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Lloyd Cole
Comment:
A philosophy student at the University of Glasgow, Lloyd Cole wasn't quite the usual rock star when he and his band the Commotions emerged in the early '80s as jangle-pop trailblazers — so while the world of popular music was awash with synth-heavy dance tunes, Cole was dropping names like Norman Mailer into sardonic songs like "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?" and slipping references to Joan Didion and [i]On the Waterfront[/i] into a bright and bouncy "Rattlesnakes." Since then, Cole has kept up a quietly successful, globe-hopping career as a cult favorite among those who like their intricate alternative sounds soaked in smart lyrics that swing from blithely bleak to reluctantly happy. If that sounds like you, then enjoy our Essentials playlist, stuffed with everything from the jangle jewel "Brand New Friend" to the moody morsel "No Blue Skies" to the plain-talking love song "NYC Sunshine."