Rattlesnakes is the debut album by British group Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, released on 12 October 1984. The album reached number 13 in the UK Album Charts and included the hit singles "Perfect Skin" (#26 in UK), "Forest Fire" (#41 in UK, #25 in New Zealand) and "Rattlesnakes" (#65 in UK, #31 in the Netherlands).
Not bad but I'm kinda pissed because this took a spot on the list away from so many albums that are much better than this. It's not even like this is revolutionary or different in one way or another, it just sounds like every other generic British alt-rock/pop/sadboi album in the 80s-90s and I'm starting to get sick of how many of these are on the list. 5
Another Scottish band from the 80s (that makes three in a row). Lloyd and his boys have a touch more punk to their 80s pop which is nice. It's relatively non-offensive musically for an album from '84. Good guitar tones and the lyrics are relatively deep for the time. The first track (Perfect Skin) is pretty good (turns out it was the band's very first single and well-chosen). This is an entire album of songs that would be great as modern covers, honestly. The songwriting is good, just hampered by it being a product of its time. I'm honestly surprised by how much I liked this album. Gonna have to give this one a second listen at a later date.
This album had 2 problems. First, it was boring. It felt like an hour long album, even though it was 35 minutes long. Second, It felt empty. Every song felt like it was missing something and that it was the most bare-bones version of the song. Heck, even the cover looks like it's missing something. 2.6/5
I liked it! Feels a bit like Pulp, for people that read poetry.
hey lloyd, i'm ready to be heartbroken fav track: perfect skin
I had never heard of this band, and I was surprised to find that I really dug this album! If I had to describe it, I would say it's like an easy listening, folky new wave. In other words, it has that new wave strangeness about it, but a lot of the heaviness of new wave is tenderized with that folk sound. One thing that can happen with folky music is that everything can sort of blend into one mess of sound, but I did not feel like that was the case here; each song stood on its own and had its own unique presence. Bob Dylan seems to have been a huge influence for Lloyd Cole, and considering I am not a fan of Dylan, I was very pleased to find that Cole and the band found a way to take that inspiration and create something fresh with it. I've seen some debate about whether or not this album deserves to be on this list. Maybe, maybe not -- I can see arguments for both. But either way, I really enjoyed it, and I'm going to let my rating reflect that.
Masterpiece. Love his voice, though at times he does waver at the top of his minimal range. Own and only ever listened to "Mainstream"; now wondering why I never looked for any of his other albums. What a dummy. Fav tracks: "Forest Fire" - super catchy. "Speedboat" - soothing and just downright fun. Least fav: "Four Flights Up". But is on 2.5 mins, so goes fast. A-
Literate, clever ("Must you tell me all your secrets when it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing?") and excellent, this is a hallmark of early '80s indie rock or alt pop or post-new wave or something. One can make a case he was a kinder, gentler (or better read and educated) Elvis Costello, but this and next few records had a lot to offer, even if he never seemed quite cut out for music biz. An all-time personal favorite, though one can see the flaws (perhaps too many name-droppy preferences and pretty muddy production). The tone and tenor and surfeit of great songs – "Perfect Skin," "Forest Fire" and "Patience" "Are Your Ready to Be Heartbroken" and "Rattlesnakes" – more than compensate. Barely a foot wrong here.
Eh? Not my style. It was fine, but I'd never consider it a top 1000 album.
If you told me to close my eyes and fart out a generic 80s indie pop album, I would produce this album exactly. Maybe I’m hating more on the form or the era more than the artist, but this slow 80s synth pop just bores me to tears. 2 stars because you have to be doing something right to fit perfectly into a stereotype. Wish I could appreciate them more, but the music seems to be giving me very little to work with. The last song was okay
Thanks to this album, Wikipedia and a helpful friend, I am now aware of the existence of the genre "sophisti-pop", which I can now avoid for the remainder of my life
I think from the moment "Perfect Skin" concluded I wasn't going to enjoy this record. As always, I finish each record on this, and this isn't any different. That time gave me a chance to distill what I didn't like about this record. This record sounds like it's full of songs that are destined to be TV theme songs (see: the "Friends" intro song). Lloyd Cole attempts a voice that I can only assume was supposed to be "seductive", but manages to be able as "seductive" as wallpaper paste. Lyrically, there are plenty of lyrics that felt like he went with the first idea that came to head and called it "good enough". When I was on the Wikipedia page for this record, the first thing you see is a quote from Lloyd Cole essentially insinuating that "Perfect Skin" is him trying to be Bob Dylan, and hinting that, "Dylan would've written it quicker". I'm not even a huge fan of Dylan, and I'm insulted on his behalf. I normally end each review with a "Favorite tracks", but gracefully all of these have slipped out of my mind. It's somewhere between yacht-ish yuppie rock, and the type of watered-down, corporate blues that Clapton was making in the 80s. No. No. Absolutely not.
Absolute classic of an album. I've still got the vinyl copy I bought on release.
I have loved this album ever since it slid into my consciousness as a teenager. As one of the other reviews here says - like swimming in autumn. Beautiful
Still beautiful after all these years.
Actually a fantastic album. Super well articulated musically, great lyrics, and an original feel. Big fan.
false
i reallyyyyy liked listening to this album, especially 'down on mission street'. and the lyrics made it better to listen to i mean if i heard someone say 'cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin', let alone all of these songs, in reference to me i think i'd need a good lie down. the flirty nature of these songs make me feel warm inside. it's just the classic boy loves girl and writes songs about her story that is being told throughout this whole album that adds the extra edge ahhh i just cant emphasise it, maybe it's the feeling of summer dawning upon me is making me feel like this
New to me but I enjoyed it!
Wow. Really enjoyed this album. Great playing, hyper literare lyrics that imopress even on first listen. Lots of lyrical turns that jump out. Lloyd is a gifted story teller and his characters are really well drawn. But the songs are the thing and they are all gems. 4 stars
This is what I like about this malarkey. I like what I know of Lloyd Cole but have never had the occasion to listen to an album. This forces me to do it, and it's great. Will definitely come back to it. The Sea and the Sand and the other singles edges out by Perfect Skin as best song.
I always thought Lloyd Cole a little too clever, a little too knowing for my tastes. I could just about get my head around a Smiths album, but Lloyd Cole to my young mind was a bit of a Bob Dylan. I'm pleased to be proven wrong. My personal intelligence hasn't advanced much over the years. But I've come to realise that you should approach music at a basic level. If you like it, then you like it. I like this.
Rattlesnakes on the surface is a bit of an unremarkable album, I was initially confused (as are many reviewers) why this would make the list at all. Despite some great guitar tones and playing, notably on Forest Fire. the whole thing just passes by as a little bit anonymous. But as I often do I scanned back through some of the tracks afterwards and started noticing that parts of it sound remarkably like pavements 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain' which didn't come out for another 10 years. Parts of it also sound a bit more new wave or smiths brand goth pop. So it seems to occupy a space within the indie music cannon where its looking backwards and forwards, bridging the gap between older, more heavily textured precursors to modern indie and the brand of jangly cynicism we have had since the 90's. Unfortunately the interest only carries it so far and I still think its ultimately a pretty mediocre album. A solid 3, and I think a good candidate for dropping off the list in later revisions unfortunately.
One word Wednesday: BORING
Some decent tunes. But ultimately nothing special. Surprised it made the list.
Boring.
Really dull album. Tunes sounded like cheap imitations of other artists. Glad I didn't listen to the version with the b-sides.
Pleasantly surprised by this important Brit pop that was new to me. I liked it
Really loved this one, how come I’ve never heard about this new wave band before?
Pretty great. Sometimes sounds like Depeche Mode, maybe lighter
I have never heard of this band but I really liked this album
Big big fan of this. Didn't really like it all that much the first time, so just goes to show how important a second or third listen is for a lot of these albums. The first 5 I'm giving to an album I didn't already know Saved: Speedboat, Rattlesnakes, Down on Mission Street, 2cv, Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?
First time since starting this that I have listened to an album, and then immediately listened to another by the same act. Loved this.
I love Brit pop. This was a little more on the indie side
80s as heck. I enjoyed my listen, upbeat and interesting enough to keep me going no problem. Instrumentation surprisingly good too.
really fun 80s rock - 9/10
Great album
It sounds so modern for a 1984 album and so "American" for an British group. I wouldn't be so overly positive if it came out in the 21st century. Very "before their times" music.
Will definitely re-listen
Intriguing. I’m not a massive fan of his tone but everything thing else is working for me. I feel like this definitely deserves further listening so I’m giving a soft 5 to keep it in from getting lost amongst the other 4s
cool
This is amazing. I love the musicality of this album. The production does have an 80's vibe but not in the synth way that I usually think of 80's music. I will be listening to this again for sure.
Quite indie sound. Like Speedboat and 2cv
Don't remember this from the 80's. but it's really good.
Like the cure but without Robert Smith
First time I've heard of this band! I like it.
Enjoyed this very much. Bouncy upbeat feel to it. 80s U.K. vibes done well. Down on Mission Street is amazing.
I was prepared to hate this, but it's not bad. Sounds like Lou Reed covering the proclaimers. The cool instrumentation (backwards guitars? strings?) keep things more interesting than I was expecting.
One of those serious, elegant, stylish beautiful pop records which transcends time but all the same time is a product of its era
A couple of years ago, I pulled this LP out of my vinyl collection, played it and remember thinking it wasn't as good as I'd remembered it, but, after a more focused listen, I disagree. Nicely crafted songs, subtle but catchy, with great lyrics full of literary references for arty types. As is often the case, the 4 bonus tracks (not on vinyl) lower the average quality of the tracks.
Pretty enjoyable. Got a nice sound, but might be nice if they had more than the one of them. Low 8.
7
Toffe plaat, deed me vaak denken aan The Smiths. Kan dit wel waarderen.
Saved Prior: Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? Saved Off Rip: Perfect Skin, Speedboat, Rattlesnakes, Forest Fire, Charlotte Street, Four Flights Up Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: No bad songs, but nothing earth-shattering either. Just a nice collection of 80's alt-pop. Close to a 5 due to sheer number of songs saved, but not that many songs I would really call incredible 10/10 songs so it stays a 4.
Very lighthearted and fun album. Nothing genious, but very happy, music that takes you along for the easygoing vibe. Improved my mood immensely.
I think there's more here that I could be into on a second listen.
противоречиво. вообще сначала почти все не заходило, пока слушал за работой на колонках. потом решил прокатиться в метро в наушниках - ну и словил определённый вайб все-таки. мягкие аранжировки, очень классные струны, неплохие хуки время от времени, харизматичный, хотя и немного нытливый вокалер. алсо, этот вокалист мне подарил ощущение какого-то русского поп-рока по типу песни про то что кто-то брат мог бы играть в разведке и служить в кино. но не сказать, что плохая песня-то. не зашли по итогу только две предпоследние песни, даже как будто сведены хуже и немного слух поцарапали. зато финалочка - балдеж, даже несмотря на противные аффинажеские мотивы, что я в ней уловил. из бонус-песен тоже ничего не цепануло. ну 7,че, можно вечерком погулять под это, если настроение располагает
half way, not my sound. Sounded good for what i heard
Oh damn! Hade ingen aning om vad detta var. Är jag ärlig med mig själv så visste jag inte om Rattlesnakes var bandets eller albumets namn när jag öppnade upp spotify. Men det är ett riktigt härligt sound, med mycket små riffs från en lätt gitarr. Jag tycker sångarens röst påminner lite om Simple Minds men också på något litet plan Morriseys röst, även fast den inte är lika bra som hans så ger det ett ändå ett positivt avtryck. Detta kommer lyssnas vidare på! Bäst: "Rattlesnakes"
Reminded me of like 4 different bands smashed together. Not in a terrible way, I still enjoyed the music.
I love this genre. That 80s UK New Wave. While there are lots of bands that fit this genre, ironically this album sounds more like The Cars, an American band! Perfect Skin is a poppy, fun, introduction to the album. Speedboat is a great groove. I can see this song being a real fun part of a live show towards the end of the show or just a break from an upbeat set in the middle! I see Lloyd Cole cites Booker T and MGs as an influence, and I completely see that influence in songs like Speedboat and .
This album is like swimming in the early autumn when the weather is still warm and the water is just beginning to cool. It’s a mellow and calm experience, but you don’t want to stay in too long.
Never heard of them before but a pleasant surprise. Smiths/Cure vibes
Good classic 70s vibes, I really enjoy the instrumentation and the style it was going for. Sounded generic and not very unique, but I enjoyed it nonetheless
While this album does have a tendency toward the pretentious, it still sounds really good. There's not a lot that stands out, but all of the tracks are really solid. That is no small feat considering the diversity in songwriting and the amount of different influences blended into coherent songs.
Not what you might think.
Pop. Very defining of that era.
I little more my style.
Love this. Very much of its time, but still a great pop record.
This album was an interesting listen; I'd never heard of Lloyd Cole and The Commotions prior to this, but the music sounded familiar in that it was redolent of the jangly guitars, tuneful melodies and simple song structures peppered with the occasional strings or organ sounds. It made me think of indie rock bands like Real Estate and The War On Drugs, amongst others. Rattlesnake was an enjoyable journey, with songs like Patience that garnered repeated listens with its 80s-pop-esque drum sounds and catchy melody. Tracks like Perfect Skin featured the jangly guitars and exuberance that has since become a mainstay of many an indie pop band while others like Down On Mission Street explore a darker sound that sounds like a Robyn feature on a War On Drugs song. For its seeming simplicity, this album is chock-full of tasty bits of musicianship, like the tiny time signature changes, textural keys and what sounds like a banjo in the opening track. Lloyd Cole could very well sneak into any indie playlist undetected, and is a testament to the fact that its all been done before; one need but dig back a little further.
Rattle baby
Very good, already knew many of the songs but a welcome re-listen. Are You Ready to be Heartbroken, Forest Fire and Perfect Skin are classics.
Man had an ear for a tune and some poetic things to say, with recurring themes of contrasting basements and flights of stairs and comparing women with perfect skin to old school movie stars. Pretty charming and has an air of romance to it and if the production feels a little low key and unvaried at times, at least you feel he made the album he wanted to make.
Well this was a lovely surprise. A few tracks I knew (not by name) and it feels surprisingly fresh. A lovely summer album.
Nostalgic
I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this. Adding to my rotation!
Classic from my bedsit days. Just great songs for the position in life I was in at that time
Enjoyable album, reminds me a bit of the slower songs of REM. Nothing groundbreaking but just a good combination
Nice background music then defaulted into bully Bragg on YouTube
I really liked this? Like early R.E.M jangle pop mixed with 80’s new wave vocals.
Great album with feel good music
det är bra, det har nåt. bra längd på albumet också vilket hjälper att cementera fast fyran.
Surprised. I like it.
Never heard of this album or artist before, but was pleasantly surprised. Jangly, at times moody, and literate much like a more caffeinated And Also the Trees.
Kind of Brit-Rock-ey, but with a fun twangy, echoey guitar tone
for an artist and an album i had never heard before, they knocked my socks off! not to mention i hadn't heard of the genres jangle pop and college rock before. i was so pleasantly surprised. rattlesnakes was a lovely, soothing listen with tender lyrics. sometimes the lyrics veered off in a pretentious manner, almost like name dropping, but even lloyd cole later said he was embarrassed by some of the lyrics, so i won't hold it against this album. i feel a lot of similarities musically with this album and the smiths' the queen is dead--which is nothing against lloyd cole and the commotions, since rattlesnakes predated the queen is dead. it's definitely less weird, which probably means less punk, than the smiths.
:D
Great stuff
This album is pretty generic. Definitely not bad but also definitely not something I’m gonna hurry back to.
Cool. Average 80s ish music, didn't pick up anything especially good or bad. Second track was notably good
Bra debutalbum och jag är ju lite svag för bra denutalbum.
I only discovered Lloyd Cole in the past year and I now feel I wasted the previous 40 not listening to him. This kind of literate, jangly indie-rock is exactly the kind of stuff I love and this is a terrific example of it The 2nd half of the album doesn’t quite maintain the charm of the first but I still thoroughly enjoyed this
Really liked Lloyd's voice. Also, I've been to the University of Glasgow (where the singer was when the band formed I think) and it's a lovely place!
The refined sound blend of good 80's music with interesting lyrical content. Very cool how a lot of it references literature and recreates the feelings of being in love 4/5
Very 80s but I liked it
Know I know where Hey Lloyd I’m ready to be heartbroken was inspired from.
Jangle pop is also noice
Fun varied album
Solid
Great debut. One of my favorites.