Max's Music Mondays with poolblood & Everything Else I've Been Listening To
One pick this week + my go-rotation this month w/Madison Cunningham, BEL, UMO and more :)
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 Sick, right??
I got a new desk this week. It’s nice as hell and I’m so excited. It is a standing desk and of course… the little touchpad that raises/lowers the height is confused by my request to lower the desk. In fact, being as so bold as to go up, even though I’m very confident I’m pressing the down arrow. Not ideal…
I’ve found myself stuck at uncomfortable heights throughout the day, no choice but to try and acclimate before I unplug/plug it back in to try again. Testing my patience. But here I am typing my little intro to my little newsletter never the less. Reminding myself that I can adapt and I can make things work. Reminding myself that none of that really matters. Makes me laugh honestly - to be reaching so high while I sit, or slowly moving towards a spilt in order to stand at a proper height. The desk managing to adjust me better than I can, it.
While I know I’ll solve this eventually (waiting for customer service to call me back), I find myself grateful(?). The need to have the desk to write this intro in the first place. The fact that I have a dang intro to write! That I get to!! It rocks. I’m feeling sentimental as hell today! And in the end, around here, all that matters is I share music I love in a way that makes me proud, and oh boy are we doing that. Here’s to hoping all of your metaphorical desks aren’t bothering you too much.
This week, we’ve got a special song from poolblood, and as always, thanks to the paid subscribers, I get to send some money their way too! And that makes me proud as hell no matter how dumb I look trying to sit on enough phonebooks to see my laptop atop Mount Deskerest or whatever. So if the music speaks to you, if the vision speaks to you, I’d love to have you join, a few bucks every month to help support all of these artists and allow us the chance for some special subscriber-exclusives. But regardless, hope you all enjoy this week’s song and what’s been in rotation for me this month.
This Week’s Songs
poolblood - voyager
From the first time I heard this song, I was trapped. Enamored is probably a more fitting term, because trapped feels bad... and my feelings are only positive. There’s something about poolblood’s voice and the way it delivers these satisfying and unique melodies. I love this song so much.
Even the start is special. Those four notes on guitar instantly repeated and layered to kick off the song. Entrancing. You’re in. The repetition like a musical “oh we’re starting now”. Casual but certain. And poolblood (pb) hops right in. I really cannot say enough about how intoxicating this verse is. The melody is just crazy!!!! The slow gritty feel as pb descends, before flipping up to those soft, gentle high notes. Each moment feels surprising and exciting, as they find small tweaks here and there, the whole song feeling so alive. The song is grounded and heavy as it chugs forward, but pb always stays light and clear, a lighthouse to guide the song. The songwriting is fantastic too. Thinking of this old partner, thoughts flooding back and filling their mind. Clearly isn’t the first time this internal conversation has been drudged up. This ex has left a mark. Almost as though poolblood is still trying to make it all make sense, make the relationship work, even if it isn’t meant to. The feedback loudens, the band coming alive for the chorus. Landing a blow, I hope you’ll be saving me. Whew.
This fuzzy and heavy chorus, the whole band driving hard. poolblood’s voice sound so good as it cuts through it all. It feels as complicated and messy as the message, knowing there’s turbulence in this relationship but still clinging to the potential. Just wanting things to be easy and recognizing they just aren’t. When she drops back into the second verse, that first line says it all. If I told you what I wanted would you leave me? The band faded into the shadows, poolblood vulnerable again against this acoustic guitar strumming, there’s nowhere to hide, nothing to distract you. You hear it loud and clear. It’s a devastating question to ask, to wonder, and that pain really hit me when I first heard this. Nostalgia in reminiscing, wishing for them to change, for a different ending to this story. That moment at 1:38 - the beauty of that chaaaaaaaange. Each note feeling so loving and earnest, really deeply truly wanting this changed. The way it’s stacked with the subtlest layer in the background, it really moved me!!!
But no time to wait, we got another sick chorus, the band back at full strength as poolblood sorts through all this. The song almost falls apart on the other side, the bass bending, a strum here and there, all of this, a haze. Like crickets chirping and stars flashing, the song feels like dawn, like something new is arriving. And as the band bangs back with some determined drums, new riff, and new melody, it feels like a totally new song. The slight swell from the strings, all of it coalescing together so well. And poolblood sends us out on a high note - a happy note - maybe the first of the entire song really. But before that, gotta give a shoutout to any mention of a bus. I love the bus, any bus, public transit heads STAND UP. It has always offered me time to think and feel and reflect. Quiet time for myself to really process. So I only half jokingly say, it’s no surprise waiting for the bus is the moment that gives our narrator clarity and peace of mind. This shift in the music representing the shift in thinking, everything clicking and poolblood finding the courage to let go. Leaving the hold this person had on them sitting at the bus stop. Such a stunning and tender end to this song too. It’s perfect. A great track off of poolblood’s record mole which came out last month. Can’t recommend it highly enough for more songs like this - adventurous, heartfelt, stunning. A record to savor.
Follow poolblood on IG / Spotify
Here’s what else I’ve been listening to.
Yeah, I’ve got another playlist…^^ a live look at the songs I can’t get enough of beyond our weekly picks. It’s a mix of everything. Old, new, big, small, mainstream, weird as hell. Give it a listen :)
Madison Cunningham - Hospital (One Man Down) (feat. Remi Wolf)
Ok hold on now. This??? It rules!! Okay!!!
The production kicks us off and it’s just gnarly. So unlike anything else I’m listening to. The percussion is humble, giving the song this rhythmic core. The guitar tones are twisted, to be quite honest. They are absolutely, certifiably sick as hell! And that’s that!! Bending and twanging and happy in their weirdness. Everything fits so beautifully, but it’s so much that it’s hard to keep up - like finding the groove feels just out of reach? But in this really exciting and enticing way. Madison Cunningham lays down a really wonderful verse, this patient flow, filled with a great melody and sick writing. 'Cause regret is like an infant / That won't let you sleep it off.
The pre-chorus is a clear step towards a new scene, the whole mood shifts with that new melody. The whole arrangement still working together so well. When we hit the chorus, I didn’t know what to expect, but Cunningham went ahead and nailed it. Each repetition of the lyric STUFFED with layers of vocals, instruments supporting underneath, they feel so damn powerful. Gives me chills. It’s over before you know it, that dressed up… a little smirk to bring us back to earth. Remi Wolf handles verse two so obviously we must stan. It is so exciting to see her featured in others’ music, a chance to share a different side to her sound, and it’s always a welcomed addition. Here sounding almost bluesy, with that guitar somewhere between texas and australia. A killer closing lyrics, The fault line can't be reasoned with / No matter what the house has in it. She shows off the dang pipes in the pre-chorus, the two an undeniable duo as we hit the chorus again, the song exploding!!! After a nasty (good) instrumental break, Cunningham brings us home with another great verse, the song peaking as we roll into through last chorus. A song that makes me wanna throw my hands up and scream. So great.
BEL - Are You Okay?
I almost don’t know what to say here… BEL rocks!!!! Ok!?!?! She’s really doing something special here. Continuing to deliver hit after hit, these bright, funny, slick little indie gems that I cannot get enough of. Are You Okay? continues the hot streak. Catchy as all hell from the very first moments, BEL slides through the first verse with this effortless storytelling that’s very honest and quickly puts you into the world. The song builds and builds, the rug snatched out from underneath you as we hit the pre-chorus, the bass and BEL walking together, her delivery lingering at the end of each line as I get pulled deeper and deeper into the song. Only for the titular questions to knock me out (there’s some boxing metaphor here that would be really smart and funny to say, but I really can’t think of anything sorry!). A clean drum fill and we’re off!!!! This massive chorus, begging you to sing along, and god knows I am! The whole thing moves so easy, it’s just a delight of a song. Tossing that synth/keys in there to shake up the second verse, as BEL checking in on this friend, going through it with a recent lover. BEL trying to be a supportive friend even when she doesn’t see why her friend is sticking around. A much more painful story than the music suggests, which is why I love it so much. It doesn’t hold the pain of the moment, but the lightness of reflecting back on it. Appreciating the situation after the fact. A sigh and a smile. The bridge kicks in, gorgeous new melody as the song slows, before one last chorus to end it on a high note. Good luck shaking this one from your head, it’s so good!
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Nadja
UMO just knows how to make songs that hit for me. Holding those drums close, letting this mysterious guitar tone ring, hanging out over eerie wobling rhodes underneath, the bass holding it all together. It has so much texture, it’s really beautiful. UMO’s voice is so weird and perfect. It feels conversational and personal, just us chatting, and always just mumbly enough to make you pay attention. Which probably sounds like a criticism but I adore it. Such a unique delivery, it’s unmistakable. The way he delivers that Naaaadja in the chorus, so gentle so touching so earnest.
Darlin’ I’m on this lonely road so long I don’t know livin’ from the dead
Come on, man… beautiful, simple. It feels familiar and cozy but fresh all the same. I really adore it.
Billy Lemos - COCKPIT (feat. spill tab, binki & Harve)
Ok especially wild group of artists here. I wrote about binki in MMM in late 2018, Harve in early 2019, spill tab remains a staple in my day to day rotation, and Billy Lemos just casually assembling this dream team on a song together? Billy did you make this for me???
Anyways, I love all these artists and the really slayed on this one. Its soft moonlight intro, its fuzzy aggressive middle, the transformation there and back. I love it all. It’s always exciting to see so many exciting artists crossing paths, sharing moments together. Savoring something like this because we don’t get enough of it.
Etran de L’AÏr - Agadez
This record!!! I was hooked on Etran de L’AÏr’s EP No. 1 back in 2021 - the groves so mesmerizing - instrumentally and vocally, the whole thing washed over me so wonderfully. I just got a spidey sense I needed to check them out again and learned three great pieces of information.
They released an album a little over a year ago.
It absolutely rocks. Featuring the same incredible percussion, beautiful guitars, and group vocals that feel so communal and welcoming - Tahawerte Ine Idinette a great place to start.
They’re on tour in the US right now??? I snatched up tix to their April show in LA, if anyone wants to tag along, let me know!
The record is ten songs - a quick 40 minutes - and I have found so much joy and peace just letting it run top to bottom over these past couple weeks. A distinct sound and one that’s such a pleasure to share. Oof so great.
Whew - loved this one. We’re off next week, and back the following with our traditional two picks!!! Can’t wait to see you then. This whole new world feeling more clear with every passing post. Thanks for being a part of something I really believe in.
See you next week. With love,
Max