The Useless Critic 2.0

Garbage have released a new single and it's absolutely fantastic! The industrial-tinged electro-rock tune "No Horses" is dark and atmospheric, built on driving beats, crunching guitars and distorted electronics,  while featuring some bleak, dystopian lyrics. It might be a little early to be talking about a new album, considering the band's latest, Strange Little Birds , came out just over a year ago. But if "No Horses" is any indication of what their next offering will sound like, I'm all for it! All of the band's profits from sales and streaming of the single will be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Garbage are currently co-headlining a North American tour with Blondie (which included special guest Sky Ferreira at the Hollywood Bowl last Sunday), and have recently released their first book, the autobiography  This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake .

As announced yesterday, two of my all-time favorite artists, Blondie and Garbage, are slated to hit the road on a co-headlining tour this summer! The venture, titled the Rage and Rapture Tour, will span 22 dates across the United States in July and August. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 17 at 10 a.m. Blondie will release their 11th studio album, Pollinator , on May 5. Lead single "Fun" was released earlier this month.

Damn, another year is coming to an end. I know I've been MIA for quite some time, but this has been quite a busy year for me, especially in the second half. Still, I obviously wouldn't miss the chance to share my annual list of my personal favorite songs of the year (in no particular order), which has pretty much become a tradition since 2012 . BANKS, "Gemini Feed" Two years after blessing us mortals with her masterpiece of a debut album, Goddess , my girl Jillian Banks is back with The Altar , otherwise known as the album that saved 2016. The brooding "Gemini Feed" features the LA chanteuse's signature biting lyrics as she dissects a relationship with an emotionally manipulative ex. "I tried a thousand times / I tried to say 'I love you,' but you didn't hear me / And you're passive-aggressive / Convinced me other people, they don't care about me," BANKS purrs over eerie synths and a hypnotic backbeat. Jillian, stop...

Yesterday, Garbage released a music video for "Magnetized," which, in my humble opinion, is hands down the best song from the band's latest album, Strange Little Birds . The video was directed by Scott Stuckey, the creator of the cult children's TV show Pancake Mountain (on which frontwoman Shirley Manson has guest-starred ), and is filled with amazingly eerie visuals just in time for the Halloween season. Manson herself has described it as an ode to "the magic of science and the mysteries of love." Despite its thrilling clip, the colossal electro-rock number features some soul-crushing lyrics about an unrequited crush. "There's nothing I can do / It's all a fantasy," Manson laments. Even if I feel like literally dying sometimes, I'm happy to find solace in Garbage's music. By the way, I'm really trying not to stall you guys, but I have a special post in the making. If everything works as expected, it may be posted ...

Last month, Garbage finally released their sixth studio album, Strange Little Birds , which frontwoman Shirley Manson has described as being the band's "most romantic" to date, lyrically-wise. "I'm only ever vulnerable when I'm in love, and I never allow myself to be vulnerable. This record is incredibly open, honest and I find that difficult with regards to my own personal love affairs," Manson has stated in an interview . That quote resonates a lot with me. The album combines Garbage's signature grit with dark, moody, and cinematic soundscapes. While not as immediate as the band's previous offerings, it's still a welcome addition to the their excellent catalog. The standout for me is definitely "Magnetized." The band is no stranger to marrying punchy tunes with morose lyrics, and "Magnetized" is a shining example of that. The lyrics describe an ill-fated, possibly unrequited crush. "I'm not in lo...

Following lead single " Empty ," which debuted last month, '90s alt-rockers Garbage have shared a lyric video for the second cut from Strange Little Birds , their first album in four years. In contrast to its anthemic, guitar-heavy predecessor, "Even Though Our Love Is Doomed" is a dark, moody and cinematic number featuring some bleak lyrics about longing for a special connection—no matter how pointless that might turn out to be. "And even though our love is doomed / And even though we're all messed up / You're the only thing worth fighting for / You're the only thing worth dying for," Shirley Manson broods amid eerie bass riffs and gloomy piano chords. Queen Shirley always gets me. My body is so ready to be slayed by their upcoming masterpiece. Strange Little Birds is out June 10. On a related note, the music video for "Empty" premiered last Monday.

Last Wednesday, Garbage finally released "Empty," the energetic lead single from their upcoming sixth studio album, Strange Little Birds , but since I've been busy AF, I haven't been able to report on it until now. "I'm so empty / You're all I'm thinking about," Shirley Manson croons in the angsty chorus over a blazing electronic drum beat and '90s-esque shoegaze guitars. Given the anxious nature of the lyrics, her emptiness appears to stem from the anguish of unrequited love/lust. Ugh, Queen Shirley never fails to speak to my soul. Now I'm curious as to whether their new album will feature other lyrics that are equally brooding and relatable . Strange Little Birds is out June 10. In other news, last weekend Mariah Carey threw a costume party in Italy where all the guests dressed as—wait for it—Mariah Carey. Who else but Mariah, right? I might actually steal this idea for my birthday party this year and have everyone dress as forme...

The title for Garbage's upcoming sixth studio album, Strange Little Birds , was revealed last month (seriously, how the hell did I miss this??), but today that the alt rockers have shared further details. The follow-up to 2012's Not Your Kind of People will be released on June 10. Check out the cover art and track listing below. 1. Sometimes 2. Empty 3. Blackout 4. If I Lost You 5. Night Drive Loneliness 6. Even Though Our Love Is Doomed 7. Magnetized 8. We Never Tell 9. So We Can Stay Alive 10. Teaching Little Fingers to Play 11. Amends Um, I'm not sure what to make of the cover—moss green is not a very aesthetically pleasing color, to be honest. I do love those song titles, though. I know I'm going to play the shit out of "Empty" and "Even Though Our Love Is Doomed." Ugh, I can't wait! If you live in Europe, you're lucky, because the group ha ve also announced a batch of summer tour dates across the Old Continent. Since no tr...

Call me jaded or cynical, but I've never got the big fuss over Valentine's Day. Probably because I've never been in a serious, monogamous relationship before, but I don't really care about those either. To me it's just like any other day of the year. I 'm not one to sit at home in my PJs crying, drinking wine, and miming to Celine Dion like Bridget Jones (I do love that movie, though). Instead, I could be having mindless sex with some hottie I just met on Tinder, lighting a doobie, rewatching my precious Gossip Girl DVDs for the millionth time, treating myself to a shopping spree... Really, the possibilities are infinite. Alright, let's get to the point. Valentine's Day reminds me of a Garbage song titled "I Hate Love," off of the band's latest studio release, 2012's Not Your Kind of People , which is excellent – as are their other albums. Despite the song's somewhat upbeat instrumentation, the lyrics are quite dark and...

Just keepin' it classy Ellie Goulding, "Figure 8" 2012 was definitely Ellie's year. I can't get over "Figure 8's" epic, bombastic chorus, I just wish I could inject it directly into my blood. Who knew dubstep could sound this good? Azealia Banks, "Liquorice" Despite her apparent attitude issues , Azealia is one of my favorite new artists this year. Her music is so fresh, I'm loving the throwback to early-'90s house music and R&B that's been going on lately. Of all the great jams she has put out, "Liquorice" is my anthem to sassitude. As some of you must know by now, it was reported a couple of months ago that Azealia and Lady fucking Gaga recorded two tracks for Gaga's upcoming ARTPOP album! Sleigh Bells, "Comeback Kid" This song and Alexis Krauss are the very epitome of badassery. I want her clothes so bad, especially the studded leather jacket. Little Boots, "Every Ni...

Muse had a new album come out a little while ago. sorry I'm so slow. I'm not sure my feelings on it, because Muse is a band I sort of-kind of like. I feel like Twilight (ha) may have ruined them somewhat for me. But I have to say "Supermassive Black Hole" is still one of my favorite songs by them. That, "Endlessly" and "Unintended." I liked SBM when it first came out....I remember listening to it on my tiptoes when I was working evenings at the bakery after school. I'd always work faster when it was on Energy's countdown. good times aplenty, right there. "Undisclosed Desires": Matt Bellamy's voice is boner-inducing, no? The Golden Filter remind me of some kind of Disco-Garbage hybrid. I didn't like them at first....but now, now..... "Thunderbird": do you remember That 70s House (or whatever that shit was) on MTV a few years ago? um I do. The Xx are a terrific new band who sound very bored, which is always hot. ...

I've been to a number of drag shows in my day. Men dressed as women, women dressed as men, inebriated sexually ambiguous audience members dancing up on you, awkward situations in the bathrooms, ridiculously expensive alcoholic beverages... it's always a good time. As a result of my attendance at these festive events, I have a sick habit of hearing a song and thinking, "This would be PERFECT to do drag to." Unfortunately, I've never felt like shaving my legs (and my face), taping up Mr. Happy, pulling on a miniskirt and a pair of high-heels and dancing around on stage while lipsynching to "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." But here are a few songs I'd totally do drag to, if I were willing to shave my legs. Tori Amos - Raspberry Swirl Tori is to the gay community what Eminem is to insecure white boys from the suburbs: she's a god(dess). "Raspberry Swirl" features such lyrics as, "everybody knows I'm her friend / everybody knows I...