The Useless Critic 2.0

I'm banking my hope on this in particular: The Robyn/Royksopp tour-reunion may save us all. This article from Reader's Digest actually highlights several reasons 2014 could be/will be amazing. Reader's Digest is kind of wonky online, FYI.  A few weeks from now will be five years of the Useless Critic online. I'm pumped about this, but I also would actively like to be doing things differently. I want this to be more creative, more focused, more driven, more meaningful. So there's our goal to work toward in 2014. Things may change drastically; we'll see. I'm also beginning to implement a lot of personal changes- which hasn't been notable so far, but I think it will work out long term.

First of all, this new direction she's going in. I quite like it! It seems more intense and less cerebral. It seems to draw on more of her amazing guitar skills- and it's a little disconnected and discombobulated, but in a cool way. ANNIE I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE WHITE HAIR AND THAT IS WEIRD Her self-titled fourth album is being called (by her) "a party record you could play at a funeral." Good, because I always wanted that. She announced her ~tour dates~ for 2014. They are as follows: 02-13 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof 02-15 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso 02-17 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique 02-18 Paris, France - La Cigale 02-20 London, England - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire 02-21 Manchester, England - Manchester Cathedral 02-22 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre 02-26 New York, NY - Terminal 5 02-27 Boston, MA - House of Blues 02-28 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer 03-01 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club 03-04 Saxap...

Song of the Day Royksopp are geniuses and Lykke Li is wonderful. The song's sad and poignant but you don't get lost in wistfulness while listening to it. Well sometimes you do. I had a period where I sat perched on a sofa overlooking my front yard to this song. You are welcome. Have a good weekend!

HELLO AGAIN IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.  so.  Norway is like Sweden, but it has more money. And oil. Those are the key differences to keep in mind. Plus, the music isn't AS good. But that being said... question:  what does Norway have the rest of the world lacks? answer: Annie, duh. Annie's last album came out in 2009, which is now a whopping three years ago. However, I somehow friended her on facebook (and Jennifer Egan I don't know don't even ask how this happens) and know she is putting out a new album this year. or I think. or I hope. or I pray, because that talking asteroid is coming for us in December, I SWEAR TO GOD.  Do you NOT know Annie? Do you live in the darkness (and not the kind of crappy band)? Here, feast yourself upon one of the best pop singers/DJs of our time: so yeah. 2012 = new Annie album = happy world, before end times but there's other great music from Norway! btw, the best Norwegian I ever befriended was Dan. Al...