The Useless Critic 2.0

Just doing my yearly little music recap! As I get older it does get harder to stay on top of new things. But I did do marginally okay this year. Here's my entire playlist on Apple Music FYI. Would be remiss to say "Brat" was clearly the biggest thing that happened this year in music: I'm not a huge Billie Eilish fan (I think she's quite talented, and I like a few of her songs a lot), but I really thought this collab was the best thing she has done to date. I kind of hope she continues in this direction! I am still waiting on the Uffie renaissance. At the *very* least, I think Uffie deserves a documentary at this point. If you were on MySpace circa 2008, you know . Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter obviously had banner years. They are both pretty talented - I think I have a mental block with Sabrina though, since some of her music is so bland . But she's still catchy. You can't deny Chappell is incredibly talented, and I do applaud her for sticking up for...

This song is a throwback from 2019, but I absolutely love it and think more way people need to be aware of its existence. I guess Netflix featured it on a show or movie a while ago, but it's likely been a minute and so. Check it out! This is like a "Wicked Games" by way of dreampop with some shoegaze-y elements.  It looks like the Denver-based group remains active, so go shoot their other stuff a listen if you have some time today! I hope to be back with more contemporary stuff very soon - just went through my 2024 playlist and it's like if Lilith Fair came back and was repopulated with female pop singers. It was hard not to add the entire "Brat" album!

Hi! I have been pretty MIA this year - more so than usual, I think. Things have been very busy and I've only halfway completed my laundry from the past two weeks. But I'll get back there (eventually).  Earlier this year, one of my favorite bands on the indie-r side of things released a few new singles. Gems is dreampop duo based out of DC/LA who have been quiet for a while. Several years ago, they did some really interesting stuff with John Lennon covers and the phases of the moon. I absolutely adore this band, and was ecstatic to see their return.  This longtime duo of Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher released two tracks: "The Past Is a Just a Story We Tell Ourselves" AND "Deus Ex Machina," which features Usher's other project, Falling Over Water. They have some really good stuff too, like "To Live and Die in LA." I'm not exactly sure what I'd classify them as, but dreampop adjacent seems appropriate. You can check out his stuff h...

Norwegian pop star powerhouse Annie is back! What an unexpected gift this year, as I believe the last time we had any new music from Annie was 2021 with the stellar EP follow-up to "Dark Hearts," "Neon Nights." Annie has a penchant for creating melancholic electronic music that isn't undanceable or without a catchy hook - and with "The Sky is Blue," she delivers exactly on that formula. I love how her music has this ability to feel fresh and contemporary but also very ageless. It works for her; I can't think of many other artists who are able to pull this off so well today. On Friday, Annie officially dropped "The Sky is Blue" single, which contains with the initial track an extended mix as well as the instrumental "Himmelen Er Bla," which is Norwegian for "The Sky is Blue." Looking forward to any further 2024 (or 2025) releases from Annie! Have a good week friends. <3 

I recently heard of an indie French band called Plage Tara who I would say veer strongly on the indie side. Plage means a fashionable beach by the sea - or so I am led to believe! Plage Tara sounds like a perfect backdrop for exactly that occasion. It's an alluring mix of dream-pop and post-rock, guided by otherworldly instrumentals.  I was introduced to this band by the actress Camille Razat of all people, who runs Soupire Records - the label the band is on. I actually listened to their album when I was in Vegas for work, and I found it an extremely grounding record that helped put me at ease as I find Vegas to be a lot . You can find that album, "Whales of Harmony," on streaming services as well as on  SoundCloud . Check out "Mischief Harmony" below! 

Excited to share a new song real fast today! The track is "Free" by up-and-comer Rose Gray, and it's amazing. Try to have a bad time listening to this song... you won't. It's certainly a song of the summer type, very breezy and feel good. Gray is a self-described "club kid" and you can hear it on this song .  Photo Credit: Yana Van Nuffel You can hear traces of her inspirations in this fun anthem - like Madonna circa "Ray of Light," Robyn, and Kylie Minogue. The singer from Walthamshire (East London) herself likens the song to falling in love for the first time on a European beach, a boombox, and an ice-cold drink. And she really isn't far off in that comparison. I'm excited to hear more from Rose Gray, and really excited that we are having an insanely good summer for music. Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, Lana and Quavo, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Megan Thee Stallion. If you like pop music you should be having a blast right now! Also...

 There's a strong argument for the Quavo-Lana single "Tough" to be crowned the coveted "SONG OF THE SUMMER." Do I think they hold a candle to "Espresso?" Uh no, but for me this is the song of the summer (no hate to Sabrina! It's-a me, Espresso!")  Lana returns to the trap elements she's touched on in the past, and maybe this is the first time I've said trap in that context in the history of this blog. And Quavo goes a little bit country! Some people are complaining he ruins the song on the Lana subreddits but I have no issue with his part, even though I hate autotune 9/10 times.  Here's the visualizer of the song. The actual video is a typical old school Lana video - meaning it's kind of over the top in the best way. She hasn't done something like this in a minute, unless you want to count "Chemtrails Over the Country Club." Now honestly I was hooked on this song from the first snippets I heard back a few months...

I'm on a roll lately! I wouldn't expect this to last. But back with another new single, "My Reflection" by the London-born and LA-based dance duo Eli & Fur. I had honestly never heard of them before, but they've been in the business for over a decade now. And at first listen I was pretty intrigued. It's an icy cool yet warm sound - a very untouchable electronic vibe. "My Reflection" is from their upcoming "Dreamscapes" album, which will be out on September 27th via the PIAS Electronique label. They are also doing a VERY limited tour run for "Dreamscapes," with three shows in total announced. 'The shows are as follows: October 12th at the Fonda in LA, October 19th at Brooklyn Steel in NYC, and November 16th at the Village Underground in London. 

You can expect a new CAS (Cigarettes After Sex) album in the coming weeks! I almost saw them last year but they ended up selling out which I absolutely did not expect to happen. I guess I underestimated the appeal of moody aesthetic music. Maybe everyone got hooked when they took over YouTube for that one year (2018? 2019?)  They'll be doing an ARENA tour (!!!!!!) this year - hitting Phoenix on October 8th (maybe won't sell out? Doubtful) - also Lana doing is an arena tour?! What is this year even? I feel like 2024 is the bleaker sequel to 2012 no one asked for. (Just kidding I liked 2012! I moved to Phoenix! Big year in my life. 2011 and 2013 can kick rocks though.)  Anyway here's the song, which is distinctly CAS, but it also reminds me a lot of the Xx in places. It really hits all the notes that they are known for, but I like how Greg Gonzalez's voice is almost softer here? It feels more developed and melodious, or it just might be a case of clearer production. Gonza...

I truly wish I understood what Cannons does to their music to make it so instantly addicting to me. I am here with another cut from them - a fresh music video! - and I am again seeing them on tour this year because I have decided I want my mid-to-late 30s to be earmarked with a musical obsession. Fun! "Sweeter" has a distinctly 1970s vibe to it, and the music video kind of has that feeling, too (much like Taylor Swift's "Midnight" covers). Cannons' thing tends to be songs celebrating and bemoaning both love and lust, and "Sweeter" is no different. But if a formula works, there's really no reason to stray from it.  The song ultimately is bittersweet, and not much happens in the music video besides lead singer Michelle Joy going through it in her hotel room, but I think anyone who has felt the depths of being lovelorn can likely relate. Plus Michelle is beautiful, so that never hurts, either. I will be seeing Cannons next month in San Francisco! ...

Suki Waterhouse might be in the news for award season buzz and having a baby with long-time boyfriend Robert Pattinson, but she's got some new music to share with the world, too! After lots of coy social media teasing, we have "OMG" which lives up to its title.  "To Love" from last year was an instant classic IMHO, and this song takes things in an exciting new direction. I think her second EP is slated for a release later this year, and what a release that will be! Suki seems set up to have an amazing 2024, and I'm here for it. 

Kind of forcing myself to post a little more due to a long absence! Life and work were/are busy, but not writing for long periods of time makes me feel incredibly unwell, so here I am. Do you remember when I did this a lot in like 2009? To be young again lol. First up, The Beatles have a new-ish song out, "Now and Then," which is apparently The Beatles' final song. I did not know The Beatles were releasing new music, but AI is a very interesting (if not quite scary) thing. If you haven't listened to it yet, I recommend checking it out. It does not sound out of place in 2023 while managing to sound straight out of a time capsule.  Other music tidbits to share: I saw the "Eras" movie over this last weekend. Pretty good, considering I did not want to dish out an arm and a leg for the concert itself. Taylor Swift has gone very impressively far since I interviewed her in 2011 . "1989" Taylor's version is continuing to shatter records, arguably as it...