Album: The Constant (2010)
Artist: I Blame Coco

Ever wondered what rock you’ve been under?  Sting has a daughter whose making music?  And it’s good music?  How do you miss something like this?

Italian-born “Coco” is the child of Gordon Sumner and Trudie Styler—and she’s more than just the daughter of a legend.  She’s got a smooth yet husky voice that’s fresh and retro at the same time.  Hard to put into words, she’s optimistic angst if there is such a thing.

Her debut album, The Constant, is a great one to stumble upon.  The 20-year-old singer/songwriter has assembled an impressive collection that’s moody and current without feeling trendy.  Attributing her style to influences like David Bowie and The Roots—she’s got a synthpop sound that’s vocally driven.

The first single, Caesar, features Robyn and has a breathy punk electro-vibe.  It’s a good intro to Coco, but it may be deceptively mainstream compared to the rest of the set.

Party Bag is a cheery odd song with some amazing lyrics.  The beat and vocals match and create an even-tempered gradual mood lift. It reminds me of some of my favorite 80s music and driving with the windows rolled down and the radio volume blaring.

It’s about to get worse warns you that it often reaches a new low before it gets better.  It’s sad how true those words often are.

No Smile is a strange take on dedication and has a real Fiona Apple/Shadowboxer vibe to it. The cool edge makes it highly repeatable and may make it one of your favorites on the album.

Only love can break your heart is definitely a track to check out. It’s the one song where you might most feel the Sting influence—although exactly how is hard to put into words.

In Spirit Golden is catchy and uplifting. It’s the kind of song that becomes a fast favorite, as if you’ve replayed it many times already.  It’s slated to be the third single.

Selfmachine is another real standout.  Ever feel like a lonely robot rusting in a wasteland?  Well, I never thought about putting it into those words—but sometimes I definitely feel like my heart is capable of breaking down like any other machine.  It’s a strangely fun song and is lyrically vivid.

From the melancholy lament of Summer Rain to the raspy mellow swoon of the title track, The Constant is a solid debut album. She manages to consistently connect lyrically, vocally, and emotionally. Check out Selfmachine, Party Bag, and No Smile. If you like those, The Constant may quickly become one of your favorite new CDs as well.

While The Constant does not have any high energy tracks, it definitely has music that could work for a run. Adrenaline tracks include:

• Caesar
• Only love can break your heart
• Please Rewind
• Quicker (Ran and Ruin Mix)
• In Spirit Golden
• Selfmachine
• Turn your back on love

There’s also a lot to help pace the race:

• The Constant
• No Smile
• Party Bag
• Playwrite Fate
• Summer Rain
• Quicker

If you want to cool down, check out It’s about to get worse.