The Useless Critic 2.0

If you're even vaguely familiar with the Phoenix music scene to any extent, you probably knew Andy Warpigs. I saw them a few times at Yucca/Time Out Lounge when I was frequenting both spots a few years ago. Andy Warpigs was one of the most ubiquitous names you could come across, and with good reason - they were an incredibly prolific and talented artist, basically a Phoenix legend.  Unfortunately, over the weekend Andy Warpigs passed away - an extremely tragic loss. If you can possibly donate to the GoFundMe to help Andy's mom with funeral expenses , please do so.  Take care, Britt 

Today marks an incredibly s ad day for the music community - we lost an icon. The queen of soul herself, Aretha:  I'm not gonna jump on a bandwagon and claim to be a superfan - I've always respected (irony) Aretha, though. And you have to admit she had arguably the best female voice in modern music history. Don't you always feel a little more united with people when someone so beloved dies? You all share kind of a weird similar grief? Like when David Bowie died - I was flying to Tahoe the next day and I wanted to get sleep, but I just couldn't sleep. I laid awake in my bed and read people's outpouring of love for on social media. Michael Jackson - I was at the store with my sister and someone asked us "Did you hear about Michael?!" Aaliyah was right before 9/11, and MTV was dedicated to her coverage for days on end. Elliott Smith got some mentions on the evening news and repeated showings of his Oscars performance. Amy Winehouse?! I was walking...

The sad news broke over the weekend that Sharon Jones passed away from her long battle with pancreatic cancer. Now, much has been said about her death these past several days, and what I offer will likely echo much of what has come before me. But, in a year of losses, Sharon's was another unfortunate tally to an ever-sadly-growing list. Sharon, primarily, was a survivor. She was someone who made an entrance into professional consciousness in her 40s, which is more or less unheard of in the music industry. She was someone who quickly moved into the mainstream and was besotted with much-deserved attention. I admit I didn't listen to her as much as I probably should have, but I'm re-listening to her this evening and simply reveling in the beauty of her voice. Sharon was a true singer in an era that lacks many. She will be missed. I picked this song to honor her with tonight because it sort of feels reflective of the mood right now TBH.

Well first of all, I must live in a cave, because I didn't even know Camera Obscura's Carey Lander had cancer (apparently this has been public knowledge since 2011). Second of all, really breaks my twee-pop heart to hear that she passed away from bone cancer this weekend. Like, Camera Obscura! Their music is so precious. And she was only, what, 33?       :( Today is a sad day for indie pop fans. (And if you don't like Camera Obscura, you may need to check if you have a heart. Just sayin'.)

We lost a legend today.

Song of the Day RIP Faye Hunter. 

I have no investment in the show "Glee." At all. I like Jane Lynch but I am not a fan of them butchering songs I'd otherwise enjoy. The sole exception being "Forget You" by Gwyneth Paltrow (ha!) However Cory Monteith struck me as a genuinely nice guy - you rarely see celebrities who seem like they wouldn't be douches in real life -  and I was shocked when I heard about his personal demons earlier this year. Like I read a lot about celebrities so I came into contact with this.  And I was horrified to read about his death yesterday. RIP Cory.

Although I made fun of her now and then , no one could write a good romantic comedy like Nora Ephron.  I appreciate her. She had wit; she had warmth. RIP Nora- you truly were a great lady. My favorite Nora Ephron film? You'e Got Mail, easily. I always thought at some point in my life, I would just warp into Meg Ryan. I blame Nora. “I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” ― When Harry Met Sally and,...

Scene: Erie, in the 1990s Liberty Plaza parking lot my mom's car my brother:   there's a new Beastie Boys song out! me:   um me:   is that like the Beach Boys? my brother:   NO I USED TO LOVE THIS BAND WHEN I WAS YOUNGER *turns up radio* me:   cool! it's about space!!!!! my brother :  u r so gay me:   you don't even know A SHORT TIME LATER watching VH1 as I do (did) me:   holy shit they're white!!!! Say what you will....the Beasties are legends. RIP, Adam Yauch. WAY too soon. 

New Year's Eve hasn't rocked quite the same without you! Seacrest is NO replacement. America's oldest teenager- thx for the memories, to paraphrase Fall Out Boy or some crappy band like that.  question:  any great memories of Dick? (hehehe) statement:  I loved my grandfather and vaguely remember my other. so I'd like to say Dick Clark would have been a fantastic grandfather. I mean, I could have probably met Gaga by now. 

You know how they say things come in threes? ... I'm not implying anything, but watch your back, Margaret Atwood ! Adrienne Rich is one of my favorite poets ever. I actually wrote a UC post about her once. She passed away yesterday at the age of 82. Here is a link to my friend Rachel McKeon reading one of her poems. RIP.  THEN, just when I thought we were out of the literary graveyard, we were not, as just today the writer Harry Crews died as well. I highly recommend you google him and read some of his shit because it's crazy, in a Charles Bukowski-meets- Flannery-O-Connor-in-a-brothel kind of way . so. RIP, I suppose? It's a sad week for the American literary community, that's for sure. last but not least: upcoming events on the Useless Critic - LizRo and I are finishing our review of the Hunger Games . - I have two writers lined up for writer's page! - possible more interviews  - Al is in Africa so you'll have to bear with me. I'm busy and w...

I have to admit, first of all, I have been half-paying attention to the escalating situation in Syria. A lot of foreign affairs are far beyond my grasp (for whatever reason, I'm a reasonably intelligent girl) so I just don't even try to follow them. I are American. I shop at Wal-Mart sometimes (sometimes).  But it's been getting enough exposure on the news- whatever news pond I choose to drink from*,  that it's really become impossible for me to ignore. And it should be impossible for you- or anyone checking this website from whatever cushy pad they happen to be in- to ignore, as well. YES, gas prices are going up. YES, Whitney Houston is very dead ( :/ ). Yes, every Republican candidate is....WELL LET'S NOT OPEN THAT CAN OF WARMS (Sarah Palin:  why aren't you running? you were, at best, gently alarming...or naturally amusing!) But Syria has as every right to be as important as any of these topics, possibly even moreso. In a nutshell:  as has been happ...

who will be next to go? and when will people stop killing themselves in front of us?

It's like I hardly knew you. ....

look at how extensive it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27_Club#Other_musicians_who_died_at_27 :/ IF YOU'RE A MUSICIAN NEARING 27 PLEASE BE CAREFUL. seriously though, the whole Amy thing leaves a very bad taste in my mouth a la Brittany Murphy. Between that and Norway, I feel kind of numb today.  take care of yourselves, reader, Britt. p.s. readers that were turned off! come back! I was with my editor today eating Asian Food I WAS NOT POSTING EARLIER 

no no no no no no no no :( why is it I am in Detroit and this happens?

I actually had a lot to post about, but I have loved this song since I was a little kid. NO POSING THIS IS ALL SERIOUSNESS 2011 has claimed its first celebrity victim! RIP Gerry! you will be missed in the realm of dadrock!

one of my favorite shows ever is getting the right goodbye, the kind of goodbye such a substantial series deserves: I'm going to miss the technicolored-goofiness-sincerity-quirkiness of this show. good god. some of my favorite memories of my sophomore year were spent curling up in front of my TV Wednesday nights to this show. this year, not so much. :( it made me feel like I was a little bit in love with the world. Anna Friel and Lee Pace were probably my favorite couple since Niles and Daphne finally hooked up on Frasier . anyway, you can catch the last few episodes on ABC: June 6th and 13th at 10 PM on Sunday nights. and you can watch episodes at the website: http://abc.go.com/primetime/pushingdaisies/index?pn=index this sucks. and oh my god I'm blogging on a Saturday night. still in a funk, but eh. what can YOU do. Olive! you're breaking my heart. - Brittany