The fall from grace of Lloyd Cole is hard to explain. A literate, sometimes over-literary songwriter, his singles with The Commotions very much defined the 1980s for many rock fans. This collection is a virtual soundtrack of those days, featuring his major hits with the band such as Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken and Perfect Skin. Better still, and ridiculously under-rated, are such solo offerings as Don’t Look Back, She’s A Girl and I’m A Man and the beautiful Butterfly. These are the real treasures on this album, and the songs that are bound to be a revelation to fans who are only familiar with his early work. A great, often deadpan voice delivering deadly lyrics.
Publication: The Irish Times
Publication date: 15/01/99