Easy Pieces

Following a highly acclaimed debut, this sophomore effort saw the Scottish group collaborating with producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley to achieve a broader, more radio-friendly sheen. 'Easy Pieces' surrounds Cole's hyper-literate, archly romantic songwriting with lush string sections and pristine jangle-pop guitar work. While criticized by some purists for its commercial gloss, the album delivered some of the band's most enduring and melodically sophisticated singles.