beautiful and he does a good job". Just listening to the last song and it's lovely.

2.5 Not sure who that music was made for but I don't think it's me. Just find it extremely dull tbh, not sure why but baritone vocals don't really do it for me, sounds like someones taking the piss. There were some decent moments - the ocean, I sleep alone, and last orders were pleasant, but unfortunately on too many tracks I was dying to press the skip button. Wrong vibe for me.

Relatively boring album. It sounds good. Vocally it's good, but it's like a soundtrack to a sad movie of some guy that got stood up and is holding some flowers in front of a theater in the movie poster. Wait, that's the album art. A+ decent.

super lame

Adult alternative is an underrepresented genre on this list. That’s not to say I like this album that much, but it is a worthy observation.

Disarmingly beautiful in places

Okay I'm 3 songs in and I'm giving up. This is sapping the life from me. Each song takes years off my life. By the time the album is over, I'll be elderly enough to enjoy it. 2 stars, because although this is one of the most boring things I've ever heard, it is at least recorded and performed well. Not for me.

Romantic, beautifully crafted, harking back to Sanford Clark, Ray Price, and other rocking balladeers from long ago.

I really enjoyed this album surprisingly. It is definitely an album based around music which is older than the release date, however, that doesn't make it less enjoyable. A compilation of lovely campfire songs and just flat out enjoyable tunes. Music to die to, Dad music, whatever it is, I'm here for it

Lovely compositions, but the singing is hit or miss.

Not so wild about this, I enjoyed one or two of the more "C&W" tracks, but it largely bored me. Not offensive though. 2.5/5

Day 289 What a pretty album, I was vaguely aware of Richard Hawley but don’t think I’ve ever heard any of his solo stuff before, will definitely check more out. Highlights Just like the rain Born under a bad sign

country, jazz, 2005 -> 3

Meh 2/5

Truly a magnificent piece of music. Thematic, expressive, heartfelt and genuine. Pop elements backed by a myriad of genre influences. I hear lots of Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed on this album. I understand Richard Hawley is the bassist of Pulp. Dude had a great track record before his own solo release. This is a perfect album for this exercise. So good it will open your eyes and expand your pallette.

That was stupendous, bittersweet and beautiful.

No, this is not my music. The music quite good, the singing is quite good, and even the songs are quite good. But everything on the album is slow, soooo slow. And this monotony simply makes the album as a whole quite boring.

A wonderful voice, I am just not sure if it has anything to say. Lounge meets country at times.

Better than I expected. I like his voice. Favorite track: The Ocean. 3.75 rounded down to 3.

Unexpectedly haunting.

I certainly don't need 50's style music in my catalogue. 1 star or F.

Nice voice but didn’t care for it.

Well executed, but almost completely uninteresting to me personally. "The Ocean" may be the best song here. "I Sleep Alone" is pretty decent too. I can't in good conscience call it bad, but it's boring. Nothing I'd choose to listen to again.

Quite pleasant easy listening. Nothing special, and nothing to hate. Not for me 2.

A strange one that. Way too middle of the road crooning easy listening yet it had some likeable qualities. Great production and arrangements really brought out the story telling. It’s getting a 3 as I’m glad I’ve listened to it and can respect it, even though I won’t rush to listen again.

I bought this for a punt years ago and I played it once. Now I've played it again I can see why I only played it the once. Its a bit dreary, no stand out tracks, just bland from start to finish.

Three-quarter of an hour of Richard Hawley making love to your ears. Might sound a bit uncomfortable, but he's fully committed to the bit so I have to give him some credits.

This may be the whitest album on this list.

Hopefully the Coles Corner hangout is not as boring and forgettable as this album

Tää ei ollut mitenkään erikoinen levy. Aikalailla hissimuzakia. Ei jäänyt mitään mieleen.

Started really awful and generic, but the second half is actually quite strong and evocative. This is an average

4/5

Well sung. Well played. But, it started off very mundane and boring. It got better as it moved along, but never really grabbed me. I liked "I Sleep Alone."

LIke it a lot. Throwback sound :)

Coles Corner // The Ocean //

Not feeling it

Lovely record. Really good album.

Soft yet expansive! has a lot of different genres through a chamber pop lense. Quite Beautiful, especially "The Ocean" 4/5

302/1001 Richard Hawley - Coles Corner Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ The title track is one of my favourites and the Ocean is beautiful as well. The strings and arrangements are lush and draws you in. It doesn't quite get a top score for me, as I always find the second half tails away.

I absolutely did not expect a 2005 album full of 1950s-style chamber pop, country, and soft rock, and I expected to enjoy it this much even less. What a lovely voice, what lush and careful production, what sturdy songs. It’s quite lovely. Makes me want to write on the porch with a smoke and a setting sun. And this guy played bass in Pulp? Holy shit. He succeeds in creating a vintage-sounding record without seeming like he’s wearing a costume. It’s gorgeous. I really can’t believe how much I liked this.

Well let's see what we got here. hehe from GPT "A lot of the songs feel cinematic — not in an explosive way, but in a lonely-neon-street-at-2am kind of way." That's a pretty specific vibe. This first track is quite pretty. Definitely does not sound like it's from 2005. The Ocean was a great track. The whole album was very pleasant. The fact that it felt like a different time made it for me. Very chill, and romantic sounding. I really liked this album. I'm giving it 5 stars.

Estuvo bien la verdad, me canso un poco con el paso del album pero el tio tiene vozarron.

Great chill recors

la verdad que me ha gustado, era muy bonito, la melodía preciosa, lo único para un álbum entero un poco repetitivo porque son canciones muuuuy muy muy tranquilitas

chill but also lowk boring at times

I usually don't like albums like this, but man has Mr Hawley won me over with his smooth silky voice. I often find this sort of stuff sickly sweet but some of these tracks were really beautiful, the voice perfectly complementing the instrumentals. It's romantic in a sleepy, dreamlike fashion and I really liked it. The closing track in particular was very atmospheric, and gave me the feeling of dying and passing on to another life. Top marks. Favourites: Hotel Room The Ocean Born Under a Bad Sign Last Orders

🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑, rounded up for repeat enjoyment For someone who's always yakkin about British music, I've heard shamefully little pulp, and wouldn't have given Richard Hawley a second glance were it not for the connection. For an album global reviewers called "the most British thing ever," though, I'm a bit disappointed—this was, like, the most American British thing ever. I was pleasantly surprised by this Roy Orbison / Chris Isaak sound, though it skewed a bit too Sinatra for me at times. I'm not sure I'd listen to the whole thing through again (though it was very peaceful), but there are at least three standouts for me, which is big. Big stuff happening across the pond. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing

this is just really depressing and not in the good way

Bought this back in the day. Can't believe it's over 20 years old! Not aged one day, as good as I first listened to it

Had a hard time getting into this one. The retro vibe was ok and it may have been an attempt at soft rock but it could be more accurately described as flaccid.

Kind of cool, I guess?

An easy listening album. It's got some charm but not a lot of rememberability. Pure coffee shop music

Kind of wild that this came out in 2005; it sounds like songwriting from the 70s with 90s production. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just really out of place. I’m not sure who the audience is here other than clear channel radio. Completely forgettable but not unpleasant.

When the Arctic Monkeys won the Mercury music prize in 2006, Alex Turner walked on stage and declared "Someone call 999, Richard Hawley's been robbed". That alone persuaded me to buy Coles Corner, but it made very little impression on me at the time. Knowing now the direction the Arctic Monkeys' albums would take, it makes a lot more sense that Alex Turner would enjoy this album. It's extremely pretty at times, and has a distinct Sheffield charm, but even after listening to it today I struggle to remember any of the songs.

That was great, though the ending lost me a fair bit.

It’s actually quite nice, just not really my cup of tea.

From start to finish, really just a delight to listen to. It feels like sitting on a ferris wheel, looking out over the distance on a warm and humid day. Just Like the Rain is my favorite by far and a song I'll be listening to more in the future. I also especially enjoyed The Ocean, Born Under A Bad Sign, and Last Orders, but this certainly isn't to say I disliked any of the songs I didn't name. Despite this, it is... kind of boring. Played it in a car ride, and about halfway through I started wishing I was listening to something more interesting than this.

Never heard this before. Wasn’t bad, a little boring at parts but didn’t hate it

Really something comforting about this album. Never hear of him before. Love when I actually get a good surprise on this torture list.

Music for a rainy day

This was a really charming and lovely album, like a soft one-arm hug while chilling in the countryside.

Tom Hansen would love this. I feel myself aging listening to this. But it makes me want to lay on my back on the bed in a late evening at home, alone, head absent of thought, just kinda existing for no reason.

Boy does this soothe...this soothes real good.

Started out, not really liking this album, but as it went on, it kind of grew on me. Very soft folk music carried by the singers’s voice also somewhat an album. I definitely listen to while wandering the nuclear wasteland.

It was fine I guess, not bad, bit not super memorable. An echo of a music style from the past, it's a decent recreation but lacks the authentic charm.

Exceptionally pleasant combination of soft rock and soft folk music. I found everything to be somewhat generic but exquisitely recorded and produced. Hawley's vocals changed appropriately depending on the style of the song, and bring together the instrumental and orchestral arrangements. Nothing in particular stands out as sounding technically impressive or offering a unique sound, especially because a handful of the songs are covers of old songs, but for what it is, the album succeeds in providing familiar sounds crafted for an audience expecting no surprises.

Not for me

Not my thing, but he held my attention so that’s something.

Last song was nice. The album was nice in general, maybe a bit bland

Orudo piporu ko ro shi te ya ru

La voz de este artista es penetrante y con la musica de fondo el ambiente es espectacular

I have learned some creative turns of phrase from reviews on this website: one along the lines of "as bland as unsalted cardboard" didn't exactly fill me with hope, but actually I've heard others that would be far better suited to such criticism (see Beck). Coles Corner is gentle and homely, separated from the countless other male singer/songwriters by genre (influences of crooning 40s and 50s Americana), a reasonable amount of charm, and a voice which is more distinctive than most. However, I don't hear a vocal range that keeps me interested or that adds a new dimension to a song, and I'm not a massive fan of the overall style and sound. But it was an enjoyable 46 minutes even if I won't return to it

no

I totally get what Hawley is doing here, and I’m all in. There should be more classic-sounding, gentle, classy albums. I can see how this would get lost in the hustle and bustle, which is probably why I’d never heard of it. I’m glad the 1001 list noticed and remembered.

Es ist für mich erstaunlich blass. Der croonender Retro‑Sound ist zwar warm und elegant, doch viele Songs versinken in derselben langsamen, schwelgenden Stimmung. Die Arrangements wirken oft zu glatt, zu vorhersehbar, fast schon wie Hintergrundmusik. Ein paar starke Momente blitzen auf, aber insgesamt fehlt dem Album die Spannung, die Tiefe und der Biss, um wirklich zu tragen.

Boring but I liked it. Will listen to it more.

Intéressant

Its good, not particularly unique but its good

2000s indie rock. Smooth crooner ballads, lovely voice. Very old-fashioned and nostalgic.

Lovely

Ah it's like a modern old school crooner. I really enjoyed this! I wanted there to be rain and coffee while it was playing.

YABAAAAAA (Yet Another British Album) It's fine, as if they'd just stuck a Michael Buble album in here. Can't tell what decade it's from just by listening to it. Highlights: born under a bad sign (voice reminded me of Morrissey)

YAAAAAA

I heard this one last year off a Reddit recommendation so this is my second spin. It’s definitely of high quality, lyrically, musically and performatively. I tossed and turned on whether I should score it a 3 or 4 (my subjective view wasn’t as strong as my objective), but ultimately I loved the final atmospheric track, Last Orders, which helped push it over the edge.

He has a very rich and wholesome sound. I enjoyed it.

Mind numbingly boring and derivative.

good

- Love his silky crooning vocals. - The songs are soothing, but nothing really stands out beyond his voice, and nothing really excited me that much.

3.5 rounded up really enjoyed this until the last few songs, when it got a bit too honky tonk for me. still, something i see myself revisiting! highlights: coles corner, hotel room, the ocean, born under a bad sign (apr 22 2026)

Really enjoyed this album, there's two songs towards the end I don't love but this was nearly a 5/5. Favorite songs: Hotel Room, Tonight, Coles Corner

I want to like this, but I don’t. Sounds a bit like Roy Orbison.

I really didn't know what to expect from this, but what I got exceeded whatever expectations I had for this. Hawley's voice can be somewhat monotonous but tuneful and honestly very comforting. A rich soulfulness that brings back the crooners of the 40s and 50s, with a musical palette that sweeps 40 years of music history and styles I have never heard done in a modern setting (the title track is essentially Glen Campbell for the 2000s). Seriously cool and one I hope to return to soon.

Another one of those beautifully orchestrated and sung albums that I'll forget almost immediately after listening to it. Just kind of sounds all the same after a while.

The second to last song title creeped me out but I like it!

I loved the first few singles when this came out, but never followed through. Was surprised to see it on the list yesterday. I think it’s a really solid album throughout, rich and moody, emotional but in a subtle way, wistful, melancholy. A blend of traditional pop with the dark, weary mood of a 90s rocker.

A surprising album, but moody and comfy. I'm glad it exists.

This is a really gentle album. I was pleasantly surprised by it. At one point I thought of describing it as coffee shop music, but that's definitely not the right description. Also definitely not pop rock. I don't think it's one I'm going to really revisit (and none of the tunes are likely to stick with me), but it was a nice 40 minutes.

Inoffensive, but won't relisten.

Top review guy missed the prime opportunity to call it Coles Snorer. This was actually pretty alright but fuck me the last two songs went on FOREVER. I enjoyed this album but I don't think I'd come back for it any time soon.

Very good. Lush, great arrangements. Warm.

You read a bit on the effort and it's classified as pop-rock by an artist you've honestly never heard of before. Not Something to look forward to if you're not a pop-rock kind of person, so I was groaning slightly before I even hit play. And when I finally did... what? What is this supposed to be? I was feeling a retro blue-eyed-soul influence with an occasional Americana spin. I always find it curious when an English artist appropriates that traditional American folk sound, and I suppose it's pretty well done and varied, the effort feels cohesive, it's just a giant chore for me to finish. I made it to the end with zero hopes for a second listen. 2/5

This sounds like lounge-singer stuff from the 70s, but it's from 2005. Is it some kind of great leap forward for lounge singing? Why is this on the list rather than an originator of the genre? Not that I want to listen to either of them, you understand. Now that I have read this guy is out of Pulp, I do hear a bit of Pulp in there, but not enough to interest me. And I could actually go and listen to Pulp if that's what I wanted to do.

This one's very beautiful, and I would 100% listen again. This seems like great wind-down evening music. It is sad and soothing and heartfelt. Great stuff. Favorite track(s): "Coles Corner," "Born Under a Bad Sign"

What are we doing here? I mean, sure, this guy pumped out a consistent decades worth of crap rock, but none of it, including this, offers anything worth while

Why is this on this list. Can't imagine any historical significance. Wanted to not finish it.

music is love

First time listen Feels like it was written to be listened to on a hazy night. There's a sense of longing throughout the album that occasionally dips into some dull spots, but overall I like the atmosphere and vocals on this album quite a lot Favorite Tracks: Hotel Room, Darlin Wait For Me, Tonight, Wading Through The Waters of My Time Least Favorite: I Sleep Alone, Who's Going to Shoe Your Pretty Feet 3.5/5