The Useless Critic 2.0

Just a quick plug for a band I was introduced to a few hours ago. Phoenix-based Snake Heart Society released their first single, "They Don't Want You," last month. If you're a fan of dark moody electronic pop music, you've come to the right place. I didn't even know Phoenix was capable of producing such a sound, but have a listen . I would recommend it for people who like Villa Nah. I know that is mostly a bunch of Finnish people, but still bears saying. Villa Nah are a tragically underrated band, BTW. I only give TLC to music I would honestly listen to without prompting, and I would certainly listen to Snake Heart Society. Which says so much because I'm kind of a snob when it comes to music. Well, except when it comes to DNCE. Shoutout to my love "Cake by the Ocean." Anyway, looking forward to hearing more from this project.

Following lead single " Empty ," which debuted last month, '90s alt-rockers Garbage have shared a lyric video for the second cut from Strange Little Birds , their first album in four years. In contrast to its anthemic, guitar-heavy predecessor, "Even Though Our Love Is Doomed" is a dark, moody and cinematic number featuring some bleak lyrics about longing for a special connection—no matter how pointless that might turn out to be. "And even though our love is doomed / And even though we're all messed up / You're the only thing worth fighting for / You're the only thing worth dying for," Shirley Manson broods amid eerie bass riffs and gloomy piano chords. Queen Shirley always gets me. My body is so ready to be slayed by their upcoming masterpiece. Strange Little Birds is out June 10. On a related note, the music video for "Empty" premiered last Monday.

Hi gang! As a habit, I don't try to update the website that often. Mostly because I'm busy and mostly because, well, that's pretty much it. I'm busy. HOWEVER, I needed some forum or another to share with you my latest attempt at a nonstop-happy playlist. In the past when I've experienced bouts of sadness, I've been all about that sulking and that brooding and that sitting under pictures of Morrissey during the Full Moon humming Joy Division songs and writing poetry that they could probably put on bumper stickers and sell to goth tweens. And don't get me wrong, I had my brooding/Beach House time. But I embraced a new perspective this time, which is ... choosing things that were happy to indulge myself in. Now I still have a lot to add here (Beach Boys obvs) but it's about five hours of blissful noise. It's good for working out or just working in general, I might add. Here is the playlist in its emerging glory . I can't embed content anym

Ten years ago, one of my all-time favorite bands, The Long Blondes, released their seminal work - "Someone To Drive You Home." A few years later, The Long Blondes split up, mostly from complications stemmed from Dorian Cox. Their follow-up, "Couples," was pretty forgettable save a few standout tracks like "I'm Going to Hell" and "Erin O'Connor." Kate Jackson has ventured out on her own the past few years. Which is incredible, because this woman was SUCH a killer frontwoman. She was everything you could romanticize about '60s London in one swagger-y package. She was - and is - such a badass. And always will be.     It only made sense Kate is back. How could she stay away from music forever?! I don't even want to THINK about that, bro.   "British Road Movies" came out yesterday (!!!) and it seems to represent a natural progression for Kate. "The End of Reason" is the lead single, which hearkens bac

Dear Readers, I've never been a huge Fruit Bats fan, but I think that's about to change. I listened to them casually when I was younger and I don't think it was the right place or time for me to appreciate them. Kind of like when you meet someone who is really cool, but you don't speak to them (at length anyway) for a year or so. This might be my first favorite (hehe, alliterative typo) album of 2016. It's incredible. Sorry Gwen. If you're a fan of Dr. Dog or the Mountain Goats or Vetiver, this album will be right up your alley. Have a listen:     It has the makings of good roadtrip music, IMO. And only incredible albums can be quality roadtrip music. Trust me, I took a bus across America. I know.   I also listened to "When U Love Somebody" for the first time in forever, which made me incredibly sad for something that has never happened. There's some strange word for that sensation, but I don't know it off the top of my head.