The Useless Critic 2.0

HOT. So the new Haim album came out, but it's beginning to feel as if it's been here for ages. 2013 is the year of Haim. McDonald's is now doing shit with them. As demonstrated in my previous post, I have mixed feelings about THAT. These three sisters from Cali have won my heart. What to make of their new album, though?  Well, it's a bit corny. And it's a bit cheesy, but in the best possible way really. I wish this album had dropped this summer, because it's a perfect summer album. It's pretty upbeat and if I danced, it'd be to this kind of folk/r&b music.  I do not dance, and it's always summer in Phoenix. LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES. Anyway, they play Phoenix on Oct. 19. I will be there.  So, let's do this! In the spirit of what I did with Oh Land and Wild Belle , let's dissect this track by track. P.S. this album came out today! I am so on the ball.  Yes, I am a sucker for a band with a pretty girl! I know; I see the p...

I guess my new thing is to post updates about Ashton Kutcher's life. Why? Because he's everywhere. He's like an STD.  So the newest thing on tool Mr. Kutcher's agenda is to play late Apple legend Steve Jobs in an upcoming indie biopic. now let's examine the spectrum:   I guess there's a passing resemblance but really, REALLY? in other news today: - horrific school shooting in California - can Myanmar be saved! - Fiona Apple's new album listing/art is out out out can I make this Titanic month because it's the 100th anniversary and I don't have a copilot right now? SAY YES SAY YES

As of RECENT it has been my goal to listen through my CD collection meticulously and discard the refuse. It has been a slow-moving process, and there is much ground to cover. And along the way I've rediscovered some greats. I was supposed to attend a bar trivia game tonight, but my partners' in crimes' last minute decis'ion to go drinking in College Town US'A has' changed my plans'. Thus, Babyland. According to memory, Babyland WAS an "electronic junk punk" band from California. The two-man group was notable for its outdoor shows, where the percussionist, I guess, would bang on a variety of industrial equipment, use belt sanders on oil drums and other forms of madness. The premise is reminiscent of Einsturzende Neubauten's but the end result is a more kinetic experience, a sort of nihilistic, noisy dance music. This particular album is called YOU SUCK CRAP. How cool is that? If you could imagine a cross between Einsturzende Neubauten and At...

This past winter, in case you missed it, I discovered the French electronic musician ANORAAK .  (or, as real names go,  Frederic Riviere)   My last. fm sort of forced him upon me, but I'm glad it was so insistent. His music is warm, lush and perfect for the summer. Which it apparently is now, in case the smothering temperatures haven't been any clue.  Anyway, if you haven't checked out any of Anoraak's songs yet, I recommend doing so now. SEE HERE:   ANORAAK - Crazy Eyes by anoraakmotion Those French know what they're doing! Anoraak answered my questions rather fast. I was pleased as a plum. Or a pear. You have your pick. Hi Anoraak! Thank you for taking the time to do this. It's very appreciated. (seriously, I am grateful for such things) What are you up to these days? Working on anything new? Gigging? Anoraak:  We're actually waiting in an airport for 8 hours because our flight was cancelled, and believe me it's extremely...

YOU GUYS I am back from S.D- albeit a few pounds heavier (UGH you know what I have to do the rest of this stupid break that's flying by my head right now), tanner (a killer farmer's tan....right?) and with no viable new contacts to speak of (:( sorry). I did go to a few interesting seminars and got some inspiration of things to do in the future.....at the music criticism one (which made the whole conference more worthwhile for me than ever) I spoke to the creator of this website http://www.sddialedin.com/ and she was all kinds of cool/helpful. there was also a photographer from Pitchfork there but I could not speak to her for the life of me, half of it being that stupid shyness and the other half being the girl that would not step away from her for a second. That being said, I have no inclination to staying in the Erie-Edinboro-Hell region after graduation. For having spent the entirety of my life in this damp corner of the universe, I think it's time I go elsewhere. And l...