Born in Buxton, Derbyshire, Cole grew up in nearby Chapel en le Frith and went to New Mills Grammar School. After failing in law at University College London, he later attended (but did not graduate from) the University of Glasgow where he studied philosophy and English and met the other members of band that would become The Commotions. Their 1984 debut, Rattlesnakes, contained numerous literary and pop culture references to figures like Norman Mailer, Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint, Truman Capote and Joan Didion. The group produced two more albums, Easy Pieces and Mainstream, before disbanding in 1989, when Cole re-located to New York to record with legendary musicians like Fred Maher and Robert Quine (as well as a then largely unknown Matthew Sweet).
This solo setting produced two acclaimed albums, Lloyd Cole in 1990 and 1991's Don't Get Weird on Me Babe. The latter was recorded in two parts: one side continued the New York rock mastered on his first solo album, while the other side featured a session orchestra, much in the style of Burt Bacharach or Scott Walker. Although some reviewers have claimed Don't Get Weird on Me Babe (the title being a quote from the American neo-realism poet Raymond Carver) to be a creative peak, it produced significantly lesser record sales, and the contract with Capitol Records ended.
Subsequently signed by Rykodisc, Cole continued redefining his sound with Bad Vibes (1993), a collaboration with producer/remixer Adam Peters using a harder, grunge and psychedelica inspired sound. Love Story (1995) established stripped-down, largely acoustic sound landscapes with the help of Stephen Street (famous for his work with Blur and The Smiths) and former Commotions Neil Clark and Blair Cowan; the album produced a minor hit with the song "Like Lovers Do".
In 2000, after years without a contract, Cole recorded a disc with the New York band The Negatives, featuring Jill Sobule and Dave Derby of the Dambuilders. He has since released solo albums on smaller independent labels. Sanctuary Records, the company responsible for the revival of Morrissey, released Music in a Foreign Language (2003) in the U.K. Recorded largely by Cole himself (including tracks recorded directly into a Mac), the songs had a stark, folk-inspired singer-songwriter style. One Little Indian, home of Björk, released Music in a Foreign Language in the U.S.; they also collected a number of outtakes (recorded from 1996 to 2000) on 2004's Etc. and released an instrumental ambient electronica album, Plastic Wood, the same year.
Cole continued to tour, playing intimate club venues in a one-man acoustic setting. In 2004, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Rattlesnakes, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions reformed to perform a one-off, sell-out tour in the U.K. and Ireland. An avid golfer, he is also known for playing concerts in towns suspiciously close to famous golf courses. He also shares a passion for this sport with Alice Cooper who is said to introduce the song "Only Women Bleed" claiming "not even Lloyd Cole has written a song about menstruation" when playing live.
Cole's album "Antidepressant" was released in 2006 featuring the former Commotions guitarist Neil Clark on some tracks.
The follow-up Broken Record, released in September 2010, marked a departure from his solo recordings, as it was performed by a band of longstanding friends and working partners, including Fred Maher, Joan Wasser, Rainy Orteca, Dave Derby and Blair Cowan – as well as two musicians, Matt Cullen (guitar; banjo) and Mark Schwaber (guitar; mandolin).
An album co-funded by fans, Standards, was released in June 2013.
A studio album – Guesswork – was released on July 26, 2019 by earMUSIC.
Brazil
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe I'll take some
Maybe I'll feel better if I do
In Brazil
I hear they're pretty laissez-faire down there
But me I'm so uptight
Taken unaware - well, I just might
I hear they have the good drugs in Brazil
Maybe I'll take some
Maybe I'll feel better if I do
In Brazil
The song "Brazil" by Lloyd Cole talks about the allure and mystique of Brazil. The lyrics are simple, yet potent – Lloyd Cole talks about the drug culture in Brazil and how he might indulge in it to feel better. He points out that people in Brazil are very laid-back and relaxed, which is contrasting to how he is feeling. He seems to be a bit hesitant about taking the drugs, yet he cannot resist the temptation.
The song is also a reflection of the larger culture and history of Brazil. The country is known for its colorful culture, beautiful nature, and lively music, but it also has a dark side. Brazil is a country where people from all over the world come to party, to enjoy, and to forget. The song speaks to those feelings of escapism, of running away from real life into a place of beauty, danger, and risk.
Overall, the song is an evocative snapshot of the allure and danger of Brazil, compelling the listener to imagine the beauty and danger of the Brazilian landscape.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear they have the good drugs in Brazil
I've heard that Brazil is known for its high-quality drugs and it's tempting to try them
Maybe I'll take some
Perhaps I'll indulge in these drugs myself
Maybe I'll feel better if I do
I'm hoping that these drugs will improve my mood or provide a temporary escape from my problems
In Brazil
I'm specifically considering doing this in Brazil, where I've heard the drugs are particularly good
I hear they're pretty laissez-faire down there
I've also heard that Brazil is known for being lenient or relaxed about certain things
But me I'm so uptight
In contrast, I tend to be anxious or tense
Taken unaware - well, I just might
I'm not sure if I'll actually go through with trying the drugs, but if the opportunity arises, I might give it a shot
Contributed by Avery B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.