Rattlesnakes

Ein Meisterwerk des 80er-Jahre Jangle Pop mit poetischen Texten und melodischer Eleganz. *Perfect Skin*, „Rattlesnake“ und *Forest Fire* stechen hervor. Zeitlos und einzigartig. Grandioser Mix aus Folk, Wave & Rock gepaart mit knackigen Texten. 😊

OK, this is bad. It's very stereotypical 80s whiny pop. There are a couple songs that actually had me tapping my toes a bit, but there's just so much in this album that encapsulates an era and genre of music that I dislike very much. I guess if you're a fan of 80s pop, it's probably fine? I can't identify anything special or unique about it, but who knows? It's on this (very British-centric) project for a reason.

Quite average for the most part but there's a few really good songs on here like Patience which make it a 4 for me. The vocals are SO 80s and I don't really remember any of the lyrics but it's pleasant enough. I saw a few reviews call it generic 80s synth pop, but there really isn't that much synth here. It's mostly guitars and it feels like a precursor to bands like Pulp.

Nope.

Never heard of them so I went in with no expectations. Not only was this boring as fuck, but his voice is dreadful and was like nails on a chalkboard

2 ⭐️

Meh.

Another Scottish jangle pop band....I just....don't care....

Favorite songs: You Will Never Be No Good, Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?, Four Flights Up, Charlotte Street

Least favorite songs: 2cv, Patience, The Sea and the Sand

2/5

This was my first proper listen to Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, and I was genuinely looking forward to giving them a go.

I ended up listening to Rattlesnakes three or four times because I struggled to land on a clear opinion. There are definitely some great songs here, but overall, it feels quite middle-of-the-road. That said, it’s an easy, pleasant listen — the kind of album that works well in the background.

On reflection, I’d give it a solid 3 out of 5. Not groundbreaking, but good to have on rotation when you want something mellow and unobtrusive.

Favourite tracks: “Perfect Skin” and “Rattlesnakes” stood out as real highlights.
Least favourite: Nothing jumped out as terrible — it’s all pretty consistent.
Album artwork: I really like the simplicity of the cover. It suits the tone of the album perfectly.

Цей список альбомів місцями є сумнівним, але за що він мені подобається, так це за отакі знахідки.

Звісно це типу не найкращий альбом в історії ітд ітп, але прикольно відкривати для себе отакі британські артефакти 80х. Ставлю 3.5, залишаю в себе в бібліотеці.

Jangly guitars, warbly vocals, shimmering synths, poppy bass, cheesy strings, upbeat songs with a bit of snap to them and bittersweet melancholy lyrics. A kind of pop rock that they just don't make anymore. Like a British post New Wave version of heartland rock - a bit phonier, less bombastic, but hitting the same adult contemporary notes. Drags a bit on the slower tracks, but when they're in full on bright jangly mode its so good.

This was unexpected, funky, fresh, and all around good time.

A purely o.k. soft rock album. Some instrumentals that were maybe a bit influential to 90s bands like Radiohead. 3/5

Really nice 80s jangle-pop singer-songwriter stuff with a touch of eclecticism and refreshing lack of social-consciousness. Perfect Skin is a killer song. And if you like Lloyd Cole's voice (which I do) then thi is a pretty enjoyable and very respectable piece of work.

This was pretty fun. A band I hadn't ever heard of before, and an album I could definitely see myself listening to again. But that's only if I remember to listen to them again

Two stars is plenty.

Reminded me of Prefab Sprout in the most awful way possible.

This is just fine, a few really catchy songs but overall a bit generic as 80s pop/rock goes. It does get points though for seemingly being in the vanguard of this genre's explosion, I suppose.

Sometimes I just don't understand why some of these albums are on this list. What is it about this that I need to hear before I die? Nothing, I'll tell you.

Pretty nice listen, doesn't feel particularly deserving of being one of the 1001 essentials.

Surprised to find this one grow on me with an additional listen! Cole is a clever songwriter and solid vocalist, not falling into some of the typical traps that a lot of 80's singers in this genre tend to. Great band arrangements; mostly rooted in dependable jangle pop, shades of sophisti-pop without overdoing it. I have to imagine this would easily make my top 25 of 1984.

4/5

Sounds like stuff straight out of a John Hughes movie. It could be good set to teenagers enjoying their youth. Listening to it as a boring human being trying to enjoy music, it sounds like typical cheesy 80s alternative. I guess it could be someone's thing because it's not horrible, but it's not my type.