The Useless Critic 2.0

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...

Ten years ago, one of my all-time favorite bands, The Long Blondes, released their seminal work - "Someone To Drive You Home." A few years later, The Long Blondes split up, mostly from complications stemmed from Dorian Cox. Their follow-up, "Couples," was pretty forgettable save a few standout tracks like "I'm Going to Hell" and "Erin O'Connor." Kate Jackson has ventured out on her own the past few years. Which is incredible, because this woman was SUCH a killer frontwoman. She was everything you could romanticize about '60s London in one swagger-y package. She was - and is - such a badass. And always will be.     It only made sense Kate is back. How could she stay away from music forever?! I don't even want to THINK about that, bro.   "British Road Movies" came out yesterday (!!!) and it seems to represent a natural progression for Kate. "The End of Reason" is the lead single, which hearkens bac...