The Useless Critic 2.0

One thing I'm happy to admit is that I spend a lot of money on music. This is often a Herculean struggle for me internally - as much as I absolutely love the experience of live music, I hate crowds, and I hate the absurd wait times some artists inflict on their audiences. I went to a lottttttt of shows in 2017, cut back some in 2018, and this year looks like it'll be modest but worth it.  I'm not seeking to hit an exact # here - I've been to somewhere between 30 - 50 shows at this point, and probably hundreds of smaller, lesser known bands. I chose 13 for now because that just seems like the fair way to do things.  Is this the best use of money?! For me, YES. I rather collect experiences than things, and look forward to purging myself of some of the junk that I've accumulated the last several years (it does not bring me joy!)  I invite you to comment about any specifically memorable shows you've been to, and what makes them so grand in retrospect.  Honor...

I felt like at first - encountering Tuxedo - that I had run into a photocopy of Chromeo. I guess you could call them that, and seeing Mayer has done a lot of work with the guys from Chromeo, it might even be an apt comparison.  (Despite the semi-disparaging title of this blog post, I actually don't think they're that bad! And that's not because I'm a Mayer Hawthorne fan).  Tuxedo is half Mayer, half Jake One (a celebrated producer in his own right). They make very, very, VERY '80s-heavy funk. They released their debut self-titled album last month.  "Do It" is a pretty strong single, and "Number One" is fairly decent, even if it's kind of sickeningly cheesy at times. I feel like you'd expect to hear "Number One" at someone's wedding in 1987, after everyone has drank way too much Schnapps and Grandma has started grinding with the priest.  My major takeaway from my crash course through their album is Tuxedo had the r...

Enjoy! This playlist is a lot more playful- as demonstrated by the presence of "Work Bitch" by Britney Spears. I just added "Manners" by Icona Pop because it felt good. I also have included my favorite Franz Ferdinand b-side and Lorde's "Royals." I can't bring myself to listen to other Lorde songs because SHE'S SO YOUNG AND IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE. It's generally a positive mix. "Catch My Disease" by Ben Lee, "Breakin' Up" by Rilo Kiley, "Bohemian Like You" by the Dandy Warhols- all rather timeless. There's some odd cuts, like "Obstacle 1" by Interpol (have had in my head all week), the Erie PA song by deadhorse (hometown shoutout) and some `90s/`00s electronica (Ivy and Sneaker Pimps). As for the Camille song and Mayer Hawthorne/Kendrick Lamar track, I will not lie. They are pretty hot.

I just returned from a late breakfast at the bus stop. I know that sounds glamorous, and believe me, Kim Kardashian dreams of my lifestyle. Actually I was doing a lot of thinking. Seeing as how I'm now returning to normal so to speak, my thoughts aren't as morbid or as masochistic as they have been. I'm going to share them with the world now. 1.) Miley Cyrus insults Sinead O'Connor's mental health- Okay, I am a fan of neither, but that is just LOW. Scumbag low. That's like insulting someone's physical condition. As you can deduce by my previous post, I kinda hate Miley. And I think Sinead is not the greatest but Miley has proven herself to be a tactless bitch. I am no Freud, but I think Ms. Cyrus has her own demons, so it's like the pot calling kettle black, really. 2.) Mia Farrow discusses Woody Allen's alleged sexual abuse in Vanity Fair- This was news to me. I love Woody Allen; he's a talented writer and director. However, it...

Song of the Day saw Mayer Hawthorne with Foster the People and Kimbra last night. creamed myself a little! btw ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS EVER

Spring 2012 Tour announced starting May 29th in New York City. Tickets on sale Friday, Dec. 16th. Exclusive pre-sale starting today at  Gilt . 5/29 - New York, NY - Rumsey Playfield (w/The Kooks) 5/30 - New York, NY - Rumsey Playfield (w/The Kooks) 6/1 - Columbus, OH - The LC Pavilion (w/The Kooks) 6/4 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre (w/The Kooks) 6/5 - Austin, TX - The Backyard (w/The Kooks) 6/7 - Alpharetta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (w/The Kooks) 6/10 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion (w/The Kooks) 6/12 - Montreal, QC - Lachine Canal (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/14 - Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center for the Performing Arts (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/15 - Boston, MA - Bank Of America Pavilion (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/16 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/19 - Toronto, ON - Downsview Park (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/20 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/22 - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theater (w/Tokyo Police Club) 6/25 - Bur...

1.) FEIST - saw her last week with the Happiness Project at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. As Daryl can attest to, the Happiness Project sure was boring. "a big snooze," Marty Crane would say. They were like the Books but too driven by concept to be really interesting.  the idea was the band made music out of taped testimonials of their neighbors' perceptions of happiness and how that varies from person to person. and they sure were talented musicians but that was the end of it. But Feist! FEIST! she blew us all away. I have not listened to Metals with any real depth yet, granted I like what I heard. She was brave and experimental and quirky and sweet, joking around with the audience. You could tell this woman was more than happy to get her and her amazing band (which now includes back-up vocals from MOUNTAIN MAN ). And despite her music often coming across as mellow and muted via recorded form, in person, SHE ROCKS. It's totally believable she was once a me...

AND THE PSAS I'M MAYER HAWTHORNE Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do PSA #2 from MayerHawthorne on Vimeo . JUST KIDDING I JUST WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM THAT IS ALL YOU ARE WELCOME HE IS PLAYING WITH CHROMEO AT TERMINAL FIVE NEXT MONTH AND I AM NOT GOING BECAUSE I AM POOR BUT HIS NEW ALBUM COMES SOON LOL LIKE ME KURT APPRECIATE

YES.  YES. a tour together? in the fall? in the United States?  (no NY :( ) but my GOD PITTSBURGH.

what you should be listening to: Tom Vek why:  DID THE 1980S EVER END HOT Junior Boys why:  BECAUSE WHITE IS THE SEXIEST COLOR WHEN DONE RIGHT Sebastian why:  ED BANGER BITCH Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi why:  FEATURING JACK WHITE HE JUST HAD A DIVORCE PARTY WHAT A GOOD IDEA GO WET YOURSELF NOW.

GO NOW IT'S FREE CHROMEO IS INCLUDED http://www.prefixmag.com/media/mayer-hawthorne/impressions-covers-ep/52254/

I know that's John Legend with Fiona, but I think bitch and Mayer Hawthorne need to date. and make a record together. JUST MY FEELING ON SAID SUBJECT look below for a pic of Mayer, who will be touring with Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae, or is touring with them or something right now. who is this boy? I'm glad you asked: I've been listened to a lot of blue-eyed soul lately. it makes me feel white.