The Useless Critic 2.0

Sounds Like: Shawn Mendes meets Purity Ring on a road trip Doesn't Sound Like: The Portishead song "Roads"  Coming from somewhere that blends singer-songwriter folky aesthetics,  Mark Diamond premieres his new single, "Road." It's not a song that demands your interest at first - it's almost too soft and easygoing for its own good. But repeated listens reveal a comfort and warmth to it, and certainly it indicates (a lot) of promise for future music.  Says Mark, "I have never had more fun making music in my entire life. Music should make people feel good more than it makes them feel bad. Not necessarily ‘happy’ songs, but songs that make you feel better about life than when you started listening to it.” Seems like he's meeting his ... mark! Looking forward to hearing more from this up-and-coming talent.   

NEW GOOD BAND ALERT.  Toted by their biography as being in the same genre as bands like Phantogram (see previous post!), Purity Ring, and Beach House, Tiny Deaths are deserving of your time and attention. They are a lovely little dreampop group that I can see going great places. Check out "Survivor," which seems to be some kind of ode to survivors of domestic violence: Interview en route shortly.

Purity Ring was a band I listened to totally by accident. I heard "Fireshrine" one day, and thought it was a catchy little tune. They reminded me of Phantogram's distant cousin with a vague nod to School of Seven Bells. Their new album, "another eternity" (all lowercase yeah?), came out earlier this year. I haven't listened to the album that in depth yet, but I can tell you that THIS track is "bomb."  I chose that adjective because that is what a man in the grocery store called Reese's Puffs, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Happy listening! Reese Puffs! Hahahahahaha GET IT?!?!?!