Lloyd's music career began as part of the band The Commotions, their debut in 1984 cemented Cole's reputation as a social commentator. 'Rattlesnakes' contained a number of literary and pop culture references mentioning varying people including Arthur Lee, Simone de Beauvoir, Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint, Truman Capote, and Joan Didion. After two more albums, 'Easy Pieces' and 'Mainstream' the band disbanded and Lloyd moved back to New York to concentrate on a solo career.
His self titled debut was a success in his homeland, charting at #11 on the album charts and featured a small hit 'No Blue Skies'. The follow-up also fared relatively well in the UK, peaking at #21. 'Don't Get Weird On Me Babe' was an album of two halves, one followed Cole's conventional rock stylings whilst the other included a symphony orchestra.
He had two more albums chart within the UK top 40 chart before dropping off the commercial radar. In the mid-90's Cole's label Universal Music had a large purge of the artist roster and their contract with Lloyd was terminated despite having two full length albums still in their possession. In 2013 Cole returned to the UK charts for the first time in fifteen years with 'Standards' which peaked at #74.
Known for being the frontman of the popular 80’s pop/rock band Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, in 1990 Cole embarked on a solo career after the band’s split. Releasing his debut self-titled album through Polydor later that year saw him enter the charts at number eleven in the UK charts and certified gold. Several tracks on the album reflected his feelings in regards to his transition from band to solo artist and the change in musical direction. The single ‘Downtown’ gained commercial success as it received substantial radio play. Embracing change, over his twenty years acting as a solo artist, Cole has experimented with genres such as: folk, indie and even instrumental electronic music. Playing the small club circuit and creating an intimate setting, Cole sat on his stool with acoustic guitar often plays some of his old band’s repertoire and giving it a folk inspired twist playing songs like ‘Jennifer She Said’ and ‘Forest Fire’. With so many older songs thrown into the setlist, the crowd can’t help but sing along almost louder than Cole’s vocals as a chorus of voices envelope the room. Always interacting with the crowd, Cole creates a great rapport through banter and the ease at which he talks as though they were old friends is endearing. With a bit of nostalgia and good old sincere acoustic songs, Lloyd Cole entertains with every bit of his heart and soul.