The Useless Critic 2.0

This song is a throwback from 2019, but I absolutely love it and think more way people need to be aware of its existence. I guess Netflix featured it on a show or movie a while ago, but it's likely been a minute and so. Check it out! This is like a "Wicked Games" by way of dreampop with some shoegaze-y elements.  It looks like the Denver-based group remains active, so go shoot their other stuff a listen if you have some time today! I hope to be back with more contemporary stuff very soon - just went through my 2024 playlist and it's like if Lilith Fair came back and was repopulated with female pop singers. It was hard not to add the entire "Brat" album!

Hi! I have been pretty MIA this year - more so than usual, I think. Things have been very busy and I've only halfway completed my laundry from the past two weeks. But I'll get back there (eventually).  Earlier this year, one of my favorite bands on the indie-r side of things released a few new singles. Gems is dreampop duo based out of DC/LA who have been quiet for a while. Several years ago, they did some really interesting stuff with John Lennon covers and the phases of the moon. I absolutely adore this band, and was ecstatic to see their return.  This longtime duo of Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher released two tracks: "The Past Is a Just a Story We Tell Ourselves" AND "Deus Ex Machina," which features Usher's other project, Falling Over Water. They have some really good stuff too, like "To Live and Die in LA." I'm not exactly sure what I'd classify them as, but dreampop adjacent seems appropriate. You can check out his stuff h...

Norwegian pop star powerhouse Annie is back! What an unexpected gift this year, as I believe the last time we had any new music from Annie was 2021 with the stellar EP follow-up to "Dark Hearts," "Neon Nights." Annie has a penchant for creating melancholic electronic music that isn't undanceable or without a catchy hook - and with "The Sky is Blue," she delivers exactly on that formula. I love how her music has this ability to feel fresh and contemporary but also very ageless. It works for her; I can't think of many other artists who are able to pull this off so well today. On Friday, Annie officially dropped "The Sky is Blue" single, which contains with the initial track an extended mix as well as the instrumental "Himmelen Er Bla," which is Norwegian for "The Sky is Blue." Looking forward to any further 2024 (or 2025) releases from Annie! Have a good week friends. <3 

I recently heard of an indie French band called Plage Tara who I would say veer strongly on the indie side. Plage means a fashionable beach by the sea - or so I am led to believe! Plage Tara sounds like a perfect backdrop for exactly that occasion. It's an alluring mix of dream-pop and post-rock, guided by otherworldly instrumentals.  I was introduced to this band by the actress Camille Razat of all people, who runs Soupire Records - the label the band is on. I actually listened to their album when I was in Vegas for work, and I found it an extremely grounding record that helped put me at ease as I find Vegas to be a lot . You can find that album, "Whales of Harmony," on streaming services as well as on  SoundCloud . Check out "Mischief Harmony" below! 

Excited to share a new song real fast today! The track is "Free" by up-and-comer Rose Gray, and it's amazing. Try to have a bad time listening to this song... you won't. It's certainly a song of the summer type, very breezy and feel good. Gray is a self-described "club kid" and you can hear it on this song .  Photo Credit: Yana Van Nuffel You can hear traces of her inspirations in this fun anthem - like Madonna circa "Ray of Light," Robyn, and Kylie Minogue. The singer from Walthamshire (East London) herself likens the song to falling in love for the first time on a European beach, a boombox, and an ice-cold drink. And she really isn't far off in that comparison. I'm excited to hear more from Rose Gray, and really excited that we are having an insanely good summer for music. Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Lana and Quavo, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Megan Thee Stallion. If you like pop music you should be having a blast right now! Also...

 There's a strong argument for the Quavo-Lana single "Tough" to be crowned the coveted "SONG OF THE SUMMER." Do I think they hold a candle to "Espresso?" Uh no, but for me this is the song of the summer (no hate to Sabrina! It's-a me, Espresso!")  Lana returns to the trap elements she's touched on in the past, and maybe this is the first time I've said trap in that context in the history of this blog. And Quavo goes a little bit country! Some people are complaining he ruins the song on the Lana subreddits but I have no issue with his part, even though I hate autotune 9/10 times.  Here's the visualizer of the song. The actual video is a typical old school Lana video - meaning it's kind of over the top in the best way. She hasn't done something like this in a minute, unless you want to count "Chemtrails Over the Country Club." Now honestly I was hooked on this song from the first snippets I heard back a few months...