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Showing posts from March, 2014

UC Playlist 3.30.14 - This Week in History

Before I post my sometimes-weekly playlist. let's celebrate what March 30th has been like previously: - Seward's Folly - An obsessed Jodie Foster fan shot President Reagan - John Denver had his first #1 hit. The song? "Sunshine on my Shoulders." This all being stated, here's this week's playlist. I put some new music on it for a change. Like the Chromeo single, some newer Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and Beck's "Waking Light." Which is an excellent song and somewhat reminds me of his "Sea Change" work.  I love that Lorde song I included, btw. Albeit you are probably sick of it by now. Make it a great week!

Happy birthday, Lady Gaga!

Since today is Lady Gaga's 28th birthday (no 27 Club for her, thank goodness), I thought it would be fun to share the story of how I got to know and came to love her. I know the day's almost over (well, depending on your time zone), but I knew I had to write a post about it. I first heard about Gaga back in January or February 2009, after online commentators suggested that Christina Aguilera had borrowed Gaga's style, to which Xtina responded by stating that she wasn't sure if Gaga was a man or a woman ( I kid you not ). I mentioned this incident to one of my best friends, who quickly dismissed Gaga as a poseur. We decided to check out some of her music videos, and we soon concluded that she wasn't that bad. It all changed during a fateful weekend in early March (I remember it was my sister's birthday), when I decided to give "Poker Face" another chance, and I got instantly addicted to the song and its video—there was something about Gaga slowly e

"Proof"- Sasha Siem

Song of the Day/You Need to Hear This! Just in time for a limited release on  Record Store Day - which is coming up April 19th - quickly rising newcomer Sasha Siem has released "Proof." The song is an all-too-short temptress, and dare I say it, has a taste of chamber pop to it.  Sasha Siem is no throwaway indie tart in the buzz-pan, though. This girl has talent. Here is, um, "proof." My heart is all sorts of broken for her. BTWs, this is a still from "Proof." Womp womp. She's studied at Harvard and Cambridge. She already had  two sold-out shows at the Royal Opera House. Her producer, Valgeir Sigurðsson, has worked with the likes of Feist, Sigur Ros and most notably BJORK. Bjork?!?!? BJORK. Bjork?!?!!!?!! Bjork!!!! For non-music geeks out there, working with a former Bjork producer is like having Gwyneth Paltrow's personal shopper* pick out clothes for you. Oh God there I go again. I'm sorry, my brain is all goopy. ACK. I wi

Another Day, Another Playlist: Wait, WHAT?

AKA Bleeding-Heart Tribute to Lykke Li and Trip-Hop-Influenced Sounds Hi friends, I've been living in a cave growing a beard. Just kidding: Although I probably will be now that Mila Kunis is carrying the antichrist's child. I mean ... Ashton Kutcher . ack ack ack ack ACK ack I guess I've been slacking, but I have an interview to post soon, a book review and some other this and that to do. In the meantime, here's a playlist to get you through the night. Spotify, you need to start paying me commission or something.

Video: Lady Gaga – "G.U.Y."

I Invented Calvin Harris

Song of the Day Calvin Harris, when he's not being overplayed on the radio, is pure joy. It's like "Everything is fucking fantastic for these four minutes." It's pretty obvious here, in March 2014, that this is the summer anthem for the year. I said it. In June, top 40 radio will be playing this on loop like that Nelly song. I find that EDM-esque music is like the dubstep of my college days (WOMP WOMP WOMP.) The kids love this. I can see them now dancing to this song and dousing each other with Coronas. As for me, Calvin Harris reckons back to a time when it was more "exclusive" to like him . As in, I'm a douchebag. As in he reminds me of a really nice few months in my life. Then, I was happy Rihanna took him to new heights. But now not so much because this is the sort of music that loses its appeal when you hear it for the 800th time at Wal-Mart. Anyway! Enjoy this before you black out to it and Michelob Lites. Welcome back, Ca

"Miracle"- Ghost Beach

Song of the Day I'm late to this one, but damn! Some happy hipster music to get this week going. I've challenged myself to update this everyday this week. We'll see what transpires!

An Irish Playlist Because I Am Not That Interesting Nor Creative

So I know I was aiming to do these on a weekly basis but I'll get back to that someday. Anyway, isn't tomorrow a holiday? A drinking holiday on a Monday- always a good time! I'm not extremely proud of this, but I'm also not the biggest fan of Irish-esque music (i.e. Dropkick Murphys.) So it's also not that long. Enjoy that Glen Hansard! Huh?

Reasons the Oscars Did Not Suck This Year!

Kevin Spacey. That is all. By now, you've heard most of the buzz, highlights, and spoilers from the 2014 Oscars . Ellen DeGeneres was a fine but forgettable host, an infamous selfie stole the show,  Lupita Nyong'o  is the new Jennifer Lawrence (as in, this year's Oscars sweetheart), and "Gravity" won seven Oscars, but "12 Years a Slave" won Best Picture.  Really, it was once again a wonderful night for film lovers. But for a clearer look at just what made the 2014 Oscars special, here are our five favorite things about Oscar night.  Lupita Nyong'o Okay, so we already mentioned Nyong'o as one of the highlights of the night, but the "12 Years a Slave" star and Best Supporting Actress winner was truly the brightest star of the evening. From her infectious smile, to her heartfelt, humble acceptance speech , and even her spur of the moment dance with a crowd-roaming Pharrell Williams in a ridiculous hat, Nyong'o exhibit

A Walk Down Memory Lane With R.E.M.

I sometimes can't listen to "Everybody Hurts" because it's either really comical at inappropriate times ("oh gosh! The vending machine is broken!") or it's really on the mark and makes my stomach hurt. I'm pretty sure Kurt Cobain was listening to "Automatic for the People" when he killed himself, so. I guess he didn't take that message to heart. "Drive" is another solid song from this now discontinued band (yep, R.E.M. broke up in 2011.) The strings never fail to amaze me and the video is pretty sweet. I loved Michael Stipe as a kid. I thought I'd go to school in New England and date a carbon copy replica of him. I love how most of my childhood crushes were gay men. "Losing My Religion" remains one of the best music videos of all time. If your emotions aren't somehow stirred by it, you are probably a refrigerator. I want to learn that dance. 20+ years later. And because: I AMMMMMMMMMM

Lindsay Lohan to guest star on 2 Broke Girls!

Our favorite trainwreck recovering star is set to make a guest appearance on the April 14 episode of 2 Broke Girls as Claire Guinness, an indecisive soon-to-be-bride who asks Max and Caroline to make her wedding cake. I, for one, really liked her guest stint on Ugly Betty in 2008, so color me interested. Are you guys excited to see LiLo on 2 Broke Girls ? Just thought it would be funny In other news, Chace Crawford will guest star on the March 18 episode of Glee ! Although I'm really not a fan of the show, Chace hasn't appeared in literally anything since Gossip Girl (gasp!), so I'll definitely be watching it. Now here's a hot pic of Chace, just because. Well, in his case, "hot pic" is redundant because I alwa ys find him hot .

6 Things That Will Happen Before Leonardo DiCaprio Wins an Oscar

6.) The Kardashians will decide to embrace an Amish lifestyle. 5.)Miley Cyrus will announce her celibacy I actually may regret saying that. 4.) I will successfully complete a push-up. 3.) The Internet will collectively get bored of Jennifer Lawrence. (I have no clue, J.Law.) 2.) Vladimir Putin will resign from politics to become an organic beet farmer in Siberia. (he's going to live forever, I think.) 1.) Beyonce will write a guest post for the Useless Critic. It will be about the work of Jonathan Franzen. I haven't been posting a lot because honestly, I've been depressed and distracted. Sry.

In the Valley Below

Hello March! I have a new artist to share with the world (or the 80 dedicated readers we have, anyway.)  It is L.A.-based duo, In the Valley Below . ITVB are dropping their debut album in April called "The Belt." (Alec, "My Childhood Fears" for 2000!)  Check out the song "Peaches." Why do peaches appear in so much music? Is it something sexual? Probably. Anyway, they just would up a tour with White Lies (one of my guilty pleasures.)  Her voice sounds a little like Lana's. Worth giving a listen to. They might look a little like Edward Sharpe misfits, but their sound is more electronic/smoother in nature. I appreciate.