Some Songs From 2012 I Will Remember

Instead of recapping everything in a "best of" list (BECAUSE I ALREADY DID THAT WITH MY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST) here are just some songs you should have heard this year and appreciated. Note the curious absence of "Call Me Maybe."

"I'm His Girl"- Friends

did this appear on an episode of "Girls?" It should have.

"Ritual"- Ellie Goulding

It was our own writer Irina who turned me onto this song. It's very sexual, which is not something you would expect from "I Sang At the Royal Wedding" Ellie Goulding.

"Florida"- Princeton

We interviewed them ages ago. What a refreshing little song this is.

"Comeback Kid"- Sleigh Bells

Is it weird I find this song inspiring? Also, it's a good song to kick ass to.

"Wicked Games"- The Weeknd

Uh, wow?

"Tides"- The Xx

This album is amazing. Not much of a difference from their debut, but. Who cares? Their debut was great too so why change a winning formula.

"Everything Has Changed"- Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

I was excited for their duet, because I was like "how is this going to work?" I mean, Ed's very talented and Taylor's very talented, but that doesn't make a good combo necessarily However, this duet gently grows on you. Love it. "Red" marks Taylor having grown into herself. It's a wonderful album.

"If Only"- Double Yellow

How is this song NOT more popular? Geez.

"Adorn"- Miguel

I was skeptical, but this is a slow jam that's actually worth listening to. So take notes, Bieber.

"Civilian"- Wye Oak

I don't care that this came out last year. Keep your eyes on this duo.

"Over the Border"- Saint Etienne

Along with No Doubt and Fiona Apple, Saint Etienne had the best comeback of the year. "Words and Music" is flawless.

"212"- Azealia Banks

Really.

Albums I Enjoyed in 2012: Saint Etienne, No Doubt, Jens Lekman, Hot Chip, Bat for Lashes, Lana Del Rey, La Sera, Metric, Frank Ocean, St. Vincent and David Byrne, Ellie Goulding, The Xx, FIONA APPLE, Taylor Swift, Dylan Mondegreen, Rufus Wainwright. Grizzly Bear, First Aid Kit, Ed Sheeran, Hospitality, Beach House.

"Mon Soleil" - Ashley Park

If there's anything people take away from my piss-poor legacy, I hope it's what a huge, unabashed fan of "Emily in Paris" I am and will continue to be. People love "90 Day Fiancee," "The Bachelor," and other garbage - allow me "Emily," which is at least harmless, kind of goofy fluff (which does, unfortunately, lean into some stereotypes, as the country of Ukraine knows ). I have already watched Season 2 twice. And honestly my favorite part of this show (despite my crush on Camille Razart and Lily Collins channeling Audrey Hepburn hardcore ) is Ashley Park. This woman has superstar written all over her. She's a bona fide Broadway star, and "Emily in Paris" has served as her pivot into the zeitgeist. "Emily in Paris" is also showcasing her vocal prowess front and center this season, with her covering BTS, "All By Myself," "Sympathtique," and Marilyn Monroe. But the real standout performance is th

"Anchors" - AM Higgins

Here's a nice breezy, almost sensual song from AM Higgins (the solo project of musician Annie Toth) to start your Tuesday off right. Her debut album "Hymning" will be out November 5th on Victorialand Records. The album was mixed by Casey Foubert, a frequent collaborator of Sufjan Stevens. The album "captures the first years of moving from an American city to rural France." Sounds like "Hymning" will be a welcome escape from the world we live in right now, especially considering that Annie Toth counts poets Mary Oliver and Thomas Merton as influences.

Summer Playlist - 2022 Edition!

It's truly the little things in life that make a world of difference. And for me, that means my summer playlist! Behold, I have put together 2022's edition. It includes cuts from artists like: - Mitski - Uffie - Johnny Orlando - Kylie Minogue + Jessie Ware - Florence and the Machine (who put out a fantastic album this year after a long dry spell of kind of "meh" records. Her pairing with Jack Antonoff worked out quite well!) - Bilal - Harry Styles (he has some catchy music!) - KATE BUSH DUH - And of course, Lana. It's also available on Apple Music, but since I recognize a lot of folks use Spotify, here's that link. Enjoy!

The Useless Critic 2.0

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