Max's Music Mondays with Demae and Quinton Brock
Mhm a totally normal week over here too!
Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays, thanks for coming through. Please follow the playlist on Spotify! And if you dig the songs or the words, it’d mean the world if you shared it with a friend (OR TEN) who might enjoy it too <3
Good morning friends,
Alright it’s January 11th. Let’s do a quick check in. How’s everyone’s years going???
*indistinct chatter, a lot of hootin’ and hollerin’*
Ok good good sounds like everyone is having the best year of their life so far, and that is inspiring as hell, thank you!!
Anyways, there’s a big ol’ white truck across the street from my apartment. Its alarm goes off at least twice a day - twice already today, it’s 10:46am (UPDATE: third alarm, 10:56am). This has been happening for a few weeks now, to the point where I barely hear it. It’s the same white noise as the bus rolling by, as people visiting the coffee shop next door.
I don’t necessarily like the “new year, new me” mindset, but god knows I will take any and every corny/cliche reason to reflect!! We love growth and change, don’t we folks?! So as we start the new year, it feels like as good a time any to recognize the bad that we’ve adapted to. Especially a year where the normal resolutions - joining a gym, meeting up with the haters and settling our differences via rock-paper-scissors - don’t feel as safe as they used to.
So I’m thinking a lot about these things, trying to be more aware of them. Maybe there are small changes I can be making, to make life that much better. Or, maaaaybe I can find new appreciation for those inconveniences, the beauty in the goofy, gratitude for life’s less than perfect edges. That’s what I’m doing with this car alarm. There’s something poetic about it - this undeniably annoying thing that my neighbors and I just all agreed to weave into the fabric of our days. Striking really, that all my neighbors and I share this same experience every day. Whether we know each other or not we’re connected through this alarm. And no this is NOT me avoiding solving the issue by asking the neighbor to make the alarm stop I SWEAR.
The new year is also good for a lot of other things. Like starting that new page-a-day Minions calendar, or spicing up those playlists with some new heat:
Basic Love - Demae
Demae comes through on this one, genuine earnest love just pouring out. Those hello’s float across your ears, picking up the phone so happy to hear your voice. That first note, on ‘sign’… Courageous for a first note, sharing from the soul, a perfect taste of what Demae is capable of. It’s a stellar performance throughout, delivering breathtaking range. The first verse rolls on by, a playful melody dancing over this familiar guitar riff, as our narrator sets the scene - a love so deep and so real, she’s helpless to it, and will do whatever it takes to hold on to it. Carefully littered with harmonies and adlibs, it’s almost like Demae is playing this song for you, at you, and is here to prove how true this all is. We reach the chorus and find out we weren’t done hearing this ridiculous range, thank goodness. Truly remarkable, it’s a song I cannot sing along with at either end, yet it’s presented here with such ease and such a smoothness. The chorus becomes home to some rather insane claims, and if they’re true…. this is ABSOLUTELY AIN’T NO BASIC LOVE! ‘Swim through / the deepest darkest ocean or two / just to prove how much love I carry for you’ Michael Phelps watch the heck out, Demae is determined. That is a long ass swim lol, I truly cannot get over the idea of it. Regardless, the whole chorus holds a current of energy pushing and pulling, a beautiful scene. Back for another verse, and now’s the time to remark on how good the bass and drums are. Which are, to put it short, very. But don’t focus too hard on those, you’ll miss these background vocals like leaves whirling in the wind. It’s this wind that pushes on, pushes us, pushes Demae towards this warm warm love. The passion only grows on its way out, I can’t help but smile as this one ends. If you dig it, please please check out the album Life Works Out… Usually. So much talent, so much variety, so much good music.
To the Moon - Quinton Brock
Been a minute since we’ve sincerely rocked the fuck out. This song made me remember that and made me want to change that. This drum intro is intoxicating, a sense of urgency, deliberately moving the song and me. The band joins in, with these ooo’s acting as a real sweetie-pie contrast to the anger in those drums. Brock’s vocals are distinct and have stuck in my head since first listen, something about their tone that just works. And yeah, it probably would be the job of a “good” “writer” to figure out what that something is. But me? Just going to enjoy it babe!!! And I hope you are too. Even with the drums pushing on, the vocals come across as smooth and calm. I love this verse, in content and sound, especially at 45 seconds when these layers join in. It’s such an inviting arrangement, emotional and real. Plus the imagery of howling at the moon always works for me, I don’t know why it just makes me happy. It’s a fantastic launch into a fantastic chorus. Of course, those ooo’s seem more purposeful now, still perfect and sweet sitting against Brock coming to terms with this new realization. The second verse is efficient and delightful. ‘I guess I’m a dog / I’m loyal, I’ll love you’ caught me not just for the words, but the stung-togetherness. It’s a gooey delivery, like caramel. There’s no stopping it, the line just oozing out. Fits nicely in this moment. And soon enough, uh huh the dogs are barking!!! And the guitar is shredding!! A combo we don’t get enough these days. PUT. MORE. DOGS. IN. BANDS. WOOF. WOOF. BARK. But in shouting out the band, we gotta show some love to the bass player, quietly going off back there (check 1:00, 1:07, and throughout the guitar solo). It’s just a fun song, all of us just howling at the moon, realizing our faults and yelling about them! True or not, this song is so catchy and just begs us all to sing along. Can’t wait to see what else Brock has got cooked up for us.
Weewoo weewoo Dr. Max is back!
I don’t know many doctor terms but just imagine me saying a bunch of them here to help paint the picture and kick this off. LOL writing is so embarrassing sometimes!! Anyways, we’ve got a great patient below, and I hope the suggestions can soothe some of you too.
Patient #1 says:
Phoebe Bridgers / Beabadoobee / Noname / Sufjan Stevens / Julia Jacklin / Lana Del Rey / Classical Ballet Music!!
fave movies right now are almost famous, phantom thread, the obvious child, and all nancy meyers movies
i'm a cancer!
An incredible list here. It’s clear to me (the X-Rays suggest??? is this bit at all worthwhile??) that what stands out to you is emotional stories executed with a gentleness and with beauty. Some stunning storytellers all over this list, a lot of people who don’t mince words and aren’t afraid to cut to the heart of the matter. And also that matter is usually the heart. We love love! Not too surprising from a cancer, all of these artists aren’t afraid to give everything emotionally, to each moment. The Julia Jacklin & Ballet taking on this task from completely different directions. It doesn’t have to be totally serious at all times, life certainly isn’t, but it still has to be done well. And a little nostalgia never hurt anyone either.
For all of this I’d prescribe the following:
Samia - Triptych. For the cinematic storytelling, someone who bears it all emotionally, but does it in simple terms, who is able to make the most of every moment. Her entire album has been on repeat for me lately and think it could be a welcome guest in the Phobe/Beabadoobee/Julia world.
Intrnet Boyfriend - On My Mind. For the earnest joy of a new love and for a little comforting levity in that moment. “You’ve been gone for half an hour and I miss you” soon after joined by a chorus of perfect harmonies. A smile of a song with vocals so rich they could sit alongside any Tchaikovsky piece.
Sister - Repeat. An extra dose of cinematic composition paired with a hint of nostalgia. This song swirls with love and warmth, expansive moments do feel like some early Lana Del Rey too - just beautiful melodies everywhere, made with care and mastery.
My office is always open, if you want some recs too, please give me a shout :)
In case you missed it:
We’re fully back into the swing now, Kings of Leon with a mellow ripper, spent the weekend wishing I was Doja Cat’s best friend, Slowthai x A$AP Rocky weird and cool as you’d expect, Isa Reyes is back on a new Earth Dad tune, NAO x Adekunle Gold my goodness let it warm your heart as you dance the night away, Vagabon x Courtney Barnett and the collabs are HITTING this week and this one is so loving, lastly new Adeline is smooth as could be. It’s January 11th and I’m already falling behind on new releases….
Howling to the moon, awooooOOOOoo!!
Max