The Useless Critic 2.0

I know I didn't post anything about "Call Me By Your Name" by Lil Nas X when it came out earlier this year; by the time I got a chance to write about it there wasn't much more to be said. Lil Nas X is awesome - it's great to see an unapologetically queer rapper, for starters, and it's also awesome he continues to defy expectations, esp. considering a lot of folks likely considered him a one hit wonder following the mega success of "Old Town Road."  Speaking of "Call Me By Your Name," I couldn't help but feel like the beat reminded me of "More Than a Woman" by Aaliyah and lo and behold someone did a mash-up for me: Last week the video for Lil Nas X's new song "Industry Baby" dropped, and it's a pretty campy, over the top, and quintessentially homoerotic affair. Honestly this is shaping up to be another YEAR for Lil Nas X and I am very much here for it. Plus, have to be honest, the song is what I believe the ki...

I don't care the kind of shit I get from Mike for enjoying Aaliyah. SHE WAS SO GOOD. early 2000s R&B was so...well-produced. now, it's just kind of. mmm, shit? yup.

Remember when I blogged about the XX a really long time ago and everyone now loves them apparently? yeah that happened. they have cool harmonies that I appreciate and sometimes their sound is nice and chill, but they are also kind of boring and very ugly. anyway, I love their cover of Aaliyah's "Hot Like FIRE," bar none my favorite by them (except "Crystallized.") seriously, Aaliyah covers are just a good way to win me over.

Today marks the eighth-year anniversary of Aaliyah's death. :( she was really quite talented and I don't consider myself even a light fan of R&B. yes I like soul, but I don't care much for most R&B I hear on the radio. been trying to expose myself to the new Maxwell but it hasn't grown on me yet. in more recent news, Michael Jackson's death was ruled a homicide. how sad! I was watching footage of him on TV preparing for his tour....that would have been one kickass concert. I don't think he had the energy to do all those shows. I mean, I've read stuff about the state of his health at the time of his death and it's terrifying. "Try Again"- Aaliyah & Timbaland also, not to sound like a trite jerk, but you should try any form of Peach Wedge from Wegman's. it's like drinking a Dreamsicle!

Growing up, my sister used to play Casey Kasem's top 40 all the time, Sunday mornings. I remember being flabbergasted when I found at Casey voiced Shaggy on Scooby, which isn't so flabbergasting when you consider that Shaggy was a big hippie and I'm sure C may have been (well not so sure, but the top 40 did begin in the 1970s). then I started listening to it, my pop music stage in middle school. Man, I remember hearing Destiny's Child and Jennifer Lopez and all that shit I used to love on there. and then No Doubt and my adolescent heart would skip many beats. well, once I got into Radiohead in ninth grade, I was like "fuck this shit" (excuse my language profanity is my big vice, and interpals) and stopped listening. but I found out today that CK did his last broadcast. and thus ends thirtysomething years...which really shows you how outdated radio is becoming, how irrelevant top 40 stations are. I only listen to XM in the car now, and before that, just my ipod...