A Journey Through Louis Cole’s Mind
I came to know Louis Cole for his 2018 project, Time. His songs' More Love Less Hate", "Tunnels in the Air," and "Night" initially caught my attention. Cole recently released his latest project, Quality Over Opinion, which exceeded my expectations. It's both engaging and reflective from beginning to end.
Cole is transparent in tracks "True Love" and "Forgetting" while playful and confident in "Failing In A Cool Way" and "Park Your Car Right On My Face." Louis Cole says, "This album represents me trying to make the best, most powerful, and listenable music I can. For myself and others "— I believe Cole achieved that with this project.
The title track opens up like a poem that evokes the cadence and essence of an inner monologue or someone's inner mind. It's raw, honest, and incredibly thoughtful. The rhythm is of particular interest to me. His initial delivery is measured but gradually escalates in intensity. Lyrically he evolves from "Right in the middle /Happiness and sadness balanced like a peak and valley of a sine wave / Existing forever like an ocean wave" to more emotionally-charged language, "Too hard on myself / Too proud / Caring too much / Not choosing / Sometimes hating / Always loving."
This track is an excellent introduction to Quality Over Opinion. In just 3:39, Cole lays it out and foreshadows the experience ahead of you. He touches on the "peak and valley" emotion journey, his "constant mission to pull something out of life around [him], and the desire to keep the project and his work interesting. This track lays down the blueprint for what is to come in the 19 songs to follow.
Following the seriousness of the title track, Quality over Opinion, you're met with a lively tune reminiscent of Pharrell's hit song Happy. However, upon closer inspection of the lyrics, Cole discusses what could be depression or existential dread, "I hear nothing calling out my name / That's okay / Hеre I am, fucking answering anyway." This contrast is of interest to me. I feel it accurately portrays people's false faces when dealing with real - sometimes dark - human emotions.
But there's more than meets the eyes. Underneath this tune and between the lyrics that register as mood and gloom, lies a glimmer of hope and perseverance "Dead inside, but life's still moving / Dead Inside, but I'm still doing." As we get into the outro, we hear Cole repeating, "Life is still moving /I'm still doing" until close — almost as if these lines are a reminder, a motto even, to continue to push forward.
Park Your Car Right On My Face
This song was instantly a favorite. It's upbeat both lyrically and sonically. And as the name suggests, Park Your Car Right On My Face is a song that oozes confidence and sex appeal. Bewitched by a woman, Cole broadcasts his desire to be engulfed by her "Girl I love that taste / Park your car right on my face / Baby pump those brakes just in case."
This song is magnetic. It instantly draws you in with a dramatic drumbeat, seduces you lyrically, and holds you captive in the outro breakdown. What I love most about the outro (timestamp at 2:20) is that it pushes you deeper into Cole's emotional space instead of taking you out of it. The song begins and ends in a similar lively space.
"Don't Care" is currently my no.2 on the album for me. The song begins with a muffled, spacey sound when Cole's drums enter as a grounding force. The opening line, "We work so hard to do it wrong," foreshadows the depth of this song. Long-time creative partner, Genevieve Artadi, joins Cole on this track, acting as a voice of reason. There are moments throughout the piece where Cole comes off as self-conscious and critical "Some of their eyes will meet your stare/ You know you like the things you hate / You choose them a little every day." However, Artadi interrupts and offers perspective "Maybe I see it a little differently / Holding on to everything was killing me / Now I'm really free," lulling any self-criticism Cole may hold.
What I enjoy most about the track is the wealth of insight shared. It's packed with life lessons and offers a fantastic instrumental breakdown in the outro.
Conclusion
In a way, Quality Over Opinion feels like a response to the pressures surrounding artists today. Clicks and engagement are the game's name, leaving artists with the burden of garnering attention with the intention of "going viral." Louis Cole pushes back on this notion with his album and title track, Quality Over Opinion. In this 20-track project, each song stands on its own while collectively showcasing Cole's musical prowess. The album is boundless and incorporates elements found in various genres, including folk, dance, rock, and jazz. This album has no master; it's a collection of experiences that transcend any one person. The themes discussed are timely and timeless. And the production and instrumentation are otherworldly. This album feels like an album without chains. And by the end of the project, you'll be craving for more.