The Useless Critic 2.0

so we continue. IF YOU STARE INTO THE ABYSS, it will become you! so watch out.  I want to go here. Finnish music isn't really my bag because a lot of the time they don't even bother singing in English and I'm fickle like that. also, a lot of it is metal (see Al and AWM). But I love Finland because it has been OK to me. Sweden has been all right to me, too, but it's been a hard love affair. Moldova, however, sucks.  So what to say about Finnish music? Well, Husky Rescue was the first Finnish band I ever listened to and liked. A very relaxing little band. I haven't listened to them much lately, but take a listen: There is also Scandinavian Music Group. Hurr:   DON'T ASK ME ABOUT THAT TITLE. I DON'T KNOW. also, why do Finns love the Sounds so much? O_o I mean, all their similar artists on last.fm are indeed Finnish. whatever. let's keep rolling rolling rolling like I'm Fred Durst and you're Wes Borland and it's 1999. yeah! ...

Over the summer I made this song “above” a UC song of the day. It comes from the Finnish vocal artists “MeNaiset,” who are becoming one of the groups I appreciate the most and listen to the most often. My name is Nader Boulberhane, and as a major fan of this female commanded vocal ensemble, it is fair for me to say that it was an honor to ask some questions with Maari Kallberg from MeNaiset. NB: When I share your music, people ask me "what genre is this?"....I have told them "Folk Music." I'd like to ask you. What is the exact genre of your music? Maari Kallberg: The genre is folk music, in Finland we call it also contemporary folk music. Our music is traditional, they are also all our own compositions, which are based on tradition and improvisation. There is a short article in the web site of Fimic (Finnish Music Information Centre) about contemporary or new folk music. Click Here for FIMIC I put here also the link to the doctoral dissertation which has mad...

Yeah I know Finland isn't REALLY Scandinavian  happy Finns! a rarity but who cares! This is one of the reasons the NYT gave them the #2 spot on the "Places To See in 2012 Or Whatever" in 2012. check out what you are missing hurr . Thanks AG! SUOMI

  I sent Satellite Stories an interview request last March. that's a lifetime ago! but according to some logic, March and October are KIND OF the same. so then I was drinking and thinking to myself, when I saw them on my Facebook newsfeed, that I should be like HEY YOU NEVER RESPONDED and see what happened! other bands that have ignored such requests: - Lykke Li (not a band) - Mila Kunis (not a band) - Passion Pit (a band)  well, they were nice enough to send me back answers, so thanks, you sweet Finnish boys!  CHECK OUT SATELLITE STORIES IF YOU HAVEN'T YET I MENTIONED THEM BEFORE and here is what these Finns on the rise- think fast, Two Door Cinema Club like indie rock- had to say to me. please note some of these questions are outdated! OOPS!  you have on your myspace that you were the most blogged about Finnish band in 2010. so I'm taking it 2010 was a very big year for you? Satellite Stories:   2010 seemed like a big year, but 2011 was way huger tha...

I'd like to say (at first) that the Scandinavian House newsletter got their information wrong! Ms. Larsson, a lovely and rare breed of singer-songwriter, is a New Yorker now as opposed to...someone that lives in Helsinki. She will be performing a concert tomorrow night at New York's Scandinavian House at 7 p.m. as part of their "Nordic Summer Jam." Tickets are $8 for members and $10 for all other plebeians.  Ms. Larsson's road to success has been an interesting one, surely. As a Scandinavian, she is described as having a strong interest in "form and aesthetics." Musically, what does that translate to? While her influences are global, her own sound is solely unique. She's originally from the university town of Uppsala in Sweden (I think this is about an hour or so from Stockholm) and studied classical musical in the Czech Republic for a bit. During this time, by performing at night clubs, she discovered a love of jazz. In 2003 though, she made ...

as of May 1st, thanks to Finnair. URSULA, YOU CAN NOW TAKE THAT TRIP YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED.

So one of those studies where they analyze the most exuberant countries in the world was just undertaken again. I was not surprised by the results, although I would have liked to see Sweden on the list. 5.) NEW ZEALAND why: because it is nicknamed "the World's Youngest Country" it is pretty it is right next to Australia 4.) AUSTRALIA why: because all those spawn of British rejects are really quite pleased with themselves! it is kind of warm nobody lives in the middle! it IS Australia "I'm moving to Australia!"- Alexander they have great electronic music (i.e. Cut Copy and the Presets) they are attractive and also tan. WHY ELSE, SIMON 3.) FINLAND why: because Finland is awesome? because they are near Sweden. I love you Finland, you are our 4th or 5th largest group of readers. they have Moomin their government doesn't suck FORBES WAS TALKING SHIT ON YOU FINLAND they make good design IDK what else to say except that a group of Finns told me I l...

I don't think this band has produced a song I've been iffy about. until now, that is. Slippery Slope Uploaded by thedoband . - Watch more music videos, in HD! the vocalist doesn't even sound like herself. what say you? B, I'm excited to see they're doing things though. also my YELLE interview came through. that will be up tomorrow.

Sleigh Bells, as I've said before and will now just say again, have the definitive summer song: "Rill Rill." which used to be, um. "Ring Ring." can you tell the differences? Jerri Blank! - Jack White's pretty model wife, Karen Elson, has released her album, the Ghost Who Walks . and it's surprisingly good. - Finland has a good electronica band, Villa Nah, who have the potential to go big internationally. shout-out to my homies from Finland! I have a few homies there now! woot - Lastly, Swede teen pop star turned adult pop sensation Robyn has new stuff out. I'm not sure what to make of it. It's Robyn; it has to be good. so I'm not worried. she's touring with Kelis in the States. Kelis! MY KONICHIWA BITCHES BRINGS ALL THE BOYS TO THE YARD.... Robyn 'Dancing On My Own' (Official Video) from Robyn on Vimeo . so check these guys out and enjoy the rest of your Monday. I still haven't listened to that World Cup theme by Shakira. b...

Hello World. It has come to the attention of Planet Earth that Russia is pushing laws that are banning strong alcoholic drinks in airports and duty free shops. In other words the Russian borders are going sober. I understand people are concerned about alcoholism. But why do they have to take away the most important places in the world to drink. Airports are one of the most needed places to drink, unless you're a pilot. And duty free shops = vacation and tourism. Also, the best times to drink. Not to mention that it is very difficult to link alcoholism to airport beverages. I say this ban is lame. (Ok, I think you can still drink on a plane, but the anticipation comes before the flight. That's when you needed to be ossified (slang definition of ossified).). Russia is the exquisite world capital of Vodka (sorry Finlandia), and in addition this is an issue of freedom of choice. In case you're wondering how much of what I'm writing is legit: the answer is none. Source: Prav...