The Useless Critic 2.0

  I don't know how I missed "On a Beach" by Canadian singer-songwriter Hayden when it came out earlier this year, but damn! This is a nice upbeat track by a musician whose career has veered more melancholic. featuring Canadian chanteusese Feist. Coupled with a fun music video featuring a cameo from The National's Matt Berninger, don't be like me and sleep on this song. (Plus, Steve Buscemi!) My introduction to Hayden came in the early 2000s when I first heard "Dynamite Walls" which I swear I found via the pre-loaded music on my Windows computer. But I've not been able to find any internet proof of this so I'm not sure if I'm hallucinating. Anyway, it's a more subdued track, but really beautiful. If you like indie or anything slightly more on the pensive side, you need to give this somewhat older (but still so gorgeous!) song a listen.

As a decade-long fan of The National, I had mixed feelings about Matt Berninger's solo project. In the end, I'm much more open to it than I originally was. I think the last two National albums were kind of clunky for me, and so far I like Matt's solo stuff much better. They are still my favorite band, but the more experimental stuff just does not sit that well with me.  "Serpentine Prison," Matt's first full-length solo album, will be out on October 2nd. It's produced by the legendary Booker T. Jones, and features appearances from Gail Ann Dorsey, Phoebe Bridgers, and Andrew Bird among others. "One More Second" really hits the feels, almost like a distant cousin of "Carin At the Liquor Store" (my favorite off "Sleep Well Beast.")  Here's a song by Booker T. Jones I quite like:

This isn't the first time Matt Berninger and Lauren Mayberry have been involved in some sort of collaboration, although I have to admit synthpop is not where I would necessarily expect to find the legendary gloomy National lead singer.  "Love Is Dead" came out earlier in 2018 to mixed reviews - a lot of positive, but some negative notably as much. I think it was a fine album, although not as memorable IMO as "Every Open Eye," which I adored.  However, there are some truly standout tracks on "Love Is Dead," and this duet happens to be one of them. It's dramatic AF but also so strong, arguably destined to be one of the greatest hits in the Scottish band's catalog. And as for Matt, he pulls off synthpop without losing his trademark sound in the process.  For a throwback, check out Lauren appearing on The National's "I Need My Girl" during a live set.