The Useless Critic 2.0

I have not really paid a ton of attention to Conan Gray, but I think he's talented, and I have observed from a distance his output for the past few years. Happy to say he's stepped into what I think is top-tier pop star mode with his 1980s-inflected single, "Never-Ending Song." Check him channeling MJ in the video below! I seriously think he is going to enter the big leagues (although he kind of already is there in a way). Excited to see what is in store for him next! Now i feel like I need to watch "The Never-Ending Story" finally.

  I don't know how I missed "On a Beach" by Canadian singer-songwriter Hayden when it came out earlier this year, but damn! This is a nice upbeat track by a musician whose career has veered more melancholic. featuring Canadian chanteusese Feist. Coupled with a fun music video featuring a cameo from The National's Matt Berninger, don't be like me and sleep on this song. (Plus, Steve Buscemi!) My introduction to Hayden came in the early 2000s when I first heard "Dynamite Walls" which I swear I found via the pre-loaded music on my Windows computer. But I've not been able to find any internet proof of this so I'm not sure if I'm hallucinating. Anyway, it's a more subdued track, but really beautiful. If you like indie or anything slightly more on the pensive side, you need to give this somewhat older (but still so gorgeous!) song a listen.