Coles Corner

Floored by everything about this. Best Song: The Ocean Rating: 9/10 Stars: 5

Very nice and unexpected.

daphne's new favourite album

Lowkey enveloping.

Every second, every note, every line, every word is perfectly crafted and wrapped in a warm nostalgic glow. Harks back to another time but the emotion is current and genuine. Pretty much perfect from start to finish, I've loved this since I first played it 20 years ago. He's a rare talent and this is a gem of an album. Gorgeous!

From the instant that the smooth tones of Richard Hawley’s voice, and the gentle string instrumentation, envelope you in the opening track (Coles Corner), right through to the end of Last Orders (a fitting closer), this album sounds like a warm hug on a cold evening. I think the album cover art further helps to illustrate the welcoming atmosphere of a chilly autumnal evening in a familiar town or city. That being said; the themes of the album are, for the most part, portraying the antithesis of a warm hug. “Just Like The Rain”, for example, has a rather upbeat tempo, and plucky guitar tune, yet covers loneliness and regret. Credit is due to Dad for making us aware of this surprisingly underrated artist! Favourite tracks: The Ocean, Coles Corner, Darlin’ Wait For Me.

Romantic melancholy with a warmth that feels both vintage and timeless. A perfect mix of love, loss and the bittersweet beauty of human connection ❤️ Loved the story behind the reason why the album is called Coles Corner. Every song creates an emotional pull, especially the song Ocean where the video is of the Minnack theatre ❤️ Magical ✨.

great album

I listened to this in november. it's so cozy and nice. almost like a winte album.

loved it. found my wedding song lowkey

Quite possibly the most relaxing album I’ve heard. Love it.

I really enjoyed this one!

Beautiful start to finish. Huge love for Richard Hawley. Hoping Standing at the Sky's Edge will be on the list but im doubtful.

Unexpectedly awesome! Ended up listening to it three times

I love that this was made in 2005 but feels like a vintage record. His voice makes me swoon. He's like Frank Sinatra, Leonard Cohen and Jarvis Cocker all wrapped up into one. Maybe even a little Johnny Cash in Wading Through The Waters of My Time. There's a lot of emotion in these songs created by both the instruments and his vocals, and they're also very gentle and tender. Easy to get lost in. The Ocean is particularly special, but I loved so many of them. Great discovery!

9.5/10

Lemppari: Coles corner

Was pretty nice actually.

What a beautiful album! I had never heard of Richard Hawley, this is total very pleasant surprise. It's truly beautiful music, for me most resemblant of Tindersticks - a band that certainly should have been in the book with any of their first three records. Or all three of them. Anyway, back to Hawley. This is a must hear. The arrangements are fantastic with a very tasteful use of baritone guitar, his voice is in the middle between Stuart Staples and Bryan Ferry - yes, my girlfriend was immediately interested;-) Most of all: the song 'The Ocean'... That might be one of the best songs on the 51 albums I have listened so far. Stunning.

10/10

Modern crooning, which is a unique and interesting listen (both generally and for this list which has sooooo much britpop)

This was the one I had meant to rate a 5. Great album.

get me a gun 😥😥😥

Album parfait pour un dimanche matin avec un bon café. The Ocean, (Wading Through) The Waters of My Time. Dans la sphère musicale de Jarvis Cocker. Je l'ai jamais vu en spectacle. Je dirais pas non. (J'ai écouté 2 fois hier le nouvel album de Pulp et il est quand même bon)

What an album! Damn beautiful!

This really shouldn't work, but it really does.

I’m still getting familiar with Richard Hawley, but after listening to two of his albums now, I think he’s pretty solid when it comes to doing a modern take on vintage pop ballads with that 60s feel. This album is mostly an orchestral-driven singer/songwriter and chamber pop release, but what I really liked were the twangy guitars, especially with the reverb and slapback echo that gave it a nice rockabilly vibe. The slide guitar added some country-western or surf-style flavor too. The production has a vintage tone as well, but it’s still really clean and polished. Overall, this is definitely an album I’ll come back to again—it’s got a great sound and feel to it.

I really enjoyed this offering, mellow and a hint of country.

Omg I thought this album was at least 30 years older than it actually is. The simplistic beauty of old-school crooning mixed with the crisp production of the 2000s made for an excellent listening experience.

Lovely as most of Hawley' solo catalogue. Memories of a past neither he nor you have ever lived in, but wished you had. Super-tasteful mix of British music hall nostalgia, Rock'n Roll era kitsch, 21st century production and songcraft. Add his masterly guitar playing and you have a timeless instant classic.

My expectations were looooow, but boy was I proven wrong. This rocks. You can totally tell this guy’s a seasoned session musician who has had to slide into multiple different contexts throughout his career. He perfectly highlights the instrumentation (which rocks), but the album gels together with his singing. An absolute treat.

This was a pleasant surprise. Heavy 50s crooner vibe that reminds me of Elvis and Roy Orbison. Great production and great songs, just a lovely album.

there’s a bone in my body that loves 50s traditional pop stuff and this hits that bone like a metal pipe

I really loved it! The title track was amazing and his fusion of both traditional jazz styles with country notes was really both pleasing and unexpected. Overall a beautiful album, probably one of my favorites so far. I’d say a 9/10 or 4.5/5

Another artist I never heard of. I was glad to hear this album; I enjoyed it.

Traumhaft schön. Das ganze Album rührt einem zu Tränen. Nostalgie pur, mit so Zutaten wie Zartheit, Schmerz, pure Freude und schönen Erinnerungen garniert.

Just crooney goodness

interesting, nice piano and lyrical work

A surprising 5 stars. Had no expectations but ended up listening to it 3 times today. “Just Like The Rain” slaps!

This album made me feel things, man. His voice sounded like a warm hug on a rainy day.

over the garden wall vibes

Another British guy I've never heard of. This one has been a pleasant surprise. It has a great steady vibe throughout. Definitely evening listening.

It’s a perfect album and one that I listen to every winter so this year, it’s happening earlier than ever. His voice is beautiful and the music so sad. I could listen to this album forever and not get tired of it. I will play it many times over the coming months.

So many wonderful influences. I head Eddy Arnold, Burt Bacharach and the Blue Shadows, among others. Brilliant and unheard of in the States.

Hawley's voice is of an old-time crooner... it sounds like a romcom soundtrack, like Christmas, like your grandma's phonograph after she thought you went to bed and has nipped the gin.

This album was a surprise listen in a good way. Buttery chilled out music throughout. In some ways it was reminiscent of the early Elvis bollards and it reminded me of other artists down the years, in some ways it wasnt/isn't dissimilar to croon. Lovely album 👍

really liked it.. hadn't heard of him before, but loved his voice, and would listen to this again..

I'm a sucker for a rich baritone. Beautiful.

Leuk dit. Melancholiek, bluesy, warm, niet bang af en toe een blikje violen open te trekken, maar met een prettig rauwe stem waardoor het niet zoetsappig wordt. Een beetje in het hoekje van mensen als Gordon Haskell en de door sommigen verguisde Elvis Costello, en dat is een heel prettig hoekje om in te zitten.

Maybe it's because I'm a sad bitch tonight but I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.

Some very pleasant smooth, old-school crooning reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and kd lang. A nice surprise.

I really enjoyed this. It was a nice change of pace.

I think when I hit my 40s or 50s I'll listen back to this and have a different appreciation. I liked it now but I get sense that this is an album that grows with the listener.

When you start this project, your mind inevitably wanders to what you may add to the list. If it wasn't already here, this would be a strong contender for me. Richard Hawley is magic. He takes the raw ingredients of old school rockabilly, country and rnb and filters it through a more modern lense. He has a beautiful voice, lyrics that make a grown man feel and lush orchestration. An easy 5 stars for a defining album.

This is an utterly gorgeous record The title track and The Ocean in particular are wonderful but there’s not a dud track on here.

I had no idea who Richard Hawley is, but after some googling I found that he was in Pulp. I do quite like Pulp, so I’m hopeful for this album today. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Just Like The Rain, Born Under A Bad Sign This wasn’t anything at all like I was expecting from a member of Pulp, but I did very much enjoy it. It’s much more folky than I imagined, and is fantastically composed. The vocals together with the instrumentation made my chair feel more comfortable as I sank into it, enjoying the richness of the music. Singer songwriter music just tends to hit different a lot of the time. This is pretty great.

Album makes me feel alive

I loved this at first listen. Not anything I'd usually listen to but so we'll done, amazing album.

I'm loving the chamber pop and transitions into more pared down numbers. A work of beauty.

Never heard of this guy before, but this was really good. “The Ocean” is utterly fantastic.

Although Coles Corner is perfect, their Knowledges is even better. Since I think his Knowledges won't be on the list, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. In Barcelona, after his concert at the Sala Apolo, on the street behind, he gave me a pick ☺️

So much of this album sounds like what falling in love feels like. Sweeping and moving, gentle comfort. What a pleasant surprise this morning. Such a warm tone to his voice.

Fantastic. Deserves so much more acclaim and recognition. He goes deeply and powerfully old-fashioned right out to the gate and closes with something haunting and beautiful to remember by. Goes rich and heavy on the emotion but avoids sentimentality – no easy trick, that. "The Ocean" is one of the best songs of the 21st century. Don't sleep on True Love's Gutter, which nearly blew a hole in the top of one's head first time one heard it and which easily merits inclusion on this list.

I like this in the same way I like Neil young, Leonard cohen, and Tom Petty. Not that he’s better than them, but he’s not the same either. I felt like his style and voice were different and unique enough in that context. He has a voice that stands out and he has enjoyable lyrics that make me think about getting older and past decisions in a way that isn’t trite. I enjoyed it but listened again to see if it was a 4 or a 5 for me and I think the whole package being what it is, nothing really smacking me as that bad, I’m going to go with a 5 — I liked all of it!

every song was so perfectly my vibe

Sounds exactly like Johnny Cash

Soothing cinematic opening, warm strains, evoking a dark, softly lit and red carpeted jazz lounge. Not a jarring moment - well produced, after a gentle country moment, it returns to full stylistic form, before a fine exit. On the 2nd listen its like a male analog of Petula Clark, with Karen Carpenter perhaps. I am surpised I didnt find it corny. It is relaxing. I am not sure how this made it onto the list, but it is very listenable. And not at all challenging. If the role of Art is to uplift, provoke, soothe, entertain and educate , this ticks one box nicely. Why havent I heard of Mr Hawley?

FAV OF ALL TIMES 💜

Chill

One of the best albums by one of my favourite artists. This album means the world to me. I wish I could give it 6 stars. Best song, Coles Corner

Made me believe in love again

Been looking forward to this. 4 at least. And 1 point for the incredible albumcover. (The building is not even fucking Coles Corner)

This one was pretty

A modern, singer-songwriter interpretation of crooner music. Works better than you might expect.

Slušala san navečer i baš odgovara toj nekoj noćnoj atmosferi. Dobar đir skroz, ugodno, malo retro, sve u svemu-sviđa mi se :)

Nisan čula za Richarda, a jako mi se sviđa. Zvuči puno starije od 2005-e haha. I baš je smirujuće

Kako je ovo lijepoooooo

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*

Absolutely loved it, very dreamy melancholic and romantic

Jao što Richard Hawley zna kako do moga srca. Coles corner mi je definitivno na listi najdražih albuma uz Late night final.

such as easy listen, i avoided it first day but it is actually very good

Чистый кайф

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

A very pleasant surprise. Love Just Like the Rain and The Ocean.

Vraiment bon et rafraichissant, j’ai reecoutee dans lammeme journee car j’avais adore.

Great

*emoji de fuego*

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.

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

Beautifully moving and incredibly diverse.

Album acilis ve kapanis sarkilari cok guzeldi. Bir de ocean sarkisi favorim.

very nice

I’m digging what he’s laying down.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From start to finish just trash.

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

good new songs

Beautifuleven if a whole album is a bit much

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Disarmingly beautiful in places

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

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

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.

Unexpectedly haunting.

4/5

LIke it a lot. Throwback sound :)

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 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

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

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

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.

no

Intéressant

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

Lovely

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.

good

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 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.

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

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

Very good. Lush, great arrangements. Warm.

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"

Very pleasant, chill music

I enjoyed the first half of this album, though it got a little bland/boring for me later on. Nonetheless, I love this a lot; it's a mix of sweet, sometimes bitter but always maintains a wonderful instrumental for each track. My favorite tracks include: Coles Corner, Darlin' Wait for Me and The Ocean.

Peaceful album, made be happy. Nothing to complain about :)

Quite lovely

Not even the best Hawley album. True loves gutter is amazing.

Croon on crooner, croon on

This does have an old crooner sound for such a new album in the 2000s. I really like Richard’s vocals and his calming but powerful music. Still doesn’t hit the 5 star mark I may reserve for someone like Sinatra, but enjoyable album

Ik was echt klaar voor een saaie sadboi rock song. Cue my surprise toen deze man opeens besloot om een fucking crazy goede stem te hebben. OK, Richy, ik was hier niet klaar voor! God, die stem, die pakt me echt hoor. De teksten die er bij horen komen ook wel een beetje binnen. Soms vind je een album precies op het juiste moment en volgens mij is dit een redelijk break-up album. Nou, de timing daarvan had denk ik niet veel beter gekund. Of slechter, net wat je wilt. Daarom vind ik het ook een verdomd lastig album om te reviewen, maar ik beoordeel het op hoe de muziek binnenkomt op de dag dat ik het luister, dat voelt het meest logisch. En vandaag, tsja, vandaag komt het gewoon wel behoorlijk binnen. Het album doet me soms heel erg denken aan een country album. Of een crooner album, dit is in elk geval absoluut geen album van de tijd waar het vandaag komt. Last Orders is echt een tof nummer. Sowieso is dit een album met echt veel sfeer. Het is in een keer duidelijk waar Richard voor ging qua album, en ik vind dat hij daar ook goed in geslaagd is. Verdomme, ik ga even huilend een ex bellen denk ik. FAVO: Coles Corner, The Ocean, tonight, Last orders

Really nice easy listening album.

Surprised I’d never came across him. Very Sinatra and can’t say a bad word about it

beautiful voice and instrumentals

Never heard of this guy, but he's a very talented singer. Listened 3x.

Very good

I found this album to be so dreamy and delightful. Very beautiful production.

Honestly, I enjoyed the man out of time; recapturing the crooner era vibe this has going for it.

Much better than my initial impressions were expecting. Very nice listen.

Never heard of this guy but this quite good all around music, lyrics and vocals. I’m a new fan.

oooh starting out symphonic!! soft kinda folky (but not folk) light listening. bill callahan sometimes i wish we were an eagle (2012) is very much in line with this--although i *think* callahan is american. very much just baritone singing with some accompaniment. some love songs some sorrow songs a little mystical a little mundane. it's nice. i think hawley is less mystical than callahan. i would say it's in the mid 3s. not sure whether to round up or down. on the one hand, very refreshing compared to all the angsty alt rock on this list, on the other hand, i probably won't listen again. i'll go 4/5 cause why not.

This was really kind of more special than I thought it would be. It is kind of country but also crooner light and folk. A lot about lonliness which depending on your mood can be tough because he is the kind of singer that makes you want to pay attention to what he is saying. I think I really liked this and was caught by surprise. Also I have never heard any of his music prior to this find. Thanks again to the album generator for this one!

Wow this is beautiful! A perfect album for a late night drive. I had such a good time listening to this! The lyrics got me in my feels in the best way and the music was also excellent.

Quite a lovely album!

smooth, retro-feel, very nice

Seeing that Richard Hawley had ties to Pulp, I was not initially excited for this album. There is a lot more Frank Sinatra and Roy Orbison influence here than I was expecting. That kind of late night, dreamy crooning with string accompaniment, mixed with country tinged rock 'n' roll is a welcome surprise! On some songs Hawley draws comparisons to Murder By Death, both with vocal quality and music stylings. All that to say, I really dig this.

This is a weird one for me, since this I'm not familiar with this guy. The only other ones like that so far were MC Solaar and Liars (and Robbie Williams was just a name, same with Pulp, basically). Anyway, trying to place where this guy fits in, and not having much luck. His voice (and maybe his music) remind me a bit of country singer Jimmie Dale Gilmore and of M. Ward (who's also half of She & Him). Country singer? Folk singer? Crooner? And here's also where I come up against: is it (i.e., how I should judge the albums here) "how much do I like it," or "do I think he's done a good job at what he's doing (even if the music doesn't appeal to me)? But, in fact, it's not that I don't like it; maybe more that I wouldn't seek it out very often? But I'm glad for the discovery, and might come back occasionally. 4 stars. P.S. I intentionally didn't look up anything about him until after I wrote this; am curious now to look him up.

Got a few songs in before I noticed this was from 2005, and I was shocked. Quite mellow which isn't my usual taste, but the arrangements are so lovely. The overabundance of bad vocals in these albums is really making me appreciate the nice ones more, and these are gorgeous. I do love a good baritone.

Mellow, listenable album. Solid songwriting.

Went in cynical, came out a believer

Dunno it was good but all the same

Cozy

Yet another example of, “You just gotta listen to it” I was not certain what I was in for but I definitely had my doubts when I saw that he’s British and Apple had him egregiously labelled as Pop. The range on this album is something to be celebrated. Hawley effortlessly works in a touch of crooner, shifts to rockabilly, works in some gloomy Waits like singer songwriter tracks and one of the best country tunes I’ve heard in awhile with, “(Wading Through)” I am always glad to have my preconceived judgements proven to be wrong by a fantastic record. What a track Ocean is eh? Wow, painful and beautiful. Am I way off when I say that I kept thinking about Mac Demarco throughout my listens today? Completely different artists but there’s something there. Great stuff Hawley. 4 stars

This was such a beautiful listen, a really beautiful album that feels warm and nostalgic from the very first song with this late-night, slow and romantic atmosphere that makes it perfect for listening when you want something calm and emotional. The music itself is also amazing, the songs are full of soft guitars, strings, and subtle instruments that give the album a rich and envolving sound, nothing feels rushed nor over the top giving space to every track to build its mood, also, shotout to “The Ocean,” beautiful song in every single way, and a proof of how good Hawley is at creating emotional melodies. Lyrically, the album focuses a lot on love and longing. The way Hawley writes about relationships feels simple but very genuine, giving a bittersweet feeling throughout the whole record, like the songs understand both the beauty and the sadness that can come with love. Overall such an unexpected yet magnificent experience

This was such a pleasant surprise. This is such a warm and cozy album. Definitely a crooner vibe, with warbly, reverby, steel guitars and a dreamy atmosphere. Strong songwriting. I loved the sound and vibe of this and will probably come back to listen again. I listened to a lot of the 'bonus tracks' that are a part of the deluxe edition because I was enjoying it so much.

Glad I preserved with this. Really wasn't feeling the first couple of tracks, but as a whole album this was a treat.

7/10 Really good songs, perfectly delivered. Impossible for me to dislike this, although there is the nagging feeling it is a bit of a novelty.

I really enjoyed it. It's got kind of an Americana bent, and I wouldn't have known ol' boy was BRITISH if I hadn't looked up the album. It's got a very retro feel to it. It's a little jazzybluesyrockabilly in all the right ways. This album makes me feel like I should be driving off into a desert sunset in a convertible with a long scarf around my neck, after murdering my duplicitous husband and his lover after they tried to steal my inheritance. I'm going to get away with it, too, because I'm wearing the perfect shade of red lipstick. I have neither a husband nor an inheritance, but if you ever watch film noir, you smell what I'm steppin' in. Oh, I also don't have a convertible, but that's more of a want than the husband or inheritance. Standout: The Ocean

My first impression was that this guy was too torchy for me. He sounds like a coroner from the 40s. However, after a few beautifully written and produced songs, Hawley had me hooked! Liked Songs Added: Darlin' Wait For Me The Ocean Born Under A Bad Sign

Beautiful

What the fuck is blessing my ears? The ocean one of the best songs I have ever heard man what is this?

This was a really good album!

3.8

I wasn't familiar with his sound, so I didn't know what to expect when I first listened to this album. But it was pretty enjoyable and I'd listen to it again at some point.

cant believe a musician can put a song like 'the ocean' in the middle of an album and then just move on. the people need time to digest a masterpiece

From the jump, I couldn't tell if Hawley crooned pastiche, authenticity, or a bit of both, but soon realized it didn't really matter. These songs are self-justifiers, every note being the right one, the vibrant one, the dark one, the lonely one. Like Roy Orbison, Hawley's central topic is loneliness, and I find it very cool that we get to have an Orbison of the 21st century, tho there's also some Johnny Cash and Petula Clark in the mix as well. Lyrically, he's where he needs to be, not masterful like Costello or Smokey but good enuf and at times memorable: 'So think of me, when you feel that moon / Oh it calls to me, as it calls to you.' Still, opting for retro has its costs, even if the music is damned good: it's a mood piece, a moody piece, and can be drab.

This album fell through a time portal from 1960 and I am here for it. Some of it sounds like "A Summer Place," some of it sounds like Ricky Nelson, and some of it sounds like country when it was still called country and western. Beautiful lush arrangements all the way through, though it did get a bit samey at times. A really great discovery!

Not bad as I was in mood for some slow music. His voice is good. But it does get boring very quickly. Still a nice listen.

Surprising!

I was feeling a bit under the weather today, this was a really lovely tonic, so pleasant and flowing beautifully. Was kind to my head, heart and my soul.

15 days into this challenge and i have had the first artist that i've not heard of before (i hope this happens more often). this album is miraculous. i should be working, but i can't stop listening to this. i will seek out more of his stuff after this

What a find! Never heard of Richard Hawley before now. Good baritone voice, and a bit like Morrissey in his singing style.

this reminds me of johnny cash. such a lovely deep voice with slow music and sad boy lyrics. a little twang

Typically when the Wikipedia description of an album includes that "it was nominated for the Mercury Prize" I buckle up for some real shit. However, I was into this Dad-rock singer-songwriter crooner of a record. At times bleak, at times a bit country I can see myself coming back to this for sure.

Pretty, relaxed, good

Whoa what a surprising little gem this i

I'd only ever heard a few Richard Hawley songs before and never really went much deeper (sacreligious considering I used to live in Sheffield) but this is very good. Sounds a lot older than it is but still an interesting take on this style of music. Not sure how often I'd relisten but very enjoyable. Fav tracks: The Ocean, Born Under a Bad Sign, Coles Corner

Really liked it

I really enjoyed this. He felt like a reined in Morrissey. Definitely left me wanting more.

A lovely nostalgic and warm listen. It's so supremely cosy - maybe a little too cosy? - and takes me straight back to the era. Weirdly I'd say the two big singles are the best song (Coles Corner) and the worst (Born Under A Bad Sign), which is just quite cloying.

This one is from a British artist I never heard of until now. The music is mellow, and the tracks range from new age to country to pop. The album could almost have been made in the 1950s. The singing is clear and crisp. My only complaint is with the track “The Ocean”, which mentions the ocean countless times and became annoying.

Serious old school crooning in the modern age. Will revisit.

Was a bit scared initially because music from the UK on this list has been so...not great. This album really doesn't portray the vibes the album art gives (at least to me) and I enjoyed living in the moment of listening to it.

Others call it slow and boring, I call it calm and beautiful

A ver a ver, yo me pregunto cómo no tiene más reconocimiento este disco de quién fuera guitarrista de Pulp, una de las 4 grandes bandas del britpop que alcanzó popularidad a fines de los 80 y comienzo de los 90, una banda de Sheffield, misma ciudad de donde salió arctic monkeys, para mí está clarísima la influencia que tiene este disco en Alex Turner, y los últimos 2 trabajos de arctic monkeys lo demuestran. Me sorprendió mucho este disco de Soft rock, que suena muy jazzero, sin ser para nada un disco de jazz, pero incluyendo y mezclando elementos de ese género y del blues. Que sonido tan suave y envolvente, es un disco cálido, sencillo y complejo a la vez, con elementos armónicos muy lindos musicalmente y con esa voz grave que lo hace profundo y cálido. Me gustaron muchas cosas, suena clásico, la columna vertebral es una guitarrita, unos teclados que suenan increíble, cuerdas, algunos vientos y para mí todo encaja bien, las canciones me gustaron harto en su construcción, las líneas melódicas, el sonido de los bajos, etc. La batería es muy sutil, va marcando el tiempo con el bombo, usa poquito la caja y con unas percusiones con maracas y otras cositas a los costados. No conocía para nada a este artista y este álbum y me llevo una grata sorpresa. Me gustó el cierre del álbum igual, que para ser un tema instrumental fue muy atmosférico, con poquitos elementos hizo una canción que me generó varias emociones. Dude mucho si ponerle un 3 o un 4 porque creo que está escalones más abajo que Good kid maad city (que le puse un 4), para mí es un 3,5 y como en otros discos redondearé para arriba considerando que hay otros discos que nos han salido que para mí son un par de decimales mejores Canción favorita: the ocean

oh wow, i was really surprised by this. v good

This was cool. Kinda country, kinda Cash. Chill listen. 3.5/5

This was one of the more surprising discoveries since starting this exercise. I really liked it. A very cool record that crosses a lot of genres and in the end defies a singular style…all the while maintaining a timeless cohesive feel. Will definitely be returning to this one.

I really loved this, what a great surprise/discovery. Listened to this twice and saved for future listens. I feel like if someone quizzed you on the release date of this you could rightfully miss by up to 20 years potentially, and I dig what that says about this.

I loved this! the vibe was excellent, and oddly country at times? Born Under a Bad Sign was my fav, but goddd that outro track is heavenly. would be a 5 if a few of the songs didn't kinda tire me, like Tonight

Made me feel things! I don’t listen to enough of this style and genre either.

Pleasantly surprised by this. I won’t pretend I knew who Richard Hawley was until this roll, but I’m glad I do now. I get why “The Ocean” is his top track on most (all?) streaming platforms. It’s interesting and it develops beautifully over the course of its runtime. The decision to include strings as a sort of downtempo attempt at alt rock trends of the 90s and 2000s really worked for me. Listening to the album all the way through and then letting the first track come back on is an extremely rewarding experience. Will probably throw this one on again from time to time.

Really enjoyed this. I love a crooner!

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 in my Britpop travels, but I was not at all familiar with his game. Love his voice, love these Burt Bacharach-esque arrangements. But with like, just a hint of Roy Orbison or Elvis (Presley or Costello for that matter). Someone in that vein. 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 my favorite "only-listened-to-it-because-this-website-told-me-to" album so far. I’m telling y’all, if I get 10 duds in a row followed by something new that I love, the whole thing is worthwhile.

Hipster listening, Leonard Cohen with an English rockabilly vibe. There’s no twang, but it’s implied. Check out the expanded 20th anniversary edition, which has a cover of my dad’s favorite Everly Brothers song “I’m Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail.”

Surpreendentemente gostei muito. Apesar de nao ser o tipo de pessoa que costuma atribuir sentimentos pessoais a musicas, estava no lugar exato para me identificar com as letras, o que me fez gostar mais do album do que teria gostado em outras circumstancias. Com isso dito, acredito que minha parte favorita do album seria os instrumentais das faixas, mesmo tendo gostado muito da voz do cantor :) tbm acho que a capa encapsula perfeitamente a vibe do album. Gostei muito como um todo

Lovely album.

The orchestral arrangements in this are fantastic

Like if Lord Huron met Albert Hammond with a Frank Sinatra tone

I was really ready not to like this but was pleasantly surprised. Love when that happens. I got Leonard Cohen vibes... but less dark. Great late night listen.

Coles Corner is an album that wears its heart very openly. It is steeped in romance, nostalgia, and a deep sense of place, and you can hear Hawley’s love for classic songwriting in every detail. The production is warm and unfussy, letting the songs breathe and giving them a timeless quality that feels deliberately old-fashioned without slipping into pastiche. It is the kind of record that invites you to slow down and actually sit with it. Hawley’s voice is central to why this works. There is a calm, almost conversational intimacy to his delivery that makes even the most sentimental moments feel sincere. Tracks like “Coles Corner,” “Tonight the Streets Are Ours,” and “Born Under a Bad Sign” capture that late-night feeling of quiet streets and half-remembered conversations. The arrangements are restrained but elegant, with gentle strings and guitar lines that serve the songs rather than overpower them. If there is a drawback, it is that the album’s mood is so consistent that it can verge on sameness. The tone rarely shifts far from its romantic melancholy, which might leave some listeners wanting a bit more contrast. Still, as a complete piece, Coles Corner is beautifully realised. It is thoughtful, tender, and carefully crafted, the sound of someone fully committed to a particular mood and seeing it through with real grace.

well this was just lovely. moody and beautiful and really pleasant to listen to. <3 i put it off for a few weeks because i thought it sounded dull. how wrong i was!!!

never heard of this but it was a very nice listen. sounds like something out of the 1950s with the crooner voice and big band instrumentation... i was shocked to see it's from 2005. very nice and got two listens from me. Favorites: coles corner, just like the rain, darlin wait for me, the ocean, born under a bad sign, last orders

Really good.

Incredible, sophisticated, and very surprising. I had no idea who Richard Hawley was before getting the book. Initially this album didn't leave any impression on me. I thought it sounded too country or americana. Later, after I became a huge Scott Walker fan, I rediscovered this and the similarities are uncanny really. Of course, Hawley lacks Walker's lyrical prowess, opting for painting simpler, more mundane pictures of love and urban life, but the songwriting is almost as sophisticated. Marvellous arrangements and atmosphere throughout, like a nighttime version of The Divine Comedy. A true hidden gem. Key tracks: Coles Corner Just Like the Rain The Ocean Born Under a Bad Sign

I really like this

I do love a crooner, great songs

Never stopped being lovely for me, maybe it’s caught me in the right mood at the right time of year but a tentative low 4 for me, certainly repetitive and could easily track as bland but to me right now it feels warm, emotive, and elegant - will be digging this out over the winter a fair bit I think and will check out his other work

Inoffensive. Sinatra-adjacent while being neighbors with Johnny Cash.

A really pleasant album from an artist that is new to me. His voice and mellow singing fits very well with the jazz and country feeling a lot of the songs have. I think I'm gonna listen through it once more today!

A really pleasant bit of early 60’s nostalgia. His voice is great and the lyrics are impactful. The perfect album for washing the dishes in the dark. Favorites were Coles Corner, Just Like The Rain, The Ocean, Born Under A Bad Sign, and Tonight.

A gorgeous well polished easy listening album. Harking back through a few decades of blues, rock, soft rock and pop rock to bring together a cohesive, lush, glittery little project. A little samey at times and a touch too country folk for me taste wise on a couple tracks. Interesting crossover with pulp, can hear the stylistic cross pollination. Enjoyed it

I enjoyed this

The best, albeit imperfect, way I can describe Richard Hawley's music is a Northern English blue collar pastoral take on the romanticism of the classical American Mid-West. It's a genuine love affair for Hawley. He doesn't try to imitate, or pastiche. Once you understand that, I think it helps to appreciate what he does.

This is solid. In the earlier songs his voice sounds like an appealingly unstrangled Morissey. It is rich and smooth. The later more country songs are great, and I usually reject Brit’s singling country. Will def listen again.

Its hard to rate stuff when you have had a childhood connection with it, like arcade fire suburbs, and also this. While I think if I heard it for the first time today, I wouldn't think it was anything crazy special, but the standout moments are really great. I do also think this album starts really strong and the tails off a bit. I just know these songs so well that its somewhat hard to critically analyse them. Not too keen on the more country ones, but the orchestral type ones like the first one and the ocean are just incredible. Its a very specific type of stuff, as he's technically a solo artist from a band splitting up, but this is totally different from the Longpigs, and I feel like this is probably the stuff he wanted to do, and I guess artists develop their styles. Favourite songs: all but: I sleep alone, (wading through) the waters of my time. Overall around 8/10

Love this album and never even heard of Richard Hawley before. Where have I been?!?

Utterly divine in places

Really good album, just short of a 5 for me.

Probably not something I'd just put on, ut seriously good work, particularly the song writing.

This was a nice album. Very mellow and Richard Hawley baritone voice is very relaxing. This album has a lounge music vibe with some hints of a folk element at times. Lyrically comes off as kind of a lonely feeling.

Very dreamy yet moody--I really did enjoy it. His voice fit the mood perfectly.

8/10 Nice and chill

This guy I need to explore in depth; nick cave vibes, some elvis, some Leonard Cohen lyrics/mood. Wondering if this is the best, will def. listen again.

Decent

This is lovely. Kind of Nick Lowe Esque,

It was exciting getting an album today that I had not heard of even in passing. I had no idea who Richard Hawley was or is. I was half expecting an album of Cole Porter covers which after hearing Coles Corner it would have worked beautifully with Hawley's vocals, vocals that sound like last call at some dive bar around the holidays- resigned, hopeful, weathered and golden. It's nice to be reminded once in a while why I'm even doing this project- it's for the Richard Hawleys of the world folks with great talent that needs to be heard by more people not so much for their sakes but for us- such talent is good for the world. It enhances the human experience and reminds you with all the bollocks in it - it's still a beautiful place to spend a few decades at. See you at all Coles Corner- first round is on me.

Ta płyta brzmi jakby była dużo starsza niż jest. I to komplement. Taka pradawna dusza mam poczucie, że za nią stoi. 7/10

really nice sounding its so modern arctic monkeys coded

Surprised me! Crooner vibes, thoughtful lyrics, sometimes chamber pop and sometimes ballady. Need to listen again!

Grateful for my dad playing this a lot when I was growing up in the early 2000s. Richard Hawley is very underrated and has an excellent voice. Loads of great songs on this album but my favourites are Just Like the Rain and Born Under A Bad Sign.

Pretty cool - definitely has a vibe I haven't heard anywhere else. This is definitely one to put on for some quiet introspection.

Know Richard Hawley from his music being used for the standing at the sky's edge musical, though I only recognised Coles corner. The musical seemed to use songs like that are big and full of strings to show the happiness in northern communities despite the shitty concrete buildings and it definitely worked for me. This album was mostly subdued and laid back, which I still liked but not as much. Do think Hawley has a great voice mind, soulful but northern, bit like the bloke from elbow. It occured to me that I think Alex Turner wants to be Richard Hawley these days but doesn't have the voice for it. A best of album would score higher but I still think this one is pretty good, 3.5.

Surprisingly nice album! 4/5

Pleasant album. Consistent tone, definitely something that I would listen to again on its own.

Æ trodde ikke æ hadde et forhold til det her albumet, bare en vag idé om å ha sett omslaget før, men æ tror noen æ kjenne må ha hørt en del på det i sin tid, for æ vet æ har hørt førstelåta før, og generelt va det gjenkjennelige greier sjøl om æ ikke huska det. Det e jo også klassisk nok til at det kunne vært gjenkjennelig bare fordi det e så klassisk, men æ tror det e nokka mer i tillegg. Fint okke som.

Morm rečt, da mi je všeč ta teden so far. Zelo raznoliko. Prvi komad, 'Coles Corner", mi je amazing. Nežen, miren, ampak brutalno besedilo. Ne vem kva je dons - a je sonček, a je dejansko to, da sm že tko al tko in a mood, ampak I am loving this album. Čeprav ga poslušam z napačnim vajbom. To se ne posluša na sončnem sprehodu. To se posluša na udobnem zicu, zvečer, mood lighting, razvada of choice v roki, prek kabla direkt v dobre zvočnike. Kar bom zvečer naredila. Definitvno bi katerikoli komad tud lahko bil na koncu epizode v tretji sezoni Twin Peaks. "The Ocean" mi je čudovit. "Born Under A Bad Sign" mi je tak modern version of a 50s pop song. "Tonight" mi ful ujame ta nek melancholy pa notranji nemir neuslišane ljubezni. "(Wading Through) The Waters of My Time" je sad. In zarad " Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet?" zj jokam na sprehodu, k bi moral pomagat my mental health?! In instrumentalen "Last Orders" prou magično zaključi album, listi, ki jih veter pred mano vrti po zraku so samo pika na i.

Super pleasant to listen to, very pretty!! Liked it a lot!!

this was so nice!

Pretty good!

Veldig Elvis-esque stemning

This surprised me. Gentle and lush. Lovely.

Swelling, dramatic, melancholic, and well produced. 8/10

I can see why people have loved this album. Hasn’t quite got its hooks into me yet, but it probably will

Very, very smooth, and very, very pleasant. Bordering on boring, but has enough charm to pull it off.

Sad jazzy but chill

love me some melancholic rock. really hate that I don't like the country songs too much. i really thought the genre was growing on me, hate to see it :(

Fantastic! Mellow and Melancholy. I liked it more than I thought I would. It feels like rainy-day ambiance music. Would absolutely pick this up if I found it in the wild.

I went into this one not knowing Richard Hawley at all, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. He takes that old-school lounge and crooner style and gives it a modern spin that feels both timeless and fresh. His voice is smooth and confident, the kind of tone that fits perfectly with this kind of music. The album is also surprisingly easy to sit with. I had it on in the background while working, and it set a calm and steady mood without ever fading into forgettable noise. The production is lush but never overdone, and it suits Hawley’s delivery perfectly. It is not an album packed with obvious singles, but that is not really the goal. The focus is on creating atmosphere and letting Hawley’s vocals carry it, and in that sense it succeeds. A solid introduction to an artist I had not heard of before, and one that shows this classic style still has a place today. Favorite song: Born Under a Bad Sign

Very chill album. Feels like an album to listen to while watching it rain/snow with a nice cup of hot coffee in the morning

Easy morning listening right here.

Hawley has a very smooth, low voice that sounds great. This sounds like a pop album from the 60’s - think Burt Bacharach or even Neil Diamond or Tom Jones. Notable songs include Cole’s Corner, Just Like The Rain, The Ocean, I Sleep Alone.

Es un album que me genero demasiada paz, con un cierre que se sintió muy apoteosico, contrastante con el resto del disco pues, fue algo mas espacial y efimero. Fue raro en el buen sentido. Creo que es algo que me podría para estar en paz y tranquilo sin llegar a ser aburrido. Limpiar mi habitación fue mucho mas relajante de lo que esperaba con Coles de fondo.

matt maltese wishes he were richard hawley

Chill. Mooie stem. Aangenaam verrast

Born Under A Bad Sign and Hotel Room were 2 of my favourite songs when this album first came out. Still love them. There is filler though. It's a 3.5 moving up to a 4 because of those 2 tracks.

LOVED this. Incredibly captivating opening song. Moody, dramatic instrumental. I didn’t totally fall for Hawley’s voice as a perfect fit for the song, but he makes it work. “Just Like The Rain” swayed me though. His delivery gets more effortless over this very catchy road-trip type song. The first half of “The Ocean” didn’t go over as well, but this became an exception to the rule for the quality of Cole’s Corner. The chorus of “Born Under A Bad Sign” is great work. So simple, so catchy, and a pre-chorus attached to it that makes you want it even more! “Last Orders” is a heavenly closer. Seriously a great use of that chamber sounding piano. Cynicists will tell you this album is just full of wedding and heartbreak songs, but my ears hear more than that. Hawley puts a great album together thats entrenched in the various facets of love, adoration, or desperation. But he does so with such a measured, pleasant delivery. Kinda like an alternate, not-experimental Nick Cave. The heights of this album made me feel like it was a genuine 5 stars, and someday I might feel that way. For now, a very earnest 4/5. Enjoyed this all the way around.

There is easy listening and then there is this album. So unbelievably smooth. A proper vintage feel, polished and immaculately produced. Vocally really strong, a real rich sounding baritone. Orchestral arrangements are fantastic. Then some slower ballads which work well in their own way. The album is wonderfully warm and sort of inexplicably nostalgic. I can say with certainty that feelings were evoked when listening, its just hard to put a finger on exactly what those feelings were. But its good to feel. Poignant, emotional, resonant, sincere. I honestly loved almost every moment of it. Favourite tracks - Coles Corner, Just Like the Rain, The Ocean. 8 5/10

beautiful album. treat of an album. soulful, sweeping, and cinematic - as a fan of more vintage rock and pop acts this didn't sound tired to me at all. the title track, coles corner, is the showstopper for me, reminding me of a scott walker song or maybe even a track off of the arctic monkeys' the car (was pleasantly surprised to learn that hawley, also from sheffield, has previously collaborated with them). will be adding mr. hawley into regular listening rotation. highlights - coles corner, hotel room, the ocean

Kinda boring but kinda liked it. Really low 4

Really enjoyed the album with songs like Ocean, and Coles corner. Sounds like a 1950s album.

Yes! Great album. Richard Hawley is blessed with a great voice. Surely shows here. And then on top of well crafted music, the result is nice warm and vibrant tunes all the Way..

Another low/mid 4, big fan of the orchestration, nice thematic material

Another reviewer mentioned The Roadhouse in Twin Peaks and this album definitively has that sort of vibe. Must hurry, need to listen to some Julee Cruise now.

Going into rotation. Loved it.

Smokey, nightclub sound. Good stuff.

Nice voice, kept waiting for him to belt one out. Dig the vibe. Has a timeless quality to it. Put this one on, sit back, and relax.

A pretty good album, I liked the music style. My favorite songs were Just Like The Rain and Born Under A Bad Sign.

He has a really nice voice. It has very 50's pop ballad vibes but he incorporates little bits and sounds that let you know it is a more modern. It is a little melodramatic, but his voice suits that vibe.

This album feels so woozy and quiet, and yet so cinematic. I really dig the chill. I’m reminded of 1950’s crooners. Richard being the guitarist for Pulp greatly increases the intrigue. I think this may grow on me quite a lot.

Coles Corner – Richard Hawley (2005) | Chamber Pop / Crooner Ballads | Avg: 7.63 | Favorite Song: “The Ocean”* Coles Corner is all about setting the mood, and Richard Hawley nails it completely. This album feels like it's wrapped in soft lighting—warm, melancholic, and full of old-school romanticism without ever becoming kitschy. “The Ocean” stood out the most for me. It’s the emotional core of the record, arranged with elegance and rich vocals, capturing that sense of longing that runs throughout the entire album. It hits with weight without ever raising its voice. From a reviewer’s perspective, this is the kind of album that rewards patience. There’s not much variation from track to track, but that consistency is what makes it charming. Hawley fully embraces his crooner instincts, and the instrumentation is lush but not overwhelming. It’s not a record trying to reinvent the wheel—it’s fully committed to its style, and because of that, it succeeds. If you enjoy classic songwriting with a velvet touch, Coles Corner offers exactly what it promises.

Sounds like a mix of Sinatra and Willie Nelson. Loved It! Totally could be released in the 50's

Never heard of this guy before, was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting some mediocre alt rock yawn fest and instead an easy listening record. Has a classic 60s feel with a modernised twist. Didn't like every song, but enjoyed it all the same. Made me feel calm and happy somehow.

Country orquestal británico? Bastante sofisticado y elegante, con canciones nostálgicas y bien construidas.

I've always had a soft spot for Coles Corner by Richard Hawley. I remember buying it when it was first released and being immediately drawn into its warmth and sincerity. Hawley's sound echoes the emotional depth of artists like Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen, but with a distinctly English, working-class poeticism that makes his music feel both grounded and romantic. I'm a big fan. Interestingly, I only recently discovered that Hawley was once a member of Pulp. Knowing that now, it somehow fits—the richness of his arrangements and his understanding of mood make perfect sense in that context. The album's sound is calm and melodic, with a quietly cathartic atmosphere. Each song resonates with themes of heartbreak, yearning, and nostalgia. It speaks deeply to the emotions I was navigating 20 years ago—listening to it now is like revisiting a long-forgotten part of myself. Favourite tracks: “The Ocean,” “Hotel Room,” and, of course, the title track, “Coles Corner.” Honestly, it’s hard to pick a favourite—nearly every song on this album has something special. Least favourite track: None. There isn't a single weak song here. Album artwork: A really striking and evocative cover—cool in the best sense.

What a surprising find. I had never heard of this before or even seen it around. I don't like Brit Pop but this is not that. Very nice.

First 6 songs are amazing. The last 2 songs idc about.

Not my Usual genre, but really nice chilled vibe compared to what I’m used too. Didn’t get chance to hear full album today but I will finish it another time

Surprising enjoyable

Only knew about Richard Hawley from an Arctic monkeys b side. Liked the album, it was smooth and easy, but also nice to listen too.

I really liked the beginning of this album, but not the end as much. The first few songs reminded me of the music from Over the Garden Wall. It would probably hit even better in the fall or winter. I am giving it a 4, but it’s a pretty low one.

muy agradable