NME has just released its annual NME Cool List, sparking discussion about the legitimacy of various inclusions or absences and whether rhetoric about “cool” stuff is cool anymore. What is the metric on which cool is measured we wonder. Some of the peeps on the list are old (Rivers Cuomo!) some are new (Willow Smith!) and some are no-brainers who make the cut every year (ginger Elvis Josh Homme). Laura Marling took out the top spot which is a very ‘NME’ choice. Here’s our five dollars worth on a few from the top 11, with the full list below.
11. MARCUS MUMFORD of Mumford and Sons
The Fall front man Mark E. Smith (who wasn’t included in the top 100) recently called Marcus Mumford’s and his band “retarted c*nts”. Mark E. Smith has probably racked up a few more “cool” points over the years than Marcus so if Mark E. Smith calls him a retarded c*nt we have to agree out of respect.
10. DARWIN DEEZ
Fun headband wearer with creative facial hair? Check.
7. JONATHAN PIERCE of The Drums
His moves speak for themselves.
6. PAUL WELLER
No brainer. The front man of The Style Council and The Jam has had an astonishing career. Also was nominated for a Mercury Prize this year for awesome solo album ‘Wake Up The Nation’ and is eternal style icon.
5. ROMY MADLEY CROFT
Speaking of cool old men (kidding, kidding) Romy Madley Croft, female vocalist of The XX, sits suitably at number 5. After winning The Mercury Prize for Best British Album of the Year in 2010, The xx have kept their understated cool courtesy of Croft’s soft yet hypnotizing voice and complete lack of obnoxiousness.
4. BETHANY COSENTINO of Best Coast
Great use of hashtags.
Heres the full list:
75 Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
74 Lewis Bowman (Chapel Club)
73 Caitlin Rose
72 James Blake
71 Bradford Cox (Deerhunter)
70 Soulja Boy
69 Matt Bellamy (Muse)
68 Nathan Williams (Wavves)
67 Avi Zahner-Isenberg (Avi Buffalo)
66 Cher Lloyd from X Factor
65 Elizabeth Sankey (Summer Camp)
64 Tom Hudson (Pulled Apart By Horses)
63 Ernest Greene (Washed Out)
62 Glasser
61 Ryan Olson (Gayngs)
60 Eva Spence (Rolo Tomassi)
59 Cee Lo Green
58 Jack White
57 Daniel Blumberg (Yuck)
56 Gucci Mane
55 Rose Elinor Dougall
54 Julian Casablancas
53 LoneLady
52 Tim Harrington (Les Savy Fav)
51 Josh Homme
50 Lady Gaga
49 Katy B
48 Plan B
47 Alexis Krauss (Sleigh Bells)
46 Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio)
45 Jack Donoghue (Salem)
44 Andrew VanWyngarden (MGMT)
43 Honor Titus (Cerebal Ballzy)
42 Nicki Minaj
41 Ethan Kath (Crystal Castles)
40 Ariel Pink
39 Orlando Weeks (The Maccabees)
38 Lee Spielman (Trash Talk)
37 Alex Hewlett (Egyptian Hip Hop)
36 Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance)
35 Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
34 MNDR
33 Willow Smith
32 Dan Devine (Flats)
31 Akiko Matsuura (The Big Pink/Comanechi)
30 Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
29 Skream
28 Jamie Reynolds (Klaxons)
27 Jenny Lee Lindberg (Warpaint)
26 Giggs
35 Jonathan Everything
34 Marina Diamandis (Marina & The Diamonds)
23 Dee Dee (Dum Dum Girls)
22 Jack Steadman (Bombay Bicycle Club)
21 Jay-Z
20 Ritzy Bryan (The Joy Formidable)
19 Kele Okereke
18 Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts)
17 James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem)
16 Yannis Philippakis (Foals)
15 Robyn
14 Zola Jesus
13 Hayden Thorpe (Wild Beasts)
12 Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro)
11 Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons)
10 Darwin Deez
09 Carl Barat
08 Jack Barnett (These New Puritans)
07 Jonathan Pierce (The Drums)
06 Paul Weller
05 Romy Madley Croft (The xx)
04 Beth Cosentino (Best Coast)
03 Kanye West
02 Janelle Monae
01 Laura Marling
Did they get it right? Any glaring omissions?
By Claud Santoro
Image via Losanjealous
