Bad Vibes

This record is an outlier in Lloyd Cole's catalog, in that it is an unadulterated rock record and probably the most guitar-driven electric effort to date. It definitely has a psychedelic sensibility, with effects-laden vocals and guitars, and plenty of reverb. As a person weaned on the Beatles' mid-60s classics (Revolver, Sgt. Pepper), this first struck me as one of the best Beatlesesque records of the 90s. Yet it takes this experimentalism without being derivative, a real rarity. It also has songs that are up to exactly the same high craft as any of Cole's records, including what I'd say is his more "adult" and less college-oriented catalog. This would be a good place to start if you're new to Lloyd Cole and your preferences run to a more hard-driving sound. If you are already a fan, but like Cole's more folk or 80's college-radio material, don't sell this one short. It's different, but a side that Lloyd can be heard having a lot of fun with in bits and pieces elsewhere in his body of work, but nowhere else in this concentration.

I discovered "Bad Vibes" in 2008 and haven't stopped listening to it since. Every song has grit and power and passion and a unique sound. It's the best album Matthew Sweet has ever been involved with (other than "Girlfriend") and his influence can be felt throughout. I absolutely disagree that it's "...far from accessible." I honestly think it could've been big had it had the right promotion (or the palms of all the right programmers been greased enough, more than likely). It's become an absolute desert island disc for me.