The Useless Critic 2.0

Remember when Irina used to do #ThrowbackThursdays about her favorite slightly older songs? Ima bring that back right now. St. Vincent's last album was pretty good, as nearly her whole canon is. A departure in sound, sure, but still better than most mainstream artists' output.  When I first heard this song last year, it immediately stayed with me. There was something about this song that touched my heart from right off the bat. Now, when I relisten, I remember a situation that no longer exists. And how maybe I would do things differently, be different, but as I spent the night telling a friend ... you can't change the past, just can learn from it. I will probably relisten to this song whenever I go back to New York City. Whenever that is! LOL. 

Most of you know that I adore Gwen Stefani. I have most of my life! Even at the end of the day while I stand bewildered by her current choices, I still very much am a fan. Perhaps not as fervently as I once was; I think that time might be over. I think my Twitter bio has been updated to reflect this sentiment.  The last year has been ... trying for us OG Gwen/No Doubt fans. A lot of us fell in love with her because she was punk lite, the quirky girl next door who was kind of a badass but also kind of a dork. She was sweet but she was powerful. And as she got older, she became more of a badass, more defined in her own confidence. Remember "Rock Steady" era Gwen or when she dueted with Eve? Fuck yes, for lack of a better term.  But somewhere in the past year she has gone into soccer mom on steroids mode. And I mean, at first I was like, whatever. I should be supportive, you know? Okay, so maybe "This Is What the Truth Feels Like" wasn't the best album ever, bu...

You Need to Hear This (This Week)  After a decade since embarking on her solo adventure, Emily Haines (lead singer of Metric, if you didn't know) is back with her long-awaited follow-up album, "Choir of the Mind." Dig the cover art:  Let me pick up where Blogger ate my post yesterday. Sorry about that - been doing this for almost a decade and that has yet to happen. First for everything, I suppose.  Emily Haines has been silent (minus her work with Metric and a surprising reunion with Broken Social Scene) since 2007. I really didn't think we'd hear from her as the Soft Skeleton again, but here we are.  "Knives Don't Have Your Back" was an outstanding work - a body of music dedicated to the passing of her late father. The depth of lyricism on that album - and melancholic melodies - was fantastic. With "Choir of the Mind," we see her take a similar turn. "Statuette" is an immediate standout (and the next big single).  ...

Not my photo! Click the link! So The National have returned with their first album since 2013 and with much (justifiable) fanfare. I feel like some bands/artists have the public's adoration always at their side: Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, The National. I almost wince a little when I tell people they are my favorite band, because I almost feel like I'm clinging to some sort of bandwagon/it cheapens them. Almost.  But there's a reason that The National are so well-respected and so well-loved: They're that good. "Sleep Well Beast" seems to follow at the very point where 2013's "Trouble Will Find Me" left off, albeit into more adventurous territory. This was present in two of the first singles from the album: "The System Only Dreams In Darkness" and "Guilty Party." I have to admit "Guilty Party" was a grower for me, but that's sort of the appeal of The National. They're good, but subtly so. It's ...

A dark room, angst. A lonely computer. An English degree. Delivered wine, possibly avocado toast. Perhaps a poster of Bernie Sanders collecting dust.  I have an opinion, dammit. On many things, but most notably right now ... the current state of Taylor Swift's career. I HAVE AN OPINION, DAMMIT. As I sip coffee that most certainly did not come from a vending machine, I feel we need to have a real conversation about Taylor Swift that no one else has ever had, ever will have, ever could have. Because these people are not me. And I'm important. Yes, I went there. CLAP BACK. A few weeks ago, Taylor Swift introduced her new song to the world, "Look What You Made Me Do." Even the title alone conveys exactly what Taylor's shtick has been in the media for the past several years. Or does it? I personally am not a huge fan of her song - "1989" is one of my favorite pop albums, though, and I entirely think it's going to be impossible to top. She cou...

Garbage have released a new single and it's absolutely fantastic! The industrial-tinged electro-rock tune "No Horses" is dark and atmospheric, built on driving beats, crunching guitars and distorted electronics,  while featuring some bleak, dystopian lyrics. It might be a little early to be talking about a new album, considering the band's latest, Strange Little Birds , came out just over a year ago. But if "No Horses" is any indication of what their next offering will sound like, I'm all for it! All of the band's profits from sales and streaming of the single will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Garbage are currently co-headlining a North American tour with Blondie (which included special guest Sky Ferreira at the Hollywood Bowl last Sunday), and have recently released their first book, the autobiography  This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake .

The National are back in full form with this one. Terrible title, but otherwise GREAT song.  "I can't explain it any other way," which makes total sense as the title makes no sense. I guess their new album is about a marriage disintegrating. Feel-good anthems for the year! Nonetheless, I'm excited. No one does heartbreak as well as The National, IMO. 

OK, so this is pretty fun. And weirdly sexy? I'll be keeping an eye on this band - somewhere between pop, chillwave, and a slight touch of surf rock.

QUEEN QUEEN QUEEN This past Friday brought with it the release of the much-anticipated Feist album, "Pleasure."  Of course, this was a major deal, because "Metals " came out in the dark age that was 2011.  So that's six years, Fiona  Leslie. She has hinted via social media that this may be her final album. She's also back to the Broken Social Scene bizness, so it's logical.  No one wants to spread themselves too thin. "Pleasure" is just that - a pleasure. It's Feist at her most raw and therefore her most powerful. Her greatest asset is her voice, which is unbelievably beautiful and strong.  You have singers like Adele and then you have singers like Feist. I prefer the latter. It even contains a duet with the legendary Jarvis Cocker, but oddly it's not an album highlight. For me, the first half of the album is superior to the last half. All of it, though, is amazing - and fits together seamlessly. Make no mistake...

Okay, do you remember when I shit all over The Xx's life a few months ago? Okay, I take that back. I take it back fullheartedly. This and "Lips" are among some of their best songs.  This one in particular has BIG potential. Like, mainstream top 40 status. We will see what happens, but they really mastered their own style in this track, and twisted it a bit into something new. Beckoning in a newfound maturity, which I personally respect. The Xx's shtick can get tiresome after a while. Their music always runs the risk of becoming background noise. In this case, tho, they turn out something uncharacteristically uplifting - and hopeful (don't listen to the lyrics, I think the actual sound betrays that!) I've listened to "I See You" and I have to say, wholly I was unimpressed. But I will give them credit for this and "Lips." Oh man, "Lips" is something else. It has this Eastern-type sensuality to it. Jamie Xx is a genius.  (...

YOU GUYS 2017 IS THE BEST YEAR EVER. EVER. EVER. ... EVER.  Ima stop you but 2009 and 2014 are now distant memories. 2017, I welcome you and your sort-of-crap-but-excellent-music ways.  Saint Etienne. Is. Returning. *fans self*  This is the beginning of what appears to be a big year for the threesome. They will be touring Europe followed by the United States (!!!). And they will be releasing "Home Counties," sixteen new songs, their first endeavor since 2012's "Words and Music by Saint Etienne."  "Home Counties" promises to be about (well actually is about, heh): "the love/hate relationship people have with 'home' is particularly acute in the Home Counties. Yet Saint Etienne understand that, if you squint, it could be almost utopian - here are the post-war new towns, much of the country's modernist architecture, and the non-league football heroes of Sutton United, Leatherhead, Harlow Town."  Looking forward...

You guys, Viva Phoenix this year. Let's talk about it. There was honestly too much for me to do to hone in on the several bands I wanted to see (Bogan Via, Pure Bathing Culture, Temples among other). So I concentrated on the crown jewels for me - GIRL TALK and UFFIE. If you have been reading the UC for many years, you will know I was obsessed with Uffie in 2010 - 2011. You will realize the circle has then become full.  I saw the Mowglis and Mystikal, too. I've seen the former before, and they are fun, but the audio quality was terrible. So terrible I ended up wandering out halfway through. Weirdly enough as well, I saw The Maine? Not my cup of tea, but they played a good show. I will give them an A for keeping their audience engaged.  GIRL TALK was on another level. I don't know where he has been for the past several years, but he hasn't changed at all. Even now that the DJ has become a mainstream staple of pop music; Greg Gillis was everything I've heard and ...

I have welcomed Lorde back with open arms. I recently listened to a lot of crap on Top 40 radio again, to torture myself basically, and I found myself thinking - maybe because I'm soon leaving my 20s and my tolerance for bubblegum crap has expired? - "God, pop music sucks these days."  And in that moment, I am my parents. Where's my Anne Murray at! But, God listened to me, and gave me a new song by Lorde less than 24 hours later. Is 2017 not shaping up to be an awesome year for music?! I am DELIGHTED. Ryan Adams, Jens Lekman, Lana Del God, and now Lorde. Not that I'm the biggest Lorde fan, but she's such a much-needed relief right now (Taylor Swift must be in hiding for the foreseeable future). At least Lorde has *real* talent and is willing to do things somewhat differently.  So what's "Green Light" like? There's a ton of hype behind it. And for the most part, it is deserved hype. The song starts off kind of awkwardly, bu...

After almost four years, Goldfrapp are finally back to save electronic music from all these shitty, insufferable DJs! After sharing a few mysterious teasers on social media starting earlier this month, last Monday, January 23 (yes, we're late, whatevs), the seminal British duo released the track "Anymore," the lead single from their upcoming seventh studio album, Silver Eye , which is set for a March 31 release. It is the follow-up to 2013's Tales of Us , which, in my opinion, wasn't bad at all, just a bit of a let-down. Longtime fans like me will most certainly rejoice as the song marks a glorious return to the pulsating, deliciously filthy electroclash of 2003's Black Cherry and 2005's Supernature . Though I haven't been quite as interested in electronic music as I used to be, a new Goldfrapp album is always exciting news, as the duo never fail to deliver fresh, interesting music with each new release.

This is a special guest post by the guinea pig known as "The Smores." Please enjoy. Wheek wheek wheek, wheek wheek. Wheek! Wheek wheek "Golden Globes" wheek wheek?! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! "Moonlight" wheek wheek, wheek wheek. Hiss *rumblestruts* Wheek, wheek. Wheek wheek? Wheek wheek Ryan Gosling wheek Emma Stone wheek hoomans wheek. Wheek wheek wheek wheek. Wheek. Wheek wheek, wheek. WHEEEEEK! WHEEK WHEEK WHEEK! Wheek *tears* Rating: A+ (or some kale)

I gotta write about this new Jens Lekman song. Jens? He taught me how to love. Seriously, this guy taught me more than I ever thought a Swedish pop star could.   But this song reminds me so vividly of the first girl I ever loved, my high school crush. Seriously, I remember how this girl smelled. I probably will remember until I die. I don't really remember how my ex-girlfriends smelled, but I remember the whiff of this girl's perfume from across a hormone-laden classroom. And I remember how it would hit and how I'd be so weak in the knees afterwards.   A few years ago, one of my roommates had this same perfume. I was coming up the stairs to our apartment after work. And it just hit me in the face.   "It's got a sadness in it, knowing how it ended."   Yup. To this day. Yup.   "She's gone forever. Now every heart may feel, at least it was real. If it could hurt like that."   I guess if anything hurts, maybe it's real?...

It's been since 2014 since I actually interviewed anyone for The Useless Critic (remember Taylor Swift? Yes I think about that often!) but, with his new album "Pleasure" en route for a 2017 release, Sondre Lerche seemed a prime candidate for getting back into the game. So here, for the holidays and an upcoming new year, I offer you a few questions with Sondre Lerche on his new album, his previous work, and what it's like to be a Norwegian in America right now. At the end of dis interview, I've curated several of my favorite songs of Sondre's. Enjoy! UC: What inspired "I'm Always Watching Too?" Was it partially because our culture enables "stalking" at the moment? (like, social media obsessiveness.) SL: I suppose so. The desire to feel close to someone without their knowledge has always been there, but social media, and our willingness to share our whereabouts, our activities and friends online, enable us to spy on each...

Today in adorable Scandinavians. Sondre has had a new video out for the past two months, which I've not known about :/. BTW, this guy has quite the discography! I don't feel like I can ever really keep up with it. There's always a new song to be found somewhere. "I'm Always Watching You" is creepy, but it's pretty relatable for having a crush in the social media/cellphone errrrrywhere world we live in. It's very 1980s - almost reminds me of St. Lucia in certain places. But it's ultimately Sondre, and Sondre ... well, he's one of a kind! The video seems to be a celebration of a shirtless Sondre Lerche. I think he is currently going through his "shirtless phase." Y'know, like Picasso.   He tours America in 2017, and will hit Phoenix's Crescent Ballroom on May 6th!

I think it took all year for me to find a new sound that was truly captivating. Yes, a lot of tried-and-true vets have released albums this year, Lady Gaga found herself again,  Leonard Cohen and David Bowie put out solemn final albums before shuffling off this mortal coil, and Bat for Lashes played the part of a grieving bride very well. But I've finally, finally, FINALLY found a *new* artist I can vouch for in this terrible poo-storm of a year. Like. Just as this year comes to a close. America, meet Holly Macve. I get hit up with requests from publicists and up-and-coming bands all the time, which I usually ignore because my life is bizzzzz$$$$sssy. But the other day I took a break from my morning to hear her song, "No One Has The Answers." And immediately, I was hooked, because I listened to this song on repeat all morning. It has a nostalgic appeal - like the remembrance of a drunken night of dancing with a stranger and reminiscing on it several years later. ...