The life of singer-songwriters who have attempted to navigate the modern music biz is littered on a highway to hell. A nearly-impossible task of "making it" seems a daunting task for even the most noble of bards. But thankfully the Minneapolis-based indie folk artist Reina del Cid ignored the warnings and delivered a remarkably coherent effot, start to finish. The Cooling is smart and evocative and basic - vocals, guitars, upright bass and drums. These are road tested songs that have found adoring audiences all over the midwest. Now they have the opportunity to find a larger audience. The title track is unquestionably one of my favorite tracks of the year. This string-driven (cello, violins, upright bass) waltz about death is so smart that it will inspire you. And if that ain't livin', well, then you ain't livin'!