The Useless Critic 2.0

Photo credit - Piper Ferguson One of my favorite (newer) musical discoveries is the Brooklyn post-punk/new wave band, Nation of Language. Think of The National crossed with something New Order/Joy Division-inspired, and you would have them.  My favorite track off their sophomore album "A Way Forward" - which was just released! - is "Across That Fine Line." Listen to it and see if you aren't hooked immediately: On "A Way Forward!", the band nods toward the sounds of Kraftwerk and Neu!, and it's VERY easy to hear that in their music - with a uniquely 2021 twist. Honestly, it's been a minute since I've heard a good new post-punk band, so I'm happy I heard them this past year.  In 2022, they'll be headlining a tour of the EU. Dates below - if you live in the EU, see if you can catch them. COVID getting worse permitting: Nation   of   Language  Tour Dates: 01/10 - Cologne, DE @ YUCA [ tickets ] 01/11 - Antwerp, BE @ TRIX Bar [ no pre-sal...

Lead singer Paul Banks sounds like he's in pain and not in a good way. After his solo excursion of Julian Plenti, which was all right but nothing (to employ a lazy cliche) to WRITE HOME ABOUT IT. Where White Lies and Editors strive to be, Interpol is, a sort of area in the pantheon previously occupied by Joy Division and Ian Curtis' epileptic self. his voice just sounds so bad on "Barricade." other than that, it's a good song. B- hear it:

one of the topics on Twitter got me thinking yesterday. best sex songs? HMM. now I've not had a lot (or any) sex, but when I imagine it, with Swedish supermodels, this is what's usually going on in the background: Jeff Buckley! "Grace" I'm not allowed to embed videos, but between that voice and those looks. holy shit! Jeff Buckley will always give me a (metaphorical) erection. anything off the "Grace" album should get you into the mood. esp. if your significant other is a laydee. guys! listen up! Broken Social Scene I would say either this or "Swimmers." shit, anything by BSS really. have you heard their cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart?" IT'S TIME THAT WE GREW OLD AND DID SOME SHIT Feist! mostly, just this song, her cover of the Bee Gees' "Inside and Out": Gwen Stefani in this video: "4 in the Morning" Phoenix (and Air, sometimes) "If I Ever Feel Better" Annie who, let's ...