Max's Music Mondays
Featuring Texas Critter and Sleep II. I think you'll love these two.
Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays. My ~music discovery newsletter~ where I get too excited about songs I love. I hope you love them too. If you do, you can follow along on spotify and please be sure to absolute smash that dang subscribe button! tysm :) Your paid subscriptions go towards supporting the artists you read about here too!! That’s right(!!), the artists who made This Weeks Songs are getting paid!! <3
I’m really proud of what’s happening here and hope you are too. Tell a friend to tell a friend!! It’s only $5/mo!! And it makes dreams (mine) come true!! We’re talking the talk and walking the walk baby! And we’re dancing while we walk because these songs are good as hell!!!
Why am I feeling so intimidated to write the intro this week!? My gut says it’s just time - it’s been a month since I’ve written a true intro. Trying to be personal and vulnerable up here and sometimes it’s hard to know where to draw the line. Plus there’s of course the imposter syndrome part of me that doubts anyone cares about this part at all! But I guess it’s my job to make it something to care about?
It’s been a hard week for a bunch of reasons, my go-to fears and insecurities really going off this week! We stan! I also fiiiinally watched Stutz on netflix - Jonah Hill & his therapist’s documentary(mostly) - which felt too on the nose for so many reasons. So I come to the page today still feeling raw from so much of it, and also so inspired by the tools and stories shared. Hard to walk away from that movie and not think the only way past is through, is leaning into the uncertainty because that’s all we can do.
I’ve been nervous lately when it comes to MMM. That my ~discovery skills~ have slid, that somehow I don’t have all the great secret techniques anymore. That even though the songs I share are great, I’m finding fewer and fewer out there. But this week, instead of worrying about that, I just acknowledged the fear and got to work. Burying my head in every music rabbit hole I could find. And guess what I found out…? I am good at doing that actually, and folks we have been reWARDED today. Two sick songs that I am so excited to share, and a pipeline of amazing and exciting music in my back pocket too. But also, I don’t gatekeep ever so if you do want to know the Irish hip-hop/jazz/weirdo band I’m freaking out about let me know.
And what’s fun about this, is that music is often the thing I turn to in these moments. The work and the healing holding hands in a beautiful way. I hope these songs can hit you the same way and offer everything you need on this beautiful monday.
Texas Critter - Garden Sound
First of all, if you are going to put ‘Critter’ in your band name I am morally obligated to write about you. Critter is one of the most cutest words I can imagine. I have a lot more to say, but for all of our sakes, I’m stopping the critter rant here, for now. Time for the song.
Gentle acoustic guitars plucked, ringing as they slide, the room filled with ambience and life. Maybe a drink being stirred, or just spoons knocking about in a bowl. Some quiet conversation as those harmonics descend. I am curious when this ambience sound started showing up in music, but that’s a curiosity for another time. Because the song is getting better with every passing second. Texas Critter, or Evan Taylor, leads the way with his vocals. A couple layers with some reverb that make them feel so big and important without clouding the intimate feel the band offers. Ends of lines reminding us of the background sounds and conversations. Near 40 seconds, the drummer pops in, exploring those first few beats to find its place. And then it falls so perfectly into that gentle groove. As we come to the minute mark, Taylor’s “I was needing you” lingers on that last word, a few repetitions drive home to the subject of this song - he didn’t need someone, or anyone, it was you. His melody softly bending alongside that bending guitar. The harmonics land once more and it’s in this moment that I reveal this is some textbook MMM’s shit, this song is about to pull a 180 and evolve right in front of our eyes. I’m really sorry, I should’ve warned you about this sooner, but I was busy writing about how good it’s already been!
The tempo picking up, the guitars gaining steam with that pace, the drums kicking in cleaner and louder than before, unafraid to take up more space in the arrangement. There’s some bass rounding us out and Taylor with more power behind the mic. The drums really feel special in this moment. Curated chaos as they land on every possible beat with intention. The writing offers a lot to savor, this section ending with such a sweet flip. I don’t know if you’re long for this town / say hello if I see you around / say hello if I see you around / take me home if you see me around. A moment of criticism or maybe realism, quickly jumping ship and becoming desire, a plea to come with, and it’s endearing. A tambourine rattles us off to one last drum fill and the song wraps.
JUST KIDDING TEXAS CRITTER HAS MORE UP THIER SLEEVE HERE WE GO. Again, my bad, should’ve warned you but you deserved the joy of this surprise. Bass and drums in lockstep, some flutey-organs pulsating in and out, a gorgeous moment for the acoustic guitar to sing and shine. It feels bright and green and bouncy. As it comes to wrap we run that last section of lyrics back again, this time louder and grander than ever. The drums are going for it, whether it’s the mix or what, idk, but it almost feels like we’ve got two drummers now. The bass rocking. For the first time, the guitars seem to fade to the back of the stage. Some mandolin-y action around the ends of phrases. At first it feels like a guitar is running alongside the melody, but as the song fades, I’m sure those are actually saxophones? This final section overflowing with so many tiny details and beautiful sounds it’s been a joy to listen to over and over and a struggle to choose which parts of it to share. What an exciting song. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Follow Texas Critter on IG / Spotify
Sword II - First Rule of the Bug
When I start to feel that ‘stuck in a rut’ feeling when looking for music, when even the needles start to look like hay, I take it as a sign to start adventuring beyond my comfort zones. To start diving deep into different worlds - be it genres, or even cities/countries - just to start to understand and see more of what’s going on. That’s what led me to Sword II. And thank goodness it did. This song is sick and their record Spirit World Tour is a RIDE. It’s weird and exciting, each song willing to be something new and great in its own right.
I got hooked on FRotB first and while I’ve been enjoying the rest of the record I can’t stop coming back to this one. Crushed drums barely sneaking out as the lead vocals kick the song off in earnest. The drums maintain their tiny-ness, and it’s perfect, sneaking their way in under these brutal waves of guitar. This lead vocal from bassist Mari feels angelic, floating above the harshness. So gentle that they make the rest of the song feel more cozy?? I’d be lost in a daydream already if it weren’t for this second vocal pulling me back to life. A beautiful arrangement with this Spanish woven right in. At times the two overlap, but it never feels competitive or like they’re taking the light away from one another. But rather both necessary instruments to make this moment work. To tell this story.
The verse feels like it could go on forever, everyone so happily in sync. You take away / every little thing i have inside a powerful lyric, the writing landing BLOWS, that their tone might hide from you on first listen. It’s also enough to shake us free of the verse. Pulling the rug from underneath the band, leaving just an old cello and some angel synth ooo’s. It’s jarring yet works perfectly, leaving space for the vocals so you can’t avoid this devastating question, “So do you feel / the way i want?”. Exploring this metaphor of picking up a bug (or so i’m gathering from the music video and interviews) as this way of looking at control in relationships, bending for one another, making others bend to us, and realizing, sadly in this case it might not be so balanced…
A quick new chord grabs my ear and drags the song down just for a second. This next section is stunning again, repeating the same lyric but interspersed with samples and other vocals, giving it all so much life and energy never letting it get too settled. Cruising towards 2mins, it all breaks down a little. The guitar hitting chords, desperate to hold in tune. And the band can hear the need for help. This massive bass keeping things together while some bells and synths blow through the track like ghosts. All the while Mari, with a touch of autotune, continues to lead the way in what feels like half dream and half nightmare.
The song fades with the guitar and drums pushing on and I’m left wanting more. Such a beautiful and inventive song. I was already sold on the music alone but then I see a quote like this that speaks to my soul and the soul of MMM - “That’s kind of what I hope people can really get from our music … that feeling … that meditation on being free to create yourself as you want,” Zuko said. ugh. I love it.
Follow Sword II on IG / Spotify
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I enjoyed finding and writing about them!!! And listening to them for that matter, two great ones this week.
As always - these artists will get some cash thanks to our paid subscribers. They’re the life blood of this newsletter, and I’m so grateful that they contribute to the mission here and support my writing and incredible musicians at the same time. I’m hoping to continue growing that paid subscriber base in the coming months and I’d love your support. Just $5 per month can go a really long way. I appreciate you all <3
With love,
Max