Max's Music Mondays with Houston Kendrick and Merpire!
I'm freaking out, these songs are so good :)
Welcome to Max’s Music Mondays - a ~music discovery newsletter~ where I just go wild gabbing about songs I love. I hope you love them too. If you do, follow along on spotify and smash that subscribe button. Let me know if you do I’ll send you a thank you letter or something.
Earlier this week I was listening to a podcast (maybe the most classic Max sentence ever??). It was last week’s StraightioLab with guest, Greta Titelman. At some point one of the hosts (I actually forget who said it) noted how people are attracted to Benihana. And, mentioned how interesting it is that like, on paper, what we’re “seeking” is this behind-the-scenes experience but in reality are just seeing a performance of that experience. Something completely different than what it is attempting to show. And now that’s been stuck in my head for days. How so many things we experience are just performances of that thing. I’m flying through Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix, which is just that - a “behind the scenes” look at drama within F1 racing. But it’s no secret Netflix is documenting everything, so what we’re really seeing is a performance of that BTS view, something completely different (but still satisfying, would recommend), everything amplified for the audience. The same could be said about, say, American Idol. And honestly, the same could be said about this here newsletter!! That what’s being shared is a performance of how I’m experiencing and thinking about these songs. Like, yes, these are my honest opinions, just shared and packaged in a way that isn’t how they’d naturally be expressed. I don’t know how I feel about any of this, is there a way to share anything completely genuinely?? So in protest (or in compliance, idk) I won’t make some meta point of it all. But I certainly will continue to think about this one. So… how about that?!
Anyways, it feels like the only way to move forward is to be ~as authentic as possible~ and share this song, since it is ABSOLUTELY LODGED in my brain, my heart, my everything. It’s so good and I hope everyone listens:
New adds to Max’s Music All The Other Days
This week we got:
Well first off - Soft Streak crushed it in our bonus edition last Thursday! Please go watch if you haven’t already (and honestly, watch again if you have)!!!!!!!!
Again, double shout out to the Buscabulla remix that’s so viscerally good. The bass, the drums, the whole thing.
New single from Maddie Jay!! Authentic, honest, and timely songwriting with beautiful vocals.
Chiiild x Mahalia just beautiful my goodness!!!
Also added BØRNS’ Second Night of Summer which I remember every six months or so and it makes me so happy.
New Georgia x Savage Gary is a dirty little dance tune that also feels kind of Jock Jams-y? Infectious and big.
Caroline Culver is back with another devastating tune “how much do you want from me / I’m walking on glass” :(
OK IT’S TIME FOR THIS WEEK’S SONGS!
The Suburbs - Houston Kendrick
Start your week just basking in the light of this one. The chords with this sparkling synth welcome us in, and it’s kind of giving me Mr. Rogers vibes. Nostalgia-soaked and just feels so good. Kendrick doesn’t waste any time at all, getting straight to it, no warm up needed. His voice floats along, shining in each moment, even as the rhythm ebbs and flows. This sense of happiness over it all. Even in the songwriting it’s clear that not everything was perfect, but you can feel the fondness for those moments regardless. We roll into the verse, Kendrick powering on and showing off a completely new side of his delivery. A couple guitars noodle around the outside, bluesy flairs add more fun to the song. This pre-chorus adds layers and layers of vocals, reflecting back, almost like we’re all telling our same stories at the same time to and with each other. Communal nostalgia? Is that something? Probably not, but what is something is how fantastic the melodies are here. Kendrick’s voice sounds beautiful no matter where it goes or how he uses it. The ‘lonely boy’ line is the cue for everyone for clear the way, a bit of space for the storytelling and singing to shine. As the scene ends, the ‘he sounds like a bummer’ line is delivered so casually, with a realistic appreciation for making it out. We go FLYING into an update on the lonely boy, and what an update it is. LB is thriving now, those ‘ooooh’s a fitting celebration and moment of relief from those tougher times. It’s really great songwriting, the two moments, then and now, presented powerfully (but somehow still naturally?) in contrast to each other. Back to the chorus where we simply must stand in complete awe at the gorgeous lyric, “four loko, weed, and rubbers / cover for each other”. To look at that lyric on paper (or email, assuming you don’t print these out?) you could never imagine the elegance and beauty it’s delivered with. I think that’s what I love so much about this chorus, feeling so much love poured into so many little moments - the subtle organ chords, the ad-libs, the harmonies rolling in, the bass holding it all steady. It’d be easy for this kind of song (subject matter-wise) to fall flat, but there’s such a clear honesty and genuineness to it all, it really does work. Plus one last incredible vocal run to bring us home. A beautiful tune, the kind you turn on and just know, ‘yep this is a good song’.
Dinosaur - Merpire
Ooooo baby, those drums!!! Got me all fired up and the song hasn’t even started. The full band comes to life, that heavy riff exploding forward, the bass quietly running wild underneath. One hell of a statement to start. Merpire peels it all back, signing over simple drums and guitars, there’s the slightest echo on the vocals - a signifier of space, a sense of loneliness without the full band. “Now I’m more afraid of what I won’t find / and all that’s left will end up letting you down” ok *wee woo wee woo* perfect lyric alert. Coming for the jugular… Everything ratcheted up a bit, the vocals still bouncing off themselves. There’s an earnest strain here, Merpire trying to hold it all in, hold it all together. I just adore this chorus, the riff and vocals running right alongside each other, both surprising me and hitting oh so hard. The harmonies work perfectly, and the whole moment has quite the unique shape to it. Its rhythm and melody breaking completely free of itself. It’s a whirlwind of emotions - the tension of those high notes, release into such a beachy chord, climbing back for more tension before resolving into more darkness, yet also more sure of itself. And it’s only, what, 15 seconds? But it pushes and pulls me and makes me feel so much! A good chorus, imo! Settling back into that riff, maybe just a little more noise and fuzz before another killer verse. Merpire refusing to take it easy on us with this one, sheesh. Hustling back to the chorus, I realize I didn’t even get to say how fun a dinosaur shout out is. Something about it really makes me smile. This overwhelming intensity and edge of the imagery, but somehow still a touch playful. The bridge sees more honest and brutal lyrics laid bare over a thinned out riff and an unplugged electric guitar strumming along. Like the power of the chorus wiped everyone else out, this is all that remains standing. But it’s enough for me. So intimate and empty in a beautiful way. Slowly the band returns, these harmonies really stunning while the riff wanders into new places. That’s enough to fire us up and HOOOOOO BOY have we returned to full force. The vocals screaming out in pain and power. The band barreling on, just trying to match it. I’m going to go ahead and say it… this song rocks.
Another Monday another two sick songs, thank you for reading, please also listen!!! I could never do these songs justice. As always a share, a follow, it all helps!! Sincerely appreciate it, see you again next week :)
Yours,
Max