The Useless Critic 2.0

We interviewed this band last year; they are a very upbeat indie rock band a la Oulu, Finland. And today is a huge day for these talented guys as it is a release of a new single andddd a load of free mp3s! Check out " Sirens :" or And here are remixes of said track! Slow Magic remix Soundcloud & mp3 http://soundcloud.com/ slowmagic/satellite-stories- sirens-slow http://tinyurl.com/bqb4k3u Christian Strobe remix Soundcloud & mp3: http://soundcloud.com/ christianstrobe/satellite- stories-sirens Somepoe remix Soundcloud & mp3: http://soundcloud.com/somepoe/ satellite-stories-sirens Either way enjoy! the album will be out September 21st. 

- the  Parks and Recreation last night was CLASSIC. don't think I have a TV. the internet is my god for a reason. - I'm wearing a black sweater and jeans tomorrow in honor of Steve Jobs. join me! maybe we can speak at podiums as well! - I really love podiums. - CALENDAR IS UPDATED GO CHECK - hey, do you live in New York City too? are you not sleeping on Wall Street tonight? because Holy Ghost needs extras for their music video next week! - Nicole Atkins dropped a free EP. she's really wonderful. I like her, but she never responds to my tweets. other celebrities that don't: - St. Vincent - The Antlers - BEST COAST. I tweet her ALL THE TIME and what do I get? ugh. WHAT DO I GET? sweet NOTHING - make Oh Land's cover of The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio" NO. 1 on hype machine - I'm glad she chose that song to cover. It reminds me of my ties to Erie.  - there's a Lykke Li cover of "Unchained Melody" on there...

Bright Eyes, that Justin Bieber before there was a Justin Bieber, that Elliott Smith/Gram Parsons/Ryan Adams/Bob Dylan soundalike, father of emooooo, is doing a free concert in Buffalo come July 27th. I may go to this, but it depends. question: DID YOU WATCH 30 ROCK LAST NIGHT? WAS IT NOT AMAZING?

I can't remember if I posted this or not because I have less memory than a netbook, but this Diddy - Dirty Money mixtape is a fun, free download with a Valentine's Day theme that you ought not pass up. I know those $0.00 could be put to good use elsewhere, but consider giving this a spin if you're throwing frugality to the wind. I haven't heard very much other new music in 2011 because I am a heartless, unemotional creature who may or may not have been born without a soul, so if you've found something you prefer, please forgive me, and consider me more embarrassed for suggesting this than Cee Lo Green without a giant peacock uniform.

so in case you didn't realize Christmas isn't that far away or something. celebrate with Useless Critic friend, Sofia Talvik (www.sofiatalvik.com)(yeah we totally have friends I didn't make them up). well I know Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet, but hey. it's never too early! also, the new Girl Talk. YOUR THOUGHTS IMMEDIATELY.

96.1 FM in Pittsburgh is giving away Jonas Brothers tickets for the concert on August 11th. Listen for chances to call in... if you really want these tickets! (Though I'm not sure why you would.) Just spreading the news. Info here. And info on buying tickets here . Also, Demi Something will be there but no one cares. Actually, no one cares in general. Enjoy!

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...

I do not read romance novels. Well, okay, that's a lie. I don't read romances intentionally . I don't go out and buy a book just because it's a romance. Often a book will have some sort of romance develop. Sometimes books will be located in the Horror or Fantasy sections of the bookstore and will include more sex than plot. (Laurell K. Hamilton, I'm looking at you.) One of my college roommates had a somewhat disturbing obsession with the genre, and I would go in and borrow one (of hundreds) when I had nothing else to read. But beyond that, I don't read 'em. Here's an exception: 2009 is Harlequin's 60th anniversary of publishing cheap and tawdry romances. To celebrate, they're releasing 16 free ebooks (in various formats, including PDF files) on the website Harlequin Celebrates . It's free, people! And it's 16 books! It takes me about a week to read that many. How could I possibly pass up something like that? How could you ? My point is, i...