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...

Flunk is a band I have enjoyed for years. They are Norwegian and electronic; two things I adore! Their music- dreamed out bliss- has appeared in several movies and shows through the years. With plenty of good reason, too- it casts a mood. Anyway, they just released a retrospective of their past ten years as a band. Read on to see what this means for this underrated and fabulous band, according to member  Ulf  Nygaard... UC:  You guys just released a musical retrospective. What made now a good time for that? Ulf: This spring marked ten years of Flunk records, so it seemed like a good idea.Also, we knew we would attack the new album in a different  manner than our earlier recordings, so the timing felt right. We picked the songs more or less ourselves, except maybe we compromised on  leaving out one or two of our less accessible tracks. And we had to leave out "True Faith," the New Order song. You just can't have TWO  cover songs by the sam...

For those of you that don't know, No Doubt confirmed their new album will be out before the year is over (FIONA APPLE YOU LISTENING THEY'RE BEATING YOU) and will have hints of Rock Steady  on it, as well as the influences of New Order and Depeche Mode. This IS HUGE NEWS FOR ME. Like, EPIC news. and that word is seriously overused BUT IN THIS CASE IT IS CALLED FOR. I have started a twitter campaign to get Robyn and No Doubt to tour together. I just think if Gwen and Robyn shared a stage, at some point, I could die of multiple orgasms and go to the afterlife with no regrets, like Edith Piaf sings about.  Onwards, let's dissect this song: If you bore me then I'm comfortable If you interest me I'm scared My attraction paralyzes me No courage to show my true colors that exist But I want to be the real thing But if you catch my eye can't be authentic The one's I loathe are the ones that know me the best.... conclusion:   - faking it - fak...