CSOTD Bonus Edition: Band Of Horses - N.W. Apt

I'll admit, the über-clichéd drum into comes dangerously close to making this track uncool.

But after that, I'm totally in love with the pure-pop sensibilities and driving motion of this song. This is one of those tunes that is pure cotton candy; you probably won't get too much from it in the long run, but I doubt you'll hit your steering wheel harder to any other song you listen to this year.

Here's Band Of Horses.

Enjoy.

Thursday, December 30, 2010: Broken Bells - The High Road

It's been a good year for the Bells. First, a break out for one of my new favourite bands, the Sleigh Bells, who's sounds I just can't get enough of.

Then, this year saw the introduction of the Broken Bells, an American duo composed of artist-producer Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse) and James Mercer, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Oregonian indie rock band The Shins.

I'm such a sucker for weird noises and electronic bleeps and burps.  Yes, the beginning of this song is what R2D2 on Jägermeister would sound like. And that's a good thing.

But, even if that's not your scene, just kick up your heals as this song runs though fields of musical soundscapes that pack more artistry and vision in 3:53 seconds than most bands put into an entire album. Trust me, there is something somewhere on this track that you will like.

And if not, if you somehow don't find this track cool, maybe CSOTD isn't a blog for you.

May I suggest a blog about crocheting.

The Crochet Dude.

He's a dude. And he crochets.

You two should get along swimmingly.

Wednesday, December 29,, 2010: B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars - Nothing On You

Here's a bright ray of summer sunshine for these cold, closing moments of 2010.

Honestly, were would music be without songs about trying to pick up on pretty girls?

The world would be a dark, dismal and hopeless place without those great odes to the pick up, the chat up, the "Hey, girl, look at me" music that dominates most pop culture, and has done since the first guy with a lute tried to impress some Medieval wench with his musical prowess

And, besides, without the hook up songs, why would we need break up songs?

CSOTD Bonus Edition: Gorillaz - Stylo

In 2010, Gorillaz released their new album, Plastic Beach, and Stylo was their first single.

This song, like Sade's Soldier Of Love, takes a couple of listens to really get everything out of it, but since it's the Gorillaz, you can rest assured your efforts will be rewarded. In spades.

Enjoy one of the standout tracks from 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010: Sade - Soldier Of Love

10 years is a long time to wait. For anything.

Anything, but especially a new album. I wouldn't wait a week for most artists.

Sade, however, is an artist who is worth the wait.

After releasing Lover's Rock in 2000, supreme soulstress Sade took a bit of hiatus. Well, a decade, actually. But here in 2010, she came back to conquer the world as a Soldier Of Love, and we all should raise our hands in thankful surrender.

On Christmas Eve I blogged about Whitney Houston. Sade also broke through in the 80's, but was a completely different artist. It's crazy, but the easiest comparison I can make between the two is this; if Whitney Houston was all about major chords, Sade was all about minor chords.

Now, that may or may not make sense to you. Hell, it may not even be that accurate, but I'm pretty sure it sums up the spirit of the divide between these two epic talents. Sade was played on radio stations that played "soft jazz" or call themselves "adult contemporary", whatever the hell that means. But, just like Whitney transcended pop music, Sade transcended those narrow classifications.

The reality is Sade was never really about jazz. Sade was, and still is, at her core, a soul singer.

But not soul they way you know soul, the way people associate that word simply with Stax and Volt 45's. No, Sade was a soul singer purely because of her voice, that voice, those shades of darkness and tones that were effortlessly crafted for each song.

God, I love Sade. And, for me, this new album is as good as anything she's done.

This is one of those songs where one or two listens just is not enough. I implore you, gentle reader, to get this album, press "repeat" and submerse yourselves in one of the best albums released in 2010.

Enjoy.

Monday, December 27, 2010: The Dead Weather - Hustle and Cuss

2010 is coming to a close.

My plan for this last week is to look at some of the standout tracks from this year.

Let's get going straight out of the gate with The Dead Weather.

The Dead Weather are Alison Mosshart (of The Kills and Discount), Jack White (of The White Stripes and The Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (of Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (of The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes).

Shake off those post-Christmas blues, crank it up, shake your ass and get ready to blow the lid off this final week of 2010.

Enjoy.

Merry Christmas

The staff at CSOTD wants to wish all of our gentle readers a truly Merry Christmas.

We will be taking these next few days off, 

and will be back on Monday, December 27, to try to give 2010 the proper send off it deserves.

As always, many thanks to you for supporting this humble blog.

It's an honour and a pleasure to bring you Cool Songs Every Day

See you in a couple of days.

Peace