Max's Music Mondays
My favorites of July - and boy were there a lot of favorites!!!
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!!
Writing live from New York, how about that, what a world! Different places, different moments always bring new importance to music. As the month’s end nears, it’s exciting to get new context for the songs I’ve held dear throughout July. Below I’ve shared a handful of songs that have been in steady rotation through the month, and for the paid subscribers I went off about three songs from the month that have made an IMPACT and will surely be sticking around well into Maxies season (my made up awards for songs and artists I like, stay tuned).
I’m still working hard to figure out how to make these paid sections more meaningful. The money REALLY moves the needle for me and for artists. It makes this project sustainable but also impactful. Directly paying musicians for music we love. The mission has felt like enough for me, but I want to offer more to those who make the commitment too and really make it worth your while. It’s a tricky task to find what feels right. I’ve got a major project on the way that’ll offer us more exclusive content (so get in there now lol) for paid subscribers, but still cooking up more ways to get folks on board.
So this week, for any/all new paid subscribers, I’ll be sending ya a personalized playlist with ten more songs I know you’ll love. We’re about 15 subscribers away from getting to pay the artists I write about over $20(!!!!!). A major milestone and goal. Would love your support if you can afford it, and hope I can hand deliver you some new favorite songs this week too. Anyways, on to the monthly recap!!
What I’ve Been Listening To This Month
I got another playlist if you can even believe. A live look into what I’m listening to every day. You can find all these songs here -
Amal Zenab & Nathan Bajar - Ride
Ooooo baby I am obsessed with this one. Which, I know, is kind of the whole point of this section, and true for basically every song here, but still I HAD to say it. Those simple guitar chords felt like enough in that intro but add on the drums and bass and oh my god this thing takes OFF. Amal Zenab’s voice is so wonderful. It’s warm and smooth and intimate. That vibrato just sounds unreal every time. Bajar’s voice slides underneath, a natural pair, each bringing wildly different tone that works so well together. The song drops into this chorus, a beautiful synth running alongside the bass, vocal layers galore, every bit of it adding to this perfect orchestra. It’s all so satisfying. Stripping back to the verse, those background vocals really shine in their select moments. Everything about this one is so warm and inviting, it’s the kind of song I wish came with a 7min extended cut to just sit back and soak up. In heaven with this one.
Soft Streak - Alone
A staple in MMM, a staple in my head, Soft Streak has released a string of amazing songs over the past year, and this one is no different. Well, maybe it is, this one is incredible. The piano just full of emotion, you can feel the song swaying back and forth. The vocals matching step for step, a beautiful duo. And such a special performance, that little jump in ‘iiIII love you now cuz it’s easy’ sounds so simple but makes the line hit even harder. At 0:44 those three notes ring out, another undeniable piano with subtle guitar matching from the left. The music fits the moment perfectly in a really magical way - this first line “I can see us grinning” does feel like a fantasy, a day dream. And as the song lands on that final chord, that same riff drives home the sadness and loneliness. Oof!! The 2nd verse rides that wave a little longer, not knowing where life will lead, that imaginary limits line so good. The drums and a new guitar launch us into the chorus. “Ooo i don’t wanna sit in / any room without you in it / but is it cuz i don’t know / who i am alone any more” is so damn juicy and heartbreaking and beautiful and I cannot get enough. A song about love and identity and it’s one heck of a song.
Trout - in my room
I’m really stoked about Trout. I wrote about their song Bugs one year ago tomorrow (Jul 25) and said “I canNOT get this one out of my head, holy shit. Each tone fitting so perfectly against the next… The whole thing just has a hold on me… The whole mix with a big ol ‘sum greater than its parts’ vibe. A classic vibe.” I stand by every word. Bugs was enough to hold me over until this spring when more music arrived. Their EP, In My Room, dropped on the 19th and is full of gems. Weird and eerie percussion opening things up for this simple but captivating chord progression. This first verse feels straight ahead, a band full of great performances with Trout leading the way. Breaking into that Do you love me all the time and it feels like the guitar is answering or trying to get the words out in response, it’s sick. Those I love you’s dripping with vocals in a creepy and beautiful way. Followed by a gorgeous stretch there from 1:04 to 1:20 - mini explosions, thrilling textures. The next verse builds from here, getting wild with the vocal chops and effects, the weirdness growing as the emotion starts to rise. Plenty of little surprises throughout, ending with a big ol gnarly outro that rocks. dig tf in!
Benjamin Carter - m.m.s.l.g.g.g.h.
What a joy to hear Benjamin Carter continue to explore new sides of his sound. This one hits so hard for me, if I would’ve heard this in middle school it’s all I would’ve listened to. But it still feels fresh and exciting, pumping his energy and writing into this sick sound. You know I ain’t been busy lately / still left you on read, a damning lyric that has me smiling. This pre-chorus build up is exceptional, the drums and screeching guitars getting my heart rate UP. The chorus feels strong, breaking down the title’s abbreviation with so much emotion, and it’s catchy as hell. An unshakeable riff to tie it all together. A great tune. Ben is really up to something, the momentum is palpable and every release is just so exciting. Really savoring this one.
k1ddest - Have Fun Being Toxic
A beautiful debut from k1ddest, it rocks. And the production is stunning throughout. The drum break is electric, but that kick is so grounding it lets everything else float, even with the drummers urgency. I really love the melody in this “think i got a better way” section, taking on the energy of the drum break through the vocals too. Then that little synth chimes in for the chorus?? come on!!! The chorus is warm and swirling, k1ddest’s hope that this ex has fun being toxic feels more cathartic to say than anything. You can hear the “I am DONE” smile on her face. A second verse to flirt with possibility, but the chorus comes back with certainty. The writing is so frank and clear, there’s just something so charming about it all. The song flies by, always exciting always interesting. Good luck not enjoying.
THREE FRONT RUNNERS FOR SONG OF THE YEAR
Sampha, Lutalo, and Petey delivering some special songs…