The Useless Critic 2.0

Just sharing a catchy little number from Cape Town, South Africa-based World of Birds, a group that specializes in retro pop. I stumbled upon this song on one of the various Apple Music playlists I subscribe to, and was really impressed by how immediately fun and uplifting it was.  I don't have much else to say about this track or group other than I hope to hear more from them ASAP, it's fun and promising stuff. Definitely worthy of the "You Need to Hear This" category. 

Last post of 2020. Sorry for the prolonged absence; December wasn't my month. :D I would love to claim "the new year is gonna be my YEAR" but omg I do NOT want to set myself up for any disappointment like that. I have one thing I'm REALLY looking forward to this year, and that's as much as my expectations go.  This song I was recently introduced to from Ed Droste (of Grizzly Bear fame) via his Instagram stories. It reminds me of a far more upbeat. poppier Arthur Russell. Anyway, happy New Year :) hopefully the year ahead is far better. 

I've had a very special spot in my heart for Gwen Stefani the majority of my life. She was definitely my big childhood love (I had the biggest crush on her as a kid) and as I got older, her music was very nostalgic and comfortable to me. I still listen to No Doubt pretty frequently, even though I tend to feel like I've outgrown them to a degree.  I can't say the exact same thing for Gwen's solo career. I still think she's one of the most formidable (and legendary) women in pop, but suffice to say, musically her ship has sailed for me. "This Is What the Truth Feels Like" (her last solo pop album, we do not speak of the Christmas album in these parts) had some really stellar moments, but overall was not on the same level as her debut, which is a pretty decent pop album. (Sans, of course, the weird fetishization of the Harajuku girls ... even high school me was like what is happening here?) "The Sweet Escape," too, was pretty muddied - but its stron...

File this comeback track for Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka (featuring Jamaican-UK chanteuse Mahalia) under "easy like Sunday morning." Honestly, it's nothing groundbreaking, but it's a very pretty and smooth song to listen to. Nozuka's voice blends naturally with Mahalia's, and they complement each other well.  The song's essence is about being comfortable enough with another person you can completely let your guard down, which I think we all know is a very special rarity to experience in life. Really, to be simple, it's a sweet and genuine track - and the warmth it conveys reflects the intimacy of such real-life encounters. Nozuka's latest album is slated for release next year.

Photo c/o Tatum Gale "I'm sick, as in 'cool'" - Laura Jinn sings in the title track of her new EP, which has become the refrain of possibly my favorite chorus of this past year. But then, as she reveals in the next few lyrics, she's definitely sick-SICK, too. Which seems appropriate given that this was the year of, well, a pandemic.  Last week, Jinn released her debut EP, "Sick!"  The Brooklyn-based  Jinn clearly demonstrates on this EP that she's a talent worth watching. My introduction to her was the wonderfully weird "I'm Driving to Target," which sounds very gleeful about a trip to Target - but when you relisten to the track a few times, a more morose message slowly comes across.  Jinn's sound is described as "absurdist goth pop" and she's influenced by musicians like FKA Twigs and Grimes, but she most vividly reminds me of a more eccentric take on Riot Grrl. There's some '80s influence in there too - w...

I thought I'd share for today - it being a Sunday in COVID times- a few of my most recent Spotify playlists. One is for 2020 all encompassing, and the other is fall/winter mood music. Hopefully it makes the beginning of the week that much more bearable:  Here's my 2020 playlist - which features The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue, Still Corners, Lana Del Rey, Cut Copy, and many other folks: And here's my fall/winter playlist which features Sampha, Phoebe Bridgers, Haelos, Moses Sumney, and Ed Harcourt among others:

Diana Gordon, formerly known as Wynter Gordon, released the EP "Wasted Youth" earlier this year. Gordon has been around since the mid-2000s, penning songs for Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Lopez. Most notably, Gordon contributed writing to Beyoncé's masterpiece "Lemonade," which says all you need to know right off there. But in her own right, Diana is more than a formidable talent. Although she's released work as a solo artist since the early 2010s, it was after "Lemonade" made its mark on the world and she went back to her birth name (Diana) that her career has switched to warp speed.  In particular, the "Wasted Youth" EP sticks out for seamlessly blending R&B, soul, electropop, and grunge. It's a very unique - and immediately addicting - listen.  Hear the title track below: Here's the anthemic "Woman," which came out in 2016: Don't know how I've been sleeping on her music so long, but going to be remedying tha...

Do you ever hear a genuinely fun song and think to yourself "why the HELL is this not more popular?" Well then, welcome to my feelings for "In the Dark" by indie band The Shadowboxers. I was turned on to this track by an Instagram influencer I've been following for years (Jessenia), since she often highlights other musical artists (she's a performer too) on her stories. This song was immediately so damn catchy I couldn't afford NOT to add to my library. It vaguely feels like MGMT circa 2008 with the right amount of in vogue disco that it's kind of just like ... why isn't this song on the radio again? I mean, it's not a far cry from the disco-influenced synthpop of Dua Lipa (who is amazing in her own right).  Check out the track below - I honestly thought it was released this year, but guess I was wrong. What has this year even been, am I right:  Also, you should stream Jessenia's single " Phoenix " - it's a pretty good pop s...

The best love story in this otherwise dumpster fire of a year is not even about romantic love. IMO, it's the story of Fiona Apple and Shameika.  ICYMI, Fiona released "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" at the start of the pandemic, and it was an instant success - and critic's darling overnight. The standout track - and Fiona's first charting track in years - was by far "Shameika," an ode to a classmate of Fiona's who stood up for her in grade school. In case you haven't heard the song, it more or less explores how Fiona wished she could thank this girl who made such an impact on her in her formative years, and how that related to her self-worth over time.  Well, thanks to an old schoolteacher of Fiona and Shameika's, the two were reunited - which is the feel-good story 2020 needs. Turns out Shameika Stepney is now a rapper, and she and Fiona teamed up together to reinvent/remix the song. You can read the full story here (and I fullheartedly recommend y...

Hey, did you buy that Goo Goo Dolls cover that Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers put out in support of FairFight , a Stacey Abrams-affiliated organization that pushes for fair and free elections? Well I did, and I wasn't disappointed with a cover of a gorgeously schmaltzy '90s alternative throwback. Phoebe Bridgers - with the exquisite help of Maggie Rogers - reinvents the song into something far folkier than I initially imagined.  I believe the Bandcamp sale with proceeds going to FairFight is now over, but I would recommend (if you have the money) donating to FairFight. Also, it's kind of heartwarming to see the Goo Goo Dolls are in full support of the cover, which cements them as cool dudes IMO. BTW, Bridgers promised the cover if Trump lost the election … and well, the rest is history. Here's the song itself, but please consider donating if possible. Maybe they'll do "Slide" in honor of Planned Parenthood next.

Erie hard rock band Mas Nova - which formed in 2004 and reunited for a show as (relatively) recently as 2015 - just dropped their 2006 album "Hollywood" for streaming on Spotify. This time around though, they're releasing two other tracks - covers of Gary Jules' version of "Mad World" (which was super ubiquitous at this time in history, if my AIM profile around this time can be trusted) and Real Life's "Send Me an Angel." If you like the harder rock sound of this era - think like Velvet Revolver, and definitely a nod to the Stone Temple Pilots - you'll definitely want to give it a listen.  Their cover of "Send Me an Angel" is a much more intense version of the classic song, but it's a distinctive take on it. Listen to "Hollywood" in its entirety below: And for more info on Mas Nova, check out this write-up on founding member and author Joseph D. Newcomer's official website. 

Catchy AF synthpop band Small Black have returned after their five-year hiatus with their new single, "Tampa." It's slightly slower and moodier than the work we've come to expect from this undeniably talented group. But it's also … in a way, kind of a perfect sound for this time of year.  Happy to welcome them back - if you've never heard Small Black's album "Limits of Desire," I recommend you do so ASAP (if you like synthpop or chillwave at all.) 

First of all, what a year it has been to be a Lana Del Rey fan. I don't mean this in a positive way - it's the same sort of feeling I have about enjoying ice cream from time to time while having some latent lactose intolerance going on. I remember some moments around the "Ultraviolence" era felt a bit eyerolly, but nothing quite at the level like what she's been up to since "Norman Fucking Rockwell" positioned her at a career high. From "question for the culture" to the mesh not-really-a-mask ... there has been no shortage of frustrating moments lately. I'm not sure what else to say here - I'm a fan, but the music and the person are at odds for me.  I haven't really dug into "Violent Bent Backwards Over the Grass," but what I have read/heard has had some promise. Largely speaking though, I think her songs outshine her poetry dramatically.  Anyway, let's just get to the music. "Let Me Love You Like a Woman" is...

Yes, I know. I've been writing a poem on the premise "your older sister listened to Rilo Kiley" for a while now because I feel like that's a friend's hip old sister in the mid-2000s band of choice. I did listen to Rilo Kiley (and adore Jenny's solo career) but I wasn't in to them in their heyday, so to speak. I bought "Under the Blacklight" at Target after a college class one day if I remember correctly.  Also, side note: You MUST listen to Jenny Lewis's instagram lives - they are so, so good. Just saying.  Well it turns out Bandcamp is releasing a Rilo Kiley tribute album, which is well deserved as they were truly one of the best indie bands to emerge from the early 2000s. The album "No Bad Words For The Coast Today: The Execution Of All Things Covers Comp" celebrates the RK 2002 "Execution of All Things," which is one of the band's best works. The full album featuring indie bands like Adult Mom and Diet Cig will be ...

Just caught wind of a new track by a soulful Aussie (yes, again) singer - EJ Worland. It's called "Over the Pond" and from the first few notes, you are transported to another world - an older, more lush world (especially if you're like me and have basically been isolated all year, it's a nice escape.)  But his video for "Over The Pond" - from masks to video calls - shows how the world really is right at this moment. (The song also is a nod to his move from AU to the USA last year.)  Said Worland about "Over The Pond," "Like the majority of the world, COVID has had a huge impact on my career. I haven’t been able to book shows and no one knows when the next gig will be and when we all can enjoy live music again. I've found comfort and support in listening back to "Over The Pond". For me, the song speaks to the anxiety of today. It has helped me solidify that I need to stick to what my purpose is, and that's to take charge o...

Emmy the Great drops her new album tomorrow on Bella Union - the fastest album she says she's ever created.  "April /月音" was completed after a trip to to her birth city Hong Kong in 2017. In early 2018, Emmy the Great made "April /月音" in a two-week period in Brooklyn - which was delayed for release until now because of her maternity leave. After recording this album, Emmy moved (for good) back to Hong Kong.  Since her original trip to Hong Kong, things have become quite tumultuous there. Said Emmy. "I’ll never know why the city called me back, but I know what it gave me. In return, I want to give it this album. That Mid-Autumn, nobody could have predicted what was to come, neither the atomization that began with the anti-Extradition Law protests in June 2019, nor the struggle for democracy that continues now, through the Covid-19 pandemic. To witness your birth city in its greatest moment of need is a powerful, humbling event, and I know I watched Hong Kong...

 This was the collaboration I didn't even know I needed (or would much less get) this year. "My Scandinavian pain," sang by the Sigur Ros crooner toward the beginning of the track. And although the lyrics might say another story, the song itself is such an upbeat and unique pop song that it's hard to pull away.  Jonsi's newest album "Shiver" dropped yesterday, which (as far as I can tell) is getting good reviews. But this truly fantastic duet right is enough for me (listening to the Jonsi album is on my to-do list). It actually reminds me a bit of another Scandinavian - Fever Ray.  Also, can I just say, I'm so happy we are seeing more of Robyn these past few years? I missed her.

This mellow pop song just appeared on my Instagram the other day, but I'm into it. It's a somewhat bouncy, relaxed piece of synthpop accompanied by a smooth voice - a nice contrast to the heavier songs I posted earlier (death, anyone?) Kowloon is an L.A.-based filmmaker and musician, and this is the title track off his self-produced debut album. Will be interested to see what he comes out with in the future: 

Keaton Henson is a singer-songwriter who crafts delicate, beautiful melodies in a way that is reminiscent of a folkier Perfume Genius. Compared to the likes of Bon Iver and Jeff Buckley, you can hear quite vividly how Keaton earns such lofty comparisons.  His newest album, "Monument," ( preorder here ) is slated for release October 23rd and is themed around that most uplifting of topics, death. His single "Husk" deals with aging - and I'm the same age as Keaton, so I understand why his mind is there - but particularly "waking up and realising that you’ve aged. That time, the traitor, has taken from you your best years, the ones where your bones didn’t ache and you could make it through the day without questioning existence." Which is, yep. Feel that.  This also must be the year of musicians ("LA, WHO AM I TO LOVE YOU?") releasing poetry collections, as Keaton also is set to release one, "Accident Dancing."

As a decade-long fan of The National, I had mixed feelings about Matt Berninger's solo project. In the end, I'm much more open to it than I originally was. I think the last two National albums were kind of clunky for me, and so far I like Matt's solo stuff much better. They are still my favorite band, but the more experimental stuff just does not sit that well with me.  "Serpentine Prison," Matt's first full-length solo album, will be out on October 2nd. It's produced by the legendary Booker T. Jones, and features appearances from Gail Ann Dorsey, Phoebe Bridgers, and Andrew Bird among others. "One More Second" really hits the feels, almost like a distant cousin of "Carin At the Liquor Store" (my favorite off "Sleep Well Beast.")  Here's a song by Booker T. Jones I quite like: