The Useless Critic 2.0

In this new ongoing series that I have been meaning to do for years but have never done ... I will be comparing songs with the same/similar name and determining which one is better. Utterly a useless exercise, but did you read the blog name?! Yeah ... it's a reoccurring theme ...  This week, we've got in one corner, indie queen Jenny Lewis! Her latest album "On the Line" just dropped this past Friday and Lewis is riding an impressively large wave of media coverage at the moment. And honestly, she deserves it.  And in the OTHER corner, we have that beloved indie rock band from the turn of the century - Yeah Yeah Yeahs! Karen O has been up to a bit lately, but I have only followed from a distance and thus feel unqualified to pontificate on it.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The songs that are duking it out today? "Heads Gonna Roll" vs. "Heads Will Roll." Let's look at "Heads Gonna Roll" first - a lead single off Jenny Lewis's "On t...

With Ringo Starr on drums, Jenny Lewis came BACK. She's touring, heavily promoting her new album, and quite frankly, kicking ASS. May age be this graceful to all of us.  Seriously though, this song sounds like if Fleetwood Mac came out now. Jenny Lewis's solo career has been littered with badass anthems (like "She's Not Me") and this track belongs right there with the best of them. WB, Jenny! I would never order this drink EVER - sounds like a stroke in a glass TBQH. 

I know this is old news now, but is it really neccessary? It's a good album, but eh.  Ben and Jimmy will be touring in support of it (a Phoenix date is included). Funny or Die had a great spoof of this starring Aimee Mann, Moby and Weird Al: p.s. it drops April 9.  p.p.s. I guess there are two new songs with Jenny Lewis, which is cool. 

I'm back from my sabbatical. Not so much as a sabbatical as I do have a fairly active life, and no internet until tomorrow (woo), so updating as much as I try to is a bit of a struggle. I mean not like, what's happening in Mexico, or what Irish immigrants went through in America for the latter part of the 19th century. But it's a little struggle. A tiny struggle. A minute  struggle.  Anyway, in that time being, I have discovered  the new La Sera album and subsequently fallen in love.  Cute! I never paid attention to her debut that came out last year. Why? Um, the concept was boring? Like, oh . One of those chicks from one of those bands that kind of all sound the same (a la Dum Dum Girls). I mean, I'm more interested in listening to rare whale sounds. But on a random whim, and I guess all whims are random really, I downloaded her newest effort, Sees the Light . I also downloaded the new Frankie Rose because some of her stuff is okay and I often confuse th...

- Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis were there. I am not sure what else happened. - Jenny Lewis was with Jake Gyllenhaal all night! - I should see the Social Network. local boy Trent Reznor cleaned up done good for that nom! mmm hmmm

Halloween is creeping up soon, and thanks to Jenny and Johnny, I have a couple of costume ideas for you. Last night during their show at the Troubadour here in LA, they mentioned their Halloween costumes for this year. Jenny said she's going to dress up as Best Ghoast and Johnathan as Gravves. Johnathan then said, "That's for all the bloggers out there". Whoever is seeing them on Halloween in New Orleans take note of this, especially if you're a fellow blogger.

does that not sound like it would be amazing carved onto a desk in your high school health class? just about. it rolls off the tongue like I used to think CHRISTOPHER and JENNIFER did (oh, to be three again). this is a real update from my Swedish hostel. I just took a cold shower and survived a Saved By the Bell influenced nightmare. yes, my friends, like the M&M commericial: THEY DO EXIST. anyway, before I left the USA, I picked up this album. and I have not listened to much music on my trip other than the sounds of Lykke Li, Robyn, Camille and Edith Piaf, but I have been forming an opinion on the long-awaited collaboration between the real life couple for a while. I feel comfortable in letting that opinion go now. all in all, it is a cute album. it is a sweet album. it´s fun, you want to pinch it by the cheeks. not in a creepy way that would make the recipient feel gross afterwards, but in a good way, like something not so creepy. Jenny and Johnny are in looooove, but not overly ...

There are so many good tours hitting the area when I'm not here. Jamie Lidell will be in Cleveland, Jenny and Johnny will be at Beachland ... I would love to see J. Lidell live. Unlike Scissor Sisters who think they are just too damn good for this area, he's making an appearance! gah. oh well. I won't be around. Sea Wolf and Ra Ra Riot will both be in Pittsburgh, though. thank god. relatively cheap too. there are times I feel like I should be listening to RRR, but then I realize Vampire Weekend exists, so I don't. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Matt and Kim and Efterklang I will also miss. DAMN Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are playing a free show at the Rock Hall in August, as are Deer Tick. go see 'em if you are in the area- that's a really great opportunity. for FREE. ---- new music that is absolutely fantastic/amazing: - KYLIE, HOLY CRAP. can she ever do any wrong? probably not. I wish she was more popular here in the States. that woman is class (ev...

Elvis Presley, who is dead, and therefore cannot celebrate his birthday: I know a lot of people like to hate on Elvis, but come on, you can't deny his impact on popular culture. and he was talented. I'm not a huge fan, but I give him respect. Jenny Lewis, who is, well, ERJKELKJRKELJRKLEJREKR yeah I LOVE YOU: I love the comments on that video, haha. And David Bowie, who has gotten progressively less weird through the years: I like him more than Elvis.

this is for Alice. but, as creepy as it sounds THERE ISN'T A THING THIS WOMAN AND I WOULDN'T DO TOGETHER read the Spectator y'all

Two of my favorite ladies singing together with Elvis Costello. This song is made of WIN. Side note... people here in the South still use the term "carpetbaggers". hah.

this song gives me chills. seriously- chills. on a night like tonight when my window's cracked open and the air's creeping in. kind of cool, but warmer than it was earlier. when it was at work and I thought I was going to die of pnemonia. think morbid thoughts. the video doesn't quite match what I imagined- Lewis on a beach, nighttime, kind of starless. creepy Polynesian vibe. whatever. they make it work, somewhat. glad to see she's releasing this off Acid Tongue . It deserves to be released. It's that good. best song off it? just listen. or watch. either/or. Black Sand DID BONNAROO ALREADY HAPPEN? WHERE HAVE I BEEN? sorry for not keeping a hold of festivals I cannot afford. next summer I'm debating: slapdash trip to Europe ORRRRRR Lollapalooza. ... whatever. and remember: J.L. will be in Pittsburgh at Mr. Small's come July 5th! - B. Kemp

I AM leaving tomorrow for SAN DIEGO. I have NEVER been past Cleveland, in terms of this great nation's geography. egads. I'm like Jessie Spano with the caffiene pillz drama right now. SO EXCITED, SO EXCITED, SO SCARED! so very scared. aeroplanes.....mmmyeah I've never had to deal with that before. "My Moon, My Man"- Feist So the Oscars were exciting, from what I saw. not a lot of surprises. but they were still good. I heard some people bitching the other day about how "shitty" films always seem to take top prize....mmmyeah sorry your taste sucks? although I'm going to agree with Al ("Nader"), "The Dark Knight" got robbed! Glad to see "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" got an award. Penelope Cruz owned in that movie. And blah blah "Slumdog" blah blah "Slumdog" blah blah yawn "Slumdog." Still want to see it (my friends inform me it is amazing and etc), a little upset my sentimental favorite "Benj...