The Useless Critic 2.0

I Do It Alone: Concerts by Julia Rebecca Miron Standing in a human melting pot, faced forward waiting for the show to begin. The artists march on stage. The crowd erupts. The music begins. I drop into an almost meditative state- my face hurting from smiling so intensely. And I do it alone. The first couple concerts I went to alone were on accident. I bought two tickets and couldn’t find anyone to go with. The first time, I just sold the extra ticket on craigslist. The second time, I was sure the show would sell out, thus having no problem getting rid of the extra ticket, maybe even profit a little. But that didn’t happen. To my surprise, I couldn’t even give the extra ticket away! I had to eat the cost of the extra ticket and I was already financially strapped at the time. I learned, from then on: unless there is an absolute guaranteed holder for another ticket, only buy one. I was nervous those first couple shows. But I knew the artists and the venues well, plus...

The National are back in full form with this one. Terrible title, but otherwise GREAT song.  "I can't explain it any other way," which makes total sense as the title makes no sense. I guess their new album is about a marriage disintegrating. Feel-good anthems for the year! Nonetheless, I'm excited. No one does heartbreak as well as The National, IMO. 

OK, so this is pretty fun. And weirdly sexy? I'll be keeping an eye on this band - somewhere between pop, chillwave, and a slight touch of surf rock.

QUEEN QUEEN QUEEN This past Friday brought with it the release of the much-anticipated Feist album, "Pleasure."  Of course, this was a major deal, because "Metals " came out in the dark age that was 2011.  So that's six years, Fiona  Leslie. She has hinted via social media that this may be her final album. She's also back to the Broken Social Scene bizness, so it's logical.  No one wants to spread themselves too thin. "Pleasure" is just that - a pleasure. It's Feist at her most raw and therefore her most powerful. Her greatest asset is her voice, which is unbelievably beautiful and strong.  You have singers like Adele and then you have singers like Feist. I prefer the latter. It even contains a duet with the legendary Jarvis Cocker, but oddly it's not an album highlight. For me, the first half of the album is superior to the last half. All of it, though, is amazing - and fits together seamlessly. Make no mistake...

i brunch alone by Lindsay Lelivelt Nothing so lonely and nothing so liberating as bellying up to the bar, in the single stool between the coupled couples and enjoying weekend libations and luxuries ahead of the wait. Nothing so bold or so brave as sitting, sipping, savoring solo at a table for two. A regular Carrie Bradshaw, I brunch alone. SOURCE No friends with benefits, just me and benedicts. --- It’s a silly, fine line of faltering between “Hell Yeah” proud of myself and “What if I just look at my phone and scroll Instagram forever” as I wait impatiently for the Bloody Mary to reach me. I fidget a little, or I did back when I first started this ritual. I would constantly check my hair or play with the hem of my shirt — anything to distract me from feeling exposed. Because that line is there, drawn between my self-confidence and societal pressures. A line that tries to separate me from mimosas. Of course, that’s really the only line you experience bec...

Okay, do you remember when I shit all over The Xx's life a few months ago? Okay, I take that back. I take it back fullheartedly. This and "Lips" are among some of their best songs.  This one in particular has BIG potential. Like, mainstream top 40 status. We will see what happens, but they really mastered their own style in this track, and twisted it a bit into something new. Beckoning in a newfound maturity, which I personally respect. The Xx's shtick can get tiresome after a while. Their music always runs the risk of becoming background noise. In this case, tho, they turn out something uncharacteristically uplifting - and hopeful (don't listen to the lyrics, I think the actual sound betrays that!) I've listened to "I See You" and I have to say, wholly I was unimpressed. But I will give them credit for this and "Lips." Oh man, "Lips" is something else. It has this Eastern-type sensuality to it. Jamie Xx is a genius.  (...

YOU GUYS 2017 IS THE BEST YEAR EVER. EVER. EVER. ... EVER.  Ima stop you but 2009 and 2014 are now distant memories. 2017, I welcome you and your sort-of-crap-but-excellent-music ways.  Saint Etienne. Is. Returning. *fans self*  This is the beginning of what appears to be a big year for the threesome. They will be touring Europe followed by the United States (!!!). And they will be releasing "Home Counties," sixteen new songs, their first endeavor since 2012's "Words and Music by Saint Etienne."  "Home Counties" promises to be about (well actually is about, heh): "the love/hate relationship people have with 'home' is particularly acute in the Home Counties. Yet Saint Etienne understand that, if you squint, it could be almost utopian - here are the post-war new towns, much of the country's modernist architecture, and the non-league football heroes of Sutton United, Leatherhead, Harlow Town."  Looking forward...