Search - Lloyd Cole :: The Negatives

What's wrong with this picture?

T. Norton | key west | 01/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's now 2005 and I've finally gotten this c.d. Where the hell was I? The most interesting peice of positive guitar pop since Matthew Sweet's ditty "Sick of Myself" (which charted in 1996)was arriving to an empty platform, and would have to face a long hike into my life. I would apologize for the inconvenience, but it's been 4 YEARS and how does one apologize to a song??.



That song "What's Wrong With This Picture?" is that rare entity, a (gasp!) SENTIMENTAL catchy ditty driven by equal measures of jangly and fuzzy guitar, insistent yet simple bass groove, and anchored by a solid, relentless kick drum, with a theremin-sounding solo that actually evokes human emotion. All the more unlikely, it actually rings true lyrically and says something interesting! U2 gave us "It's a Beautiful Day" (in a harder rock style) a couple years ago and all the sudden everyone was positively euphoric. When Lloyd offered his ray of sunshine it was all the more eloquent given his brooding history and a catalogue utterly devoid of manic pop (unless you count "undressed" from 1990*s "Lloyd Cole" - which many of us did for lack of a better example!). If Lloyd ever needs a hit-single to bring to potluck supper, it's in the freezer and will warm quite nicely.



As for the album as a whole, it features some pretty impressive names: Jill Sobule, Stephen Street (of Smiths fame), Mick Glossop (notable producer, here on a couple final mixes), on "That Boy" we get producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (Madness, the Commotions 2nd album, and a hell of a lot more-They are affectionately known as "Clanger"), here and there are Neil Clark (highly-regarded guitarman from the Commotions), Robert Quine (ace avante-garde guitarman featured on Lloyd's earlier solo work, but sadly no longer with us), William Wittman (producer of Cyndi Lauper and Joan Osborne, among others), and on all tracks the remainder of the Negatives: Dave Derby, Michael Kotch, and Rafa Maciejak on bass, guitar, and drums respectively.



Clearly a band effort, the Negatives oozes the sense of collaboration that is unavoidable with so many greats in one project. The music is particularly guitar-rich , which it ought to be with no less than 5 "G-men (and lady)" at hand. Kicking off with an almost pleading "jangly" guitar that evokes the Sundays for an instant, the first song lets you know that many things are going to be said that aren't always easy to say... A few, at least will be incredibly poignant, and all will be as truthful as possible. That first song is "Past Imperfect", and serves notice that Lloyd would like to reset the counter please... Imagine having to drag around the foolishness of your twenties AND the mis-steps toward fulfillment that are your thirties in one oversized, overpacked, unwieldy, and simply unfashionable bag (as you climb the steps "out" to get on with your forties).



With a rich slice of acoustic guitar and a Ringo Starr drumfill, "Impossible Girl" comes right back to present day and Lloyd's seldom idle (if occassionally mislayed) pen. It's a sing-along number with a great middle section and Lloyd's ever quirky observations are married to a classic Beatles sound, nice that...



"No More Love Songs" veers widely off the expected path and instantly draws you into it's story, which is really Lloyd taking a jab at himself in the guise of a well-crafted vignette (which indeed it is...). Then starts an unexpected, almost dancey kick drum, followed by the ring of a mesmerizing, shimmering and quite original jangly guitar riff (with a little digging I can say it's likely Lloyd who wrote/played the riff and good on 'im!) The guitar gracefully makes room so Lloyd can start singing and the bassline can get in on the action. We are off on our flight of fancy, this is "What's Wrong With This Picture" and that mysterious question can only be answered by purchasing the c.d.



Enough play by play, further highlights include every song to follow! Seriously, they all shine with distinct personality and their own little behavioural problems, just like children. The black sheep would be "Negative Attitude", while the chronic overacheiver with low self-esteem would be "Tried to Rock". Here Lloyd attempts to apologize for having a chance, taking it, and not exactly failing. He claims he isn't the stuff of Rock and Roll while singing in homage to John Lennon and oh-so-slyly evoking "Sexy Sadie" and "Jealous Guy" in a song that remains undeniably original. The overall effect is as cool as Lennon ever got, but I guess that won't appease Lloyd's misgivings, so I'll say it clearly:



Lloyd, love means never having to say you're sorry (as opposed to marriage- which means saying your sorry to avoid being TRULY sorry...) Lloyd very obviously loves what he does. Anyone who's bothered to purchase one or more of Lloyd's albums loves him. What's wrong with this picture? Nothing at all."