Bad Vibes

Lloyd Cole

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 31, 1994)
• Original Release Date: October 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009PB
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #239,254 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Label

BAD VIBES extends Lloyd Cole's remarkable talent for marrying cinematic imagery to melodic grace. As always he's assembled a talented and versatile backing cast, with names like Matthew Sweet and Anton Fier. This 1994 release, his first after a three year hiatus, was greeted by fans as a return to peak form; even the cynical UK press dubbed it one of Cole's finest efforts. This U.S. release features two bonus tracks not found on the album's 11-song British version: "For The Pleasure Of Your Company" and "4 M.B."

BAD VIBES' ironic title is typical of Cole's approach, which combines evocative lyrical imagery with subtly crafted tunes. The Rolling Stone Album Guide praised his songs' "unblinking honesty" and "rich sense of melancholy," and stated that "Cole's compositions can take a few telling details and a certain cast of melody and somehow paint a vivid picture of a woman or a relationship. At their best, his songs recall the subtle depth and disarming simplicity of Leonard Cohen's work." On BAD VIBES Cole's edgy songcraft is as potent as ever on tunes like the psychedelic-flavored "Morning Is Broken" (the album's first single), the wry "So You'd Like to Save The World," the slow-burning "My Way To You," the bittersweet and humorous "Love You So What" and the darkly provocative "Wild Mushrooms."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best thing he's done., October 29, 2000

By	"ntrop" (Foster City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This seems to be a polarizing album for fans of Lloyd Cole. This is clearly his most cohesive set of songs since "Rattlesnakes". It's simply a question of whether or not you like the left turn he's taking here.

"Bad Vibes" is indeed all about mood. Things aren't going so well in Lloyd Cole's world. In a heart-breaking song near the end of the album, he sings softly "I'm a lonseome alcoholic", while trying to screw up the courage to ask someone "for the pleasure of your company". You get the feeling his potential new lover would be better off staying away from him, and that Lloyd knows it, too.

Nevertheless, Cole is a top songwriter and in fine form here. This is Lloyd Cole's soundtrack to falling out of love with his significant other, his own life, and his fellow man. His wry observations and insightful, cutting lyrics are still here, along with that pop sheen all his albums seem to have. This still sounds like a Lloyd Cole CD, just a little darker and more self-lacerating.

"So you'd like to save the world?" he asks. "I suggest you take one person at a time and start with me". Get the picture?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An album that grows on you, January 9, 1999

By A Customer

I'm a huge Lloyd Cole fan and have been since the mid-'80's. On the first couple of listens I was very disappointed with this album and didn't listen to it much until about two years ago. Then I listened to it again very closely and found it challenging and interesting. The lyrics are clever as they always are, but the music goes in many directions that differ from Cole's standard fare, from the faux-beatlesque "Fall Together" to the funny "Seen the Future". This may be the sardonic Cole's wriest album, and it certainly is worth a patient listen.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His best solo effort, March 22, 2002

By	Maek (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

After DON'T GET WEIRD ON ME, BABE, I honestly felt that Cole was saying goodbye in some strange way...especially with the last song on that album that ended with such bittersweet melodic strings.

But, no, he came back! I remember going to college when this came out; I lived in England at the time, but was going to school in Colorado--hence, my mother in England was able to get me the UK release before a US release available. She told me the album title and described the cover as "Lloyd Cole slouched in a corner in a really bad mood."

It sent chills down me and the chills were intensified when the guitar rumbled through me with the opening strains of "Morning is Broken." Following that song is Cole's satirical look towards global problems being treated as "fads" in "So You'd Like To Save The World?" There's the darkly sexual tone of "Wild Mushrooms" amongst other wonderful songs on this album.

This album was such a refreshing 180 from DON'T GET WEIRD ON ME, BABE, which was a strange, confused album compared to this straightforward word play observations on self-reflection, relationships, and unabashedly unreserved obsession for a girl with her "natural grace."

In my mind, there are no bad Lloyd Cole albums (Commotions, solo, or Negatives) -- but this is definitely his best solo album.