The Useless Critic 2.0

Song of the Day/You Need to Hear This! I just heard this band yesterday and I already adore their stark sound. The lead singer's voice sounds a lot like Anna Calvi to me. Anyway, I have this inkling they could be very big some time soon.  March 21st- which seems far away but isn't - will bring them to Phoenix's Crescent Ballrooms. Tickets start at $12. I plan on being there.

This is just your reminder from the Useless Critic to support your local small businesses this Saturday. Even though today is Black Friday and that means 80% of Americans are at Sears. Well, you can shop at Sears or Kohls or Peebles (if you are my Mom), but don't forget to support local small businesses as well. Here are some resources for you: Find local small businesses American Express's support of the event Official Facebook Page

Enjoy! This playlist is a lot more playful- as demonstrated by the presence of "Work Bitch" by Britney Spears. I just added "Manners" by Icona Pop because it felt good. I also have included my favorite Franz Ferdinand b-side and Lorde's "Royals." I can't bring myself to listen to other Lorde songs because SHE'S SO YOUNG AND IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE. It's generally a positive mix. "Catch My Disease" by Ben Lee, "Breakin' Up" by Rilo Kiley, "Bohemian Like You" by the Dandy Warhols- all rather timeless. There's some odd cuts, like "Obstacle 1" by Interpol (have had in my head all week), the Erie PA song by deadhorse (hometown shoutout) and some `90s/`00s electronica (Ivy and Sneaker Pimps). As for the Camille song and Mayer Hawthorne/Kendrick Lamar track, I will not lie. They are pretty hot.

So I am spending my first Thanksgiving relatively alone. I have Smores curling up next to me; the other pigs are hopping about in their cage. But I have no plans. I was going to go to the Cracker Barrel; I may just get something cheaper and faster at McDonald's.  This really doesn't depress me- if anything I just feel lonely. I'm at that odd crossroads in life between my nuclear family (parents and siblings) and having a family (partner and kids). I've been very introspective all month, since November holds a lot of somber anniversaries for me. I feel confident that my life is going okay- and I really don't need to compare myself to others at the moment. However, I do have those times when I think: "Am I going to meet anyone? Am I lovable? Will I be a mother someday?" and I get all panicky I will be alone forever.  Because I mean- I just started to feel like a decent person again. And I know I am, but a lot of my self-worth is a reflection of ho...

Song of the Day/You Need to Hear This! What do you think? It's a grower, for sure. They just opened up for The 1975- which I don't really enjoy, but hey. I'm keeping my eye on these guys. Their album will drop next summer, and they'll be touring the United Kingdom early next year.

Song of the Day I've never really gotten into Tennis, but that is about to change. I do love the sport, though.

You Need to Hear This Theoretical Girl is massively underrated; I nearly forgot her myself until the past month (really!) Her debut album, came back in 2009.... THAT IS AN ETERNITY AGO. Theoretical Girl- real name Amy Turnnidge- has listed on her Facebook page that she has a new EP dropping early 2014. Which is very promising, because she's a talented performer who deserves to be more well-known. Her voice is gorgeous and her sound, while kind of "twee," is also nicely experimental in all the right places. So. I just wanted to share that with the world this evening. It's news to me! I interviewed her a long time ago. You can check that out here . 

This is something new I'm doing- every week, I'm compiling a list of songs and posting them here. It will probably eliminate the "Song of the Day" feature to some extent, which is just filler really. I'm sorry this hasn't been a substantial week. What I'd like to do is actually discuss why I picked each song. In a perfect world- this would be some kind of podcast or Internet radio program. Truth is I need to learn how to do that. :/ It's a little over an hour- so enjoy! I'll be out of town until later tomorrow.

Song of the Day And everyone is a hundred grand.

Song of the Day You know, I've got nothing to hide. p.s. this album is AMAZING! p.p.s. I'll be doing more soon: I got the flu- worried about transmitting it to the wheekers. :(

Song of the Day/You Need to Hear This! Pompeya is an up-and-coming `80s-influenced band from Russia (their debut album " Tropical " was released last month). Fred Falke is a producer who has worked with the likes of Annie and Lana Del Rey. Enter magic happening: Pompeya's North American Tour 2o13 (NO PHOENIX :( ) Pompeya 2013 Tour Dates Sat, Nov 23 // Miami, FL @ The Garrett at Grand Central Wed, Nov 27 // Autlán, Mexico @ Autlán's Festival Thu, Nov 28 // Mexico City, Mexico @ El Imperial Fri, Nov 29 // Guadalajara, Mexico @ Casa Ignacio Diaz Morales Sun, Dec 1 // Managua, Nicaragua @ Meka House Tue, Dec 3 // Miami, FL @ Soho House Thu, Dec 5 // Tampa, FL @ The Hub Fri, Dec 6 // Orlando, FL @ Will's Pub Sun, Dec 8 // Raleigh, NC @ Pour House Music Hall Tue, Dec 10 // Washington, DC @ Black Cat Thu, Dec 12 // Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar Fri, Dec 13 // Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo Gallery Free music yes please : " Power " ...

Song of the Day  No other thoughts with this song; you just deal with absence until it becomes your reality. Then there are those mornings when the empty part of your bed isn't such a shock. Good days are coming again.

I have gotten into this habit as of late, when it comes to guys and dating, of being very direct.  Guy: Would you like to hang out sometime? Me: Hang out as platonic friends? Or like romantically hang out? Because no to either. Clean. Clear. Humorous in retrospect.  I find this to be the very best strategy for avoiding awkward situations, and guys, I am not interested in. When I was younger I had this tendency to hang out with a dude even if I found no romantic interest him. A lot of times I found some aspect of them interesting and wanted a friendship. If he would ask me out I would dance around the issue, making excuses, or suggesting that we bring others to make it a group function of sorts. All of that was fine and good for a while but it was only prolonging the inevitable. And then there was always that awkward conversation…  Guy: So I just really want you to know, I like you a lot. Me: Like as a friend like? Guy:...

The countdown is over. After an entire year of waiting for Thor: The Dark World to be released, it finally arrived. The first thing I have to say about it is that I am dead. This film seriously exceeded all my expectations. It was everything I hoped it could be and more. Which is good considering the fact that I spent an entire year fangirling and dying for it to come out. The film hit theatres on the eighth of November. Naturally I was there on the seventh. My tickets for the film had been purchased in early October and I was slated to see an advanced screening of it at 10 instead of having to wait until midnight. My life was made. (I died when I got my tickets.) In short, the film is set two years after the first Thor film. Thor is traveling the nine realms trying to make peace and prepare himself for his future as the king of Asgard. Jane Foster, his love interest, is still on Midgard (Earth) and hasn’t seen Thor since New Mexico. Loki (the precious darling of a god...

Song of the Day a.) I'm glad she's back b.) THIS IS AMAZING "Lily Allen Has a Baggy Pussy"

More like "ridiculously late" or "inexcusably late." Last August, Ellie Goulding's second album, Halcyon , was re-released as Halcyon Days . As if the original album didn't already have, like, a thousand different versions , right? It just so happens that Ellie is no stranger to reissues—her 2010 debut album, Lights , was repackaged as Bright Lights , which presented us with some of Ellie's best songs yet, namely " Human ," " Home ," and " Animal ". Much like Bright Lights , Halcyon Days includes ten brand-new tracks, and given my undying love for Ms. Goulding, I just had to share my thoughts on them. Even if it took me a million years. 1) "Burn" Many fans will agree with me when I say that "Burn"—which was originally intended for Leona Lewis—sounds rather generic compared to Ellie's previous releases, especially amidst today's oversaturated EDM fad. Well , this uplifting summer jam ...

"Dreamers"- Siegfried Sassoon Soldiers are citizens of death's grey land, Drawing no dividend from time's to-morrows.    In the great hour of destiny they stand, Each with his feuds, and jealousies, and sorrows.    Soldiers are sworn to action; they must win    Some flaming, fatal climax with their lives. Soldiers are dreamers; when the guns begin They think of firelit homes, clean beds and wives. I see them in foul dug-outs, gnawed by rats, And in the ruined trenches, lashed with rain,    Dreaming of things they did with balls and bats, And mocked by hopeless longing to regain    Bank-holidays, and picture shows, and spats, And going to the office in the train.