The Useless Critic 2.0

One thing I'm happy to admit is that I spend a lot of money on music. This is often a Herculean struggle for me internally - as much as I absolutely love the experience of live music, I hate crowds, and I hate the absurd wait times some artists inflict on their audiences. I went to a lottttttt of shows in 2017, cut back some in 2018, and this year looks like it'll be modest but worth it.  I'm not seeking to hit an exact # here - I've been to somewhere between 30 - 50 shows at this point, and probably hundreds of smaller, lesser known bands. I chose 13 for now because that just seems like the fair way to do things.  Is this the best use of money?! For me, YES. I rather collect experiences than things, and look forward to purging myself of some of the junk that I've accumulated the last several years (it does not bring me joy!)  I invite you to comment about any specifically memorable shows you've been to, and what makes them so grand in retrospect.  Honor...

YOU GUYS. MY FANFICTION. IT RETAINS ITS MANIFESTING ABILITIES. ACK. Fiona Apple?! ANDREW BIRD?!! Together. I can't. I can't. I literally can't even. *insert GIF of fainting woman* *fans self* *dies so, so, so many times* I still can't even. Hold please.   It's a pretty unconventional love song. And when I say "unconventional," I don't mean weird per se. I mean different. Like the melody is a little all over the place and the song doesn't really go where you expect it will go. But that's perfectly okay, because Fiona's voice (becoming more beautifully ragged with age) complements Andrew's flawlessly. Like, how were these two voices never paired together before? They seem meant for each other, like a hand and glove. Esp. toward the end, when they harmonize on the word "believer."   Andrew's latest album, "Are You Serious," will be out next month. Maybe, the next time he tours, he can bring Fio...

Hey everyone! I have returned to present you one very belated music mix. Sounds about right. It was intended more for late summer, but let's not kid ourselves. I hope y'all enjoy it. I've got Beach House, Andrew Bird, some new Spoon, and Charlotte Gainsbourg. The Neighbourhood is on there as well because that song gets stuck in my head all the time. Zach has some content planned for October btws. Besides pumpkin spice lattes and football at bad neighborhood sports bars, there's another thing to love about fall!

Song of the Day/You Need to Hear This! Just in time for a limited release on  Record Store Day - which is coming up April 19th - quickly rising newcomer Sasha Siem has released "Proof." The song is an all-too-short temptress, and dare I say it, has a taste of chamber pop to it.  Sasha Siem is no throwaway indie tart in the buzz-pan, though. This girl has talent. Here is, um, "proof." My heart is all sorts of broken for her. BTWs, this is a still from "Proof." Womp womp. She's studied at Harvard and Cambridge. She already had  two sold-out shows at the Royal Opera House. Her producer, Valgeir Sigurðsson, has worked with the likes of Feist, Sigur Ros and most notably BJORK. Bjork?!?!? BJORK. Bjork?!?!!!?!! Bjork!!!! For non-music geeks out there, working with a former Bjork producer is like having Gwyneth Paltrow's personal shopper* pick out clothes for you. Oh God there I go again. I'm sorry, my brain is all goopy. ACK. I wi...

Song of the Day I got around to listening to his new album, which is a good album. But if only Annie and Andrew duet on everything. "go ahead and say something dumb." Yes, this was the ship that supposedly began the U.S. involvement in World War I, although that's arguable.

Hey baby. Yeah that's a 500 Days of Summer  picture. I hope you like it; I KNOW you do. Fun fact:  I also grew up on a misreading of The Graduate. Life is better that way. So here are 7 songs to encapsulate your favorite greeting card holiday after The Sweetest Day. you know you'll be getting some serious over-the-pants action, so I thought I should help you out and set the STELLAR MOOD. "First Love" - The Maccabees sure I've posted this before, but I don't get sick of it. it reminds me of how truly fleeting first love is, even though Cat Stevens says the same thing and in fewer words. And what the fuck is up with Orlando's voice? Whatever. "Maggie May"- Rod Stewart I had a Maggie May....but that wasn't her name. God, Maggie May is a name for a cow. See also:  Barry Manilow don't feel bad for him. he has more money than you and I ever will. "Roslyn"- Bon Iver & St. Vincent hesistation, blah blah b...

I haven't been posting much lately because I've been prepping for my LAST SET OF FINALS AS AN UNDERGRADUATE EVER and working on my thesis and probably meaningless shit like that, yeah. so my motivation has been drained. never fear! in the next week, you'll probably be sick of me. fair warning. I remember arriving at Edinboro as a freshman back in 2006 and immediately hating the place. hating, hating, hating. loathing doesn't seem strong enough. I even calculated the days until graduation- a 1000-something odd number I wrote down somewhere (which I obviously kept so safe). "Brittany, stop complaining," some dumb bitch I don't talk to anymore told me. "Enjoy it." Well (this is addressed to you, dumb bitch), I didn't enjoy it until the past year and a half. which in- I fell in with an amazing group of people, absolutely lovely (if not just as bitchy as I am, which is wonderful) who I will really, really miss. which perplexes me. because, in the ...

Valentine's Day, as we all know thanks to Hallmark and various sources, is supposed to be about the one you love. BUT. I AM DEDICATING THIS POST TO MY FAMILY to my sister: (btw- I am seeing her in Columbus next month! ah!) to my brother: to my mother: to my father: HA to my best friend: I'm not going to say why I chose the songs, I think sometimes it's pretty obvious. you love your family, even if you are home for the weekend and they grate your nerves. and for you, dear reader: http://www.last.fm/music/Pogo/_/Go+Out+And+Love+Someone Very much like the Books, and a free song! considering my laptop is temporarily useless, that will have to do. much love

See, I trade in my plot of land For a plane to anywhere (Oh, where do you go?) And I can't see the future But I know its got big plans for me (Oh, what does it see?) All of my old friends aren't so friendly, all of my old haunts are now all haunting me "Laughing With a Mouth of Blood" I totally forgot I am seeing this bitch (along with the lovely Mr. Andrew Bird) tonight!

Why do they congregate in groups of four Scatter like a billion spores And let the wind just carry them away? How can kids be so mean? Our famous doctor tried to glean As he went home at the end of the day In this nature show that rages every day It was then he heard his intuition say We were all basically alone Despite what all his studies had shown That what's mistaken for closeness Is just a case of mitosis Sure fatal doses of malcontent through osmosis And why do some show no mercy While others are painfully shy? Tell me doctor, can you quantify The reason why? Imitosis I got my ANDREW BIRD/ST. VINCENT ticket in the mail yesterday. score! Buffalo, October 21st, here I come.

well I've decided because the internet isn't as enjoyable as it tends to be for me right now, to back off on it until Friday so I can accomplish more meaningful stuff. granted I'll check my ymail on my cell phone but until then you're going to have to text me or something. a little roughing it for me! ha ha ROUGHING IT. Al's been posting a lot lately so no worries. if anyone gives a shit (no one does :P). this is sad that this can be considered "roughing it." whatevs. I have stuff I want to get done (writing, cleaning, etc) and now's as good a time as any. plus I'll be posting (twice!) on Friday, so bear that in mind. as for right now, some shit before I get going: WHAT THE FUCK I used to have such a thing for Rivers Cuomo back in the day. safe to say those days have passed. I have not been pleased by anything Weezer's done, since...oh God. the 90s. SHOWS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, LOCAL ABOUTS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE: - July 25: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, House ...