The Useless Critic 2.0

Song of the Day I'm bummed David Bowie is no where  in this video. As a bonus, have some Arcade Fire + David Byrne: I hope you had a good week- and Valentine's Day. My jury is out; Ellen Page is gay- good on her for coming out. Will have more interesting posts for you soon, Britt

Ahem Disclaimer: This year, a lot of music came out. I did not listen to it all. I stayed far away from Miley, though. Albeit the only time I heard "Wrecking Ball" it made me cry but that HAS NOTHING to do with her talent. Song That Was Everywhere That Did Not Suck When I get home, my Mom will be listening to this song (mark my words) and telling me how it is good walking music. I would bet money on this if I was a betting type. I'm glad Lorde is getting recognized by the Grammys. But: a.) The Grammys are like a grandma trying to be hip. b.) SECOND ALBUM CURSE. See: Alanis Morrisette . I know, somebody is saying "Why can't you be happy for her? She's just a kid!" BITCH I AM HAPPY I'M JUST WORRIED My personal favorite album of 2013: The National's "Trouble Will Find Me." I am sure this comes as no shock. And it was a grower of a quiet masterpiece. I wouldn't say it's their best, ...

Sometimes, I am approached by bands. And I am inherently lazy so I ignore them. seriously typed in "sad middle-aged woman alone" and this came up. However, Los Angeles's recently formed Paperfox is an exception and I implore you to make them your exception as well. For fan of Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Capital Cities, Two Door Cinema Club. Put it through an Orange County tube and add a dash of 311. I know that seems like a weird combo, but that's where my thoughts went at least. They are planning on taking over the world starting with Silverlake (which they can have BTW. Take Williamsburg and Portland next). Keep your eye on these guys, though! They have some real talent. DRAKE!!!

I included some Christmas music as well as secular music. That M.I.A/Weeknd song? Wow. She really can't sing but there is something entirely intoxicating about it. I'm not sure what to make of the new stuff by the Sounds; "Sweet Tooth" by Blue Hawaii is something you MUST hear, as is Arcade Fire's "Joan of Arc." "Let Me Back In" and "Memoir" are more somber than the rest of the tracks. However, the holidays are proving to be a bit hard for me this year. I really don't think the Flaming Lips' version of "Just Like Starting Over" compares to John Lennon, but Spotify sucks about anything Beatles-related. It will do, pig, it will do.

Song of the Day You know, I've got nothing to hide. p.s. this album is AMAZING! p.p.s. I'll be doing more soon: I got the flu- worried about transmitting it to the wheekers. :(

Song of the Day If I could have it back All the time that we wasted I'd only waste it again If I could have it back You know I would love to waste it again Waste it again and again and again  I was going to do another song (i.e. Lorde). However, this one felt more appropriate right now. I have inadvertently learned a lesson from an odd place. Showing people you love them is crucial. Showing them.  Kind of sucks for me, because words are all I have (especially now, ha), but it's something I won't forget.

Song of the Day I didn't think I'd like this cover so much, but it's quite dreamy. Enjoy your Friday!

The send-off they did for her was quite good; Arcade Fire and Mick Jagger were involved. But Kristen was a talent to be reckoned with for nearly her whole duration on Saturday Night Live - it was like there as not one thing she was willing NOT to do. She will be missed but here's to hoping there are great milestones ahead for her. Question:  favorite Kristen Wiig sketch? and: See more here . We'll miss you Kristen!

Win Butler is the lead singer (one of the lead singers?) of the most popular indie band in the world, Arcade Fire. They are Canadian and just won the top Grammy honor this year. Rik Mayall is a semi-popular British comedian who was on British sitcoms in the 80s and early 90s at the height of his career. I think these two men look alike. Exhibit A: Win Exhibit B: Rik Okay, okay, okay. Maybe these pictures don't do must justice. Maybe you need to watch Bottom or The Young Ones to see a similarity. Maybe we need to hear Win Butler sing "The Suburbs" in an English accent to know. Maybe I need to Google better pictures?

Two songs this week appeared on my radar and by a rule of thumb they should also be on yours, son! Annie + the Toxic Avenger = not the rapper from Pittsburgh I thought he was! plus anything Annie touches is bound to be awesome. see also:  Designer Drugs. Arcade Fire teamed up with Mr. Big Suit man himself, akakakakaka David Byrne, for a new track for the deluxe version of the Suburbs . Mike has told me I'm going to run into David Byrne eventually. I have no idea how I will know if it is David Byrne, because he looks a lot like other guys. here is the track I cannot post myself

I'm holding off on my Chris Bell interview until I get his OK. I am not that big of a jerk! p.s. CONGRATS TO MY FRIENDS IN ARCADE FIRE my friend from Ohio, Matthew Morich , has been making his own music for a while now. what he does seems like it has a lot of potential, a lot of originality, which are qualities I respect. hence why I decided to ask him a few questions about what he's doing. I strongly urge you to click on the link to his youtube account at the end of this post....you won't regret it, really. have I ever been wrong? NO. as you'll see, he uses his music to raise some interesting ideas and concepts. read on.... q: When did you start making music? a: I started writing and recording acoustic stuff when I was 15 or 16. But my electronic project, neonsentient , began when I was 18. q: Where do you draw inspiration from? I was first inspired to make electronically-based music after hearing the song “Smell Memory” off of múm ’s 2000 album Yesterday Was Dramati...

- that Nicki Minaj looked like a tampon. - that Mick Jagger still has "it," whatever IT is. - Bob Dylan? WHAT HAPPENED? (awesome props to Mumford & Sons as well as Avett Brothers). - who is this Esperanza Spalding that beat both Biebs and the Floho for best new artist...well she seems cool. - BIEBS - perhaps it was a result of the alcohol, but I think I'd have sex with Biebs tonight. SO HELP ME GOD - "OMG"- Usher- I have been in love with this song for a while and just realized what it was. - Muse killed. Matt Bellamy's awkward shoutout to girlfriend Kate Hudson....eh. he's not getting any tonight. oh wait, it's Kate Hudson. ENSUE AWKWARD PREGNANCY SEX. - Lady Gaga was inspired by Whitney Houston. Whitney Houston, smoking a crack pipe somewhere, rejoices! - HAHAHA KINGS OF LEON AND MILEY PRESENTING TOGETHER I LOVE THIS WORLD I could wait and watch Arcade Fire, but nothing beats Cee Lo and Gwyneth for me. or the Nicole Kidman shots. man, I can...

up for noms: Arcade Fire, Cee-Lo, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Vampire Weekend, Robyn, Eminem, the cast of Glee (?), Miranda Lambert, Florence + the Machine (swoon!), ... overall I think it was a decent showing for once. except Justin Bieber showed up in there. somewhere.

I am really trying to do a weekly thing of this, every Thursday. aight! - Fireflies sort-of twee pop hailing from New England. It's fuzzy and delicate; therefore it demands that you love it and give it a home. This guy's worth investigating; it's great background music or study music, at the very least. http://www.last.fm/music/Fireflies p.s. HE HAS A SONG CALLED OWL CITY. - Patrick Joseph originally from Pittsburgh, he really is NOT bad, although he runs the risk of becoming that cliched male singer-songwriter that is so popular and prominent right now. his voice reminds me a lot of the lead singer of the Stereophonics. listen to him cover E. Smith here: - Joe Negri Joe Negri is the handy man from Mr. Rogers! he's also an accomplished jazz guitarist who teaches college down in Pittsburgh! OH MY GOD HE IS 85 AND HE IS AWESOME listening to the new Arcade Fire again: I think it finally might be growing on me. I just wasn't ready for it, a few weeks ago. it was too so...

can give you my thoughts on it as soon as it comes through on this nice public WIFI. I can't tell you where to find the Suburbs but just make your rounds on the internet you should be okay! it all very much reminds me of a poem: IN A STATION OF THE METRO The apparition of these faces in the crowd ; Petals on a wet, black bough. - Ezra Pound, who is more of a Decemberists fan

it's like I'm shouting at you! I feel like the new Arcade Fire just emerged out of no where. no where! and then, while doing my daily hype machine (holla) cruise, I came across it! and I was like- mind explooooooooode! I still feel like Neon Bible was not that long ago. when in actuality, it was. I was still a sophomore. crap, I remember how it felt when Funeral was big. in high school! "have you heard of Arcade Fire?" oh wow I'm aging myself. I was like, tenth or eleventh grade. no, eleventh, because it was around Footsteps time. hey Jason, if you read this, I'm giving you a shoutout. I just listened to "The Suburbs" and it's not bad. not bad at all. but then again it's Arcade Fire I'm sure this new album is going to be like Revolver good or something. Have you heard it? What are your thoughts? They're playing in Maryland in August with Spoon. SPOON. SPOON. JESUS. I will probably not go because I am broke and not driving. but I woul...

I decided to play the band version of "fuck, marry, kill" with the line-up, because I have nothing better to do at the library today. just kidding, I have five papers to work on. Does someone want to pay for me to go Lollapalooza, btw? I will reward you handsomely with _____jobs. because I want to go so badly! fap fap fap. Green Day- KILL THE STROKES- FUCK FUCK FUCK Lady GaGa- marry (too dirty) Arcade Fire- fuck! MGMT- fuck! Soundgarden- marry, I'm not huge on them. AFI- ?!?!?! kill Spoon- fuck Metric- fuck (see: Emily Haines) Hot Chip- faukkkkkk Phoenix- FUCK! Wolfmother- marry, I saw them before, not bad! Cypress Hill- eh marry Stars- fuck Cut Copy- fuck The National- fuck Switchfoot- wow, what the fuck? no. KILL Grizzly Bear- fuck! my favorite band! Erykah Badu- fuck, she is quite ballsy. Digitalism- marry The Black Keys- marry The Cribs- fuck The New Pornographers- FUCK IT LIKE IT IS HOT The Walkmen- marry (not really a fan) Rogue Wave- marry (boring) Minus the Bear- ...

In an unsurprising twist of events, Erie is expecting a bad snowstorm today (go here ). Aw, okay. On my way back here, walking through the snow and wind (!) I was reminded of the countless other times I've walked like this. and had the spirit sucked slowly out of me by this infernal weather. but then my beat-up little iPod put on Beirut's "Postcards From Italy," which was my favorite song my freshman year, and all the snow-battles in the past I've endured thanks to the triumph of this song. it was lovely. even though I came home with hands that were freezing and snot running from my nose and an aching body that just wanted a bed, it was a kind of nice full circle thing, to realize how close I am to the actualization of leaving this place. "Postcards From Italy"- Beirut another song that helps "Neighborhood #1 (Kettles)"- Arcade Fire (who are releasing a new album come May) In other free stuff, there is a holiday sampler featuring artists I whol...