Customer Reviews

Coles Corner

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Richard Hawley -a favorite of Nancy Sinatra and Ryan Adams- may just have earned a place in the lineage of singers and songwriters who have a legitimate gift for genuine romanticism, in a tradition wide enough to include Bacharach, Scott Walker, Dion and Roy Orbison.
I know that's quite a strong statement to make, yet Hawley belongs there by his capacity to evoke a certain nostalgia and joy of true romance that is authentic and exquisitely crafted, without ever indulging in trite sentimentality.
Whether you are already familiar with Hawley or not, Coles Corner, his most accomplished album thus far, is a perfect place to take delight on this man's work. Hawley has a distinct voice tone and sense of phrasing that can conjure up the many moods of love that many of us have felt, and that those people mentioned before have so memorably expressed.
I would add that the fact that these songs are written by him may clearly contribute to the confidence and credibility of his delivery. Whether it is the longing in his voice in "Coles Corner" or "Wait For Me," which reminded me of Orbison, or the romantic pleas of "The Ocean" or "Born Under A Bad Sign," he hits the mark.
Another remarkable fact is that Hawley is not even a singer first, his guitar work -a fixture in Pulp's sound in recent years- is what he's been originally recognized for, and in this album he confirm that too. This is one of those rare cases of virtuosity without showing off, confessional without self-consciousness, gorgeous chords and subtle solos weaving seamless stories between words and melodies.
Coles Corner, it's conveyed in the liner notes, was a place where everyone in Sheffield met -specially those looking for romance- and although, many of us were never there, it would feel like a familiar place. Whatever "your corner" was called, or my memory takes me, this music could probably be how those places sounded when we looked for love.

Richard Hawley is one of the few artists that can release albums with limited variations and still hold the continuing listener fascinated by his take on "pop standards." Hawley is a pop standard and there is almost no way of getting around his passion for his contemporaries including Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, etc. The man has definitely nailed melody.

Cole's Corner might be his best record. Owning it a week, I can defintely say it is his most uplifting record musically - all beautiful love songs that make anyone with a soul melt like an ice cream cone in the Sahara. The Ocean is one that stands out, symphonic towards the middle on, the build up makes this one of Hawley's greatest tracks to date. Other favorite tracks offhand are "I Sleep Alone" and "Darlin Wait For Me"

As of now, Amazon does not have a sample to play from this record. As far as I am concerned, this record is a GO. If you enjoyed any of the previous records, this one will own you on impact. I hear he is touring in the US for this one as well. Keep your eyes open for dates.

This is a lovely record, one worth listening to every time it rains, as I'm doing now, here in old LA. The vocals are warm, the songs classically structured, and despite other reviews, this is NOT over produced. Yes: There are understated, very understated, strings on a few cuts--a FEW. Some reverb touches appear here and there. But that constitutes over production? In what parallel universe, what Bizzaro World? And the nonsense about this being a Country record is laughable. Which country, exactly, are we talking about? There's exactly one song that might fit that genre. And it is classic and beautiful. Sure, there are some songs that derive from the precursors to country, the old folk song styles, which were themselves derived from Celtic ballads. But "Country?" Not to offend anyone, but that just isn''t accurate.

I would say the vocal and songwriting analogy would be closer to Nick Lowe's latest work, rather than Cohen or Cash. Cash had more of an edge to his tone; Cohen doesn't have Hawley's sense of pitch, though he has a whole lot of lyrics. This is more Spartan, like Nick's "Dig My Mood," though melodically it also closes in at times on Orbison, and there is an echo of Roy in the phrasing. I might offer the caveat that the lyrics are not the kind of wordplay that makes Nick Lowe a genius, nor the vocal passion that trademarks Roy Orbison, but Nick and Roy belongs to a different pantheon entirely. What Hawley is doing here is turning cliches around and upside down, perfectly respectable in my book, and singing them with the kind of integrity that honors the emotions behind the otherwise stock imagery.

I grow weary of cricics who have never played music, never taken a music course, critics whose sole credential is that they passed Freshman English with a B, damning great records like this one just to see their own prose in print. If you like classic popular song forms, delivered with grace, skill, dignity and a sincerity that cannot be faked, then this is for you. I, for one, would love to shake the hand of the man who could make a record like this in these times of abject vapidity.

This album has it all: lyrical depth, melodic beauty, gorgeous instrumentation. It's symphonic. It rocks. It's informed by peerless craft as well as divine inspiration. It has an arc: it builds, with not an ounce of filler, from beginning to end.

And as if that weren't enough (and it would be better than 99.9% of all the other music out there if it ended there) it comes wrapped up in one of the most beautiful and distinctive singing voices of our time. Like everyone says, Richard Hawley's voice conjurs the ghosts of Orbison and Scott Walker, but it's entirely his own and so damn expressive it can take your breath away.

Each song is its own little gem. But there are stand-outs: the title song and "The Ocean" are two of the greatest songs of the last 10 years. At least.

Please buy this album. Your life will be much the richer for it.

I rate this album 4 1/2 stars! This is my first Richard Hawley album, so unlike some of the ratings below, I don't have his previous album to compare it to, or reason to be disappointed. I think this album is absolutely gorgeous! It sounds totally original and fresh, while still reminding me of some of my favorite artists: Frank Sinatra's ballad albums, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Gene Clark. The actual place, "Coles Corner", in Hawley's native Sheffield, England, acts as an anchor and a concept for this album of lovely songs. I am definitely going to buy another Hawley CD - right now, in fact!! Forget Buble', Connick Jr., and Dusk!! - I've found my "new Sinatra"! His voice is a little rough, but it's from the heart, and THAT is what Frank Sinatra was always about!

This is Richard Hawley's third solo record. He has quite an international reputation as a solid songwriter. He has played with the Sheffield-based Britpop bands Longpigs and Pulp. He has even produced records for A Girl Called Eddy and Nancy Sinatra. He also collaborated with Jarvis Cocker on the Relaxed Muscle project. His own music is very distinct though. It is in the tradition of Scott Walker, Roy Orbison, Lee Hazelwood, and Leonard Cohen. His last three records stand up there with traditionalists like Nick Cave and Tom Waits. There is a new rawness to this record. Hawley is obsessed with the production of the Sun Studios. His music is delicate and conveys emotion almost too directly. It's hard to listen to this sometimes because it sends chills up the spine. That is true of Tom Waits records too. The name "Coles Corner" was an actual meeting place in Sheffield. Most of this record is like a piece of his hometown. The first song Hawley says "I am going downtown where there is music..." and it sounds like we are off on a musical journey. There are some songs with string sections and they sound like movie soundtracks, but some songs like "Just Like The Rain" is mostly acoustic guitar and voice. The song "Hotel Room" is much like a doo-wop song that one can imagine in a David Lynch film. "The Ocean" is one of the best Hawley songs ever. I heard this song a while ago and it is totally memorable. It is weird that a lot of this American roots music and early rock and roll is forgotten in America, but quite popular in England and Scotland. Richard Hawley creates another great album. He is a true artist. I don't throw that term around lightly.

Wow, what a terrific surprise. I bought this CD on a bit of a whim (I had read a few positive reviews), but was not prepared to be blown away as I have been by it. This is the epitome of late night music - shades of 1950s-1960s crooners, Roy Orbison, early rock and roll records. Beautiful, nostalgic music all delivered with conviction by Richard Hawley, who has a rich, distinctive voice. It's a very nice change from a lot of the spastic pop I've been listening to this year. Very very highly recommended, and I will definitely be exploring his earlier discs.

I listened to an interview with the artist downloaded from the Gaurdian newspaper online. He played a couple of acoustic numbers. The vioce, big, deep and rich with just a hint of nicotine. The songs, fresh, mesmerising and heartfelt. Immediatly purchased this album and recommend it to all conisuers of intellegent, well constructed, superbly produced romantic pop music. Treads some dreamlike territory that resonates with echos of Jimmy Webb and Glen Cambell, Burt Bacharach,Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison. Pulsating with atmosphere, expansive and lush. Has it all. Why isn't this guy huge?

I know it's easy to be cynical about an album that has been lauded as much as this one, but it's all true. His solo albums just get richer, deeper and more sublime with each release. Some people have mentioned how he has moved away from his sound on Lowedges, but it's still there. It's just matured and blossomed. If you have the chance to see him live, don't miss it.

Actually, I jest...I happen to like Chris Isaak, a lot. But Richard Hawley really has something to offer all his own and I suggest checking him out, if you like that Roy Orbison kinda thing...a little darker and a little more adult...This gorgeous batch of songs is his best yet.

Coles Corner, by the way, is apparently a real lovers' meeting place in England.