Max's Music Mondays with Leith Ross and James Bambu!!
Holy cow, it's Monday and I wrote about two sick songs again
Monday, a beautiful day of the week. You know what else would be beautiful?? If you follow the playlist on Spotify and share the songs/these words with anyone you think might enjoy them too. XOXO -Max
It’s one of those weeks… sitting down looking for brilliant, Pulitzer-worthy, intro thoughts and folks, I’m running on E. But that is a-ok with me.
One of those weeks that flew by, most of my free time filled with reading, running (not at the same time I promise), and watching basketball (I’m addicted to the dang stuff). But it’s always exciting to come back here and try and make something that makes sense. Looking into the fridge of my brain hoping there are enough ingredients to make something worth eating (where I guess, eating = reading??). I am already regretting mixing gas and food metaphors, that is definitely my bad. But this week, it turns out I need to go grocery shopping, so that is exactly what I’ll do (metaphorically, but also I do need to go to Trader Joe’s today). I’ll pick up some ingredients throughout the week, add them to my ‘intro ideas’ note, and see what we can cook up next week.
There’s some more exciting stuff to come, that Caroline Kingsbury performance (some self-promo??? go off Max!) wasn’t the only one, so keep an eye out! But in the meantime, as always, thank you for being here and putting up with my rambling. I hope these songs can add some color to moments when you might feel on E too, I know they’ve done the trick for me.
Everyone I’ve Never Met - Leith Ross
Picture this - you are me (ok really fun and cool thought experiment already). You open tiktok and see this: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMej4fCS7/ (even more really fun and cool now). And you’re instantly thinking… ok this is special!! The joy and excitement of seeing Leith Ross for the first time, hearing that gorgeous tone. It feels so soft and warm, the run at the end is breathy in the best way. And what a stunning lyric too.
But then you scroll and see this??? https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMej4aQ6o/
And then this too??? https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMej4mway/ a breathtaking little tune about another one of my favorite tiktok musicians???? Too much to handle.
So yeah, now your jaw is on the dang floor too. I get it.
*end scene*
Well, obviously we’re all fans for life now, and I had to find a place for them Ross on MMM. I kept watching these tiktoks over and over and found myself doing the same with their 2020 album Motherwell. The whole thing is beautiful and haunting in all the right ways. This tune, specifically, is a gem and a half, loving from the very first moment. The count in, the strummed guitar, the gentle keys, it feels just as personal as those tiktoks (I mean this genuinely I swear). Everything but that one guitar fades out and Ross just shines. The imagery of malls and highways are both honest and creative in their descriptions, and for me personally, pretty relatable. Mhm, yep, the harmonies are gonna go ahead and be utterly perfect too, adding some weight as Ross drops that killer “they are just a bumper and a light” line. The easy band returns for the quick and just pretty chorus, this time with the bass, warm and grounding. The little guitar riff filling out the sound with a kiss of western flair (which I simply cannot help but love, scratches some itch for me and I fall for it every time). We add another new voice to the titular line, another little touch of beauty. Alright, I love the second verse!!! ugh. The barstool lines are perfect. It’s a moment of poetic reflection. (A running theme here…) I also love the internet lyric, Ross with such a thoughtful and graceful handle on sharing specifics that feel modern and new and oh so real. The final minute of the song grows from here, repeating this mantra, this admission, over and over and over. For a melancholy set of words, they’re offered with half a smirk. There’s not much I can say at this point, I’m too busy sitting back and enjoying the moment. It’s one heck of a minute, and a joy to sing along with, a wholesome end to a great tune. Can’t wait for more from Leith Ross.
My Place or Yours - James Bambu
Wow, is there a more efficient possible use of the first six seconds of a song??? The drum machine intro, the bass hitting, the wavering lo-fi chords, Bambu’s first lyrics with a charming tone, subtle harmonies that work just as hard as clouds of reverb, and sparse percussion thrown in. I’m sitting here trying to make one good sentence in an email full of them, in flat out awe at how Bambu orchestrates a perfect moment, making it look so easy, so quickly. The second pass gives us a chance to admire each piece with a bit more attention. A little switch up now, Bambu pushing the momentum forward with the help of a little tambourine (a word I don’t think I’ve ever typed before and wow does it look weird today). “It’s like the day when we first kissed / under the moon” this lyric really works, both in the context of the song of course, but also as a perfect descriptor of the songs mood. It all feels romantic and moon-lit, what you might go ahead and call, a quote unquote vibe. The chorus finds another new way to come to life over the groove. It’s still all so smooth. A new little synth adds some texture, along with some dreamy layers of background singers. I love how the ‘my place or yours’ repeats to connect us to the next verse, keeps that energy moving - it’s all one big connected scene and once you’re hooked there’s no escaping, but why would you want to. The second verse is a quite the energy to start your week with, but it’s gotten me up and out of bed. It might be direct, but it’s also quite touching, Bambu with an incredible sense of focus on the present moment, on their partner. It’s clear this might not be a long term relationship but Bambu isn’t holding back any love in this moment. The bridge is a treat too, and a moment that feels timeless musically. Another chorus, and this time I’m taken by the contrast in voices, the give and take, two tones, both confident and sure of themselves in unique ways. The last lyric a question hanging in the wind, just waiting for your answer. This tune is so good, geez. Took me a while to write because I was busy dancing in my room just trying to look half as cool as this song sounds (at best I hit 20%). A brand new tune from James Bambu, first of the year and I’ll be patiently waiting the second. And the third etc. etc.
In Case You Missed It:
Hey would you look at that, I’m back on The Wild Honey Pie! Got to write about a new song off Claud’s album. We love Claud and we love double self-promo!!!
The Billie Eilish Doc is out but I haven’t watched yet.. It sounds amazing??? Did anyone watch and would you recommend?
Petey x Miya Folick *tearing up emoji* COME ON (sorry to my neighbors for screaming this one 24/7 since it dropped)
Noname is so wonderful and Rainforest is another stunner. Would be remiss not to share this as well:
Becca Mancari released a single off a forthcoming EP which will make me weep uncontrollably I can already tell
Wallice, Greentea Peng, and Leon Bridges all return with new singles of their own and all of them are beautiful and fun and good
That’s it and that’s all… for now! *eyes emojis*
Happy March!! Let me know if you need anything from the store.
Max