Max's Weekly Music Roundup
he's bravely reformatted, let's see if we like it.
Happy Friday, happy weekend, happy life honestly!!
I’ve been feeling a little stuck with this Friday newsletter. On the one hand, I absolutely love having the chance to write about my favorite artists/new releases. On the other, it sometimes feels like I’m just throwing 15 songs at you, and running away with my arms flailing in the air. Plus, it’s not always representative of what I’m really listening to. It can make it hard to get started some weeks, and feels forced in some moments. But then I remembered something very important - that I seem to forget frequently - turns out, this is actually my newsletter that I write and control (in a fun, supportive way not in an evil villain way). So here we are, leaning into what feels right and seeing if it sticks. I hope you enjoy. And seriously let me know what you think!! Smash the dang reply to this email and spout off!!!
We’ll have a little section of new stuff, meant to be music from the past week or two (but we’ve got some catching up to do this week) and a section of old stuff, music that’s found me regardless of when it came out. It already feels better, giving me more time to write more consistently. Soaking in the music I love as it hits me, rather than trying to squeeze it all in on Thursday nights and Friday mornings as I dive into all the new releases. The core of this edition still remains true. All music I love, and hopefully, still something new for you :)
What I’ve Been Listening To This Week
The New Stuff:
So when I said we had some catching up to do, the ‘some’ was a bit of an understatement. Holy moly so much good music is coming out right now.
Guerrilla & Sexy Villain - Remi Wolf
We’re a month out from the Remi Wolf debut album and I can hardly bare it. Keeping us happy with single after single after single, each as delightful as the last. Sexy Villain lives up to the title, sexy as hell with a sprinkle of evil. The evil is twofold - 1) literal evil (the serial killer bits) and 2) feels illegal to pull of the lyrics Remi does. “cheat on Chester, fuck with fritos”??? My PepsiCo heart simply can’t take it. It’s so smooth too, that tippy toe bridge a moment delivered from angels. Fun and goofy, yet lands as a serious pop song and serious smash :)
Crank things up, busting out the synths for Guerrilla. There’s something a little Rugrats about most Remi songs, and I feel it here in spades. The background vocal-stings across the first verse/pre-chorus hit so hard. Pulling away for a simple, almost gentle chorus, when the guitar and drums come flying in all big and fuzzy, it’s a surprise but one that feels right and takes this song to completely new heights. A second chorus pulls back even further, woodblocks lighting the way onward. And lulling us in, so that guitar smacks all the harder. Breaking glass left and right, quite the party, it sounds like! Around 1:50 we wake up on the beach, waves hitting over a warped little sample. One we’re awake we get serenaded with the sweetest little moment, our narrator falling for someone. All exploding back into the party for a ripper of outro. Hell ya.
Many Times - Dijon.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! This is the stuff right here. The kind of song I struggle to describe beyond calling it “affecting”. I have so much to say and yet I’m speechless. This song makes me want to scream, to jump up and down, to run faster than I’ve ever ran before, to do a cartwheel, to do a backflip!? (don’t worry mom, i’m not going to try the backflip) it’s bursting at the seams with life and emotion. Everything is perfect. A one of a kind tone from the guitar. A one of a kind tone from Dijon, unmistakably him, a singular voice. The drums are wild, big splatter-painting energy, yet entirely in control. The songwriting is, in classic Dijon fashion, absolutely devastating. This little run of “strawberry, raspberry, candle light, satellite, television, x-ray vision” a playful delivery and creative distraction from a chorus of pure heartbreak. The verses are unrelenting too, this 2mins just flying by. And what’s a Dijon song if not him going tf off, yelling out over a bouncy little saloon-esque piano solo? Also this music video has me fucking inspired, I am obsessed already. This is the last thing I’m writing for this newsletter, and I have to send it now or I will write another 100 things, this one just has me awestruck and excited.
Stupid Love - COUCOU CHLOE Remix - Lady Gaga
Threw a handful of remixes off Dawn of Chromatica on my running playlist before I listened to them - I trust Lady Gaga with my life (and running soundtrack). And when this one dropped, whew... The audible “oooooOOOOOOo!!!!” while waiting at a stop light… It caught me by surprise and has been a frequent play all week. Obviously Stupid Love is a smash, but COUCOU CHLOE forces the bright explosive anthem underground. Covered with feedback and darkness. It’s mysterious and sinister and entrancing. I love it.
Weight of the World - Sister & Mackeson
OOooo this one is so sweet. Sister has one of my favorite voices and it’s always cause for celebration when she drops something new. It’s a really loving and inspiring opening, full of grace and heart. Wisdom everyone should hear. “I’ll make the same mistakes, but I’ll figure out where I’m at”, so beautiful. 90 seconds in, the guitar is replaced with a descending harp, what elegance!? Before handing off the same chords to a sample. Gives the song an entire new shape and feel and one Mackeson makes the most of, offering a stellar verse. That moment leaves us with some bass and heavier drums, Sister’s vocals now almost sneaking up on you. The song progressing just like our narrator, always moving forward, moving on. The two sing alongside each other to close it out, a sweet ending.
Back in the Day - Chrissi
Get on board the Chrissi train!!! This one is so dang good. Beautiful storytelling from a remarkable voice. The voice is enough, but the little choices throughout somehow give it even more life. The background vocals, the 0:41’s ‘can we start now’, great production pushing and pulling at all the right moments, maybe the warmest organ to ever exist, it’s all there. For me, the performance from 2:07 on is really worth noting. The emotion is palpable and earnest, the way Chrissi hits the T’s in “two and ten”… Songs like this, I can just leave on loop for hours.
Right Track ft. Smino - Syd
I’ve already written about too many songs for this week but I can’t stop playing this one. So in short: The production is insane, Syd sits center stage, the clear star in complete control. A sensual and gorgeous chorus hands the baton off to another clear star, Smino. The verse is great, the adlibs too. The two fit so well together, a warm fun hit.
The Old Stuff:
Dawntown - Godford
Big shoutout to my dear friend Ben for this one. Finding myself falling further in love with the artists making music in this world. The TSHA’s, the Logic1000’s, Caribou, and now Godford. Music that just feels right to me. My intro to Godford, someone I can’t wait to listen to more and learn more about. It has such a lightness to it, breezy almost, just lifts me up - physically and spiritually.
Ocean of Tears - Caroline Polachek
The legend herself. I lucked out and stumbled into the stream for Polachek’s Pitchfork Set, and geez. Watching through my laptop screen and still felt so connected to the moment. Feeling very glad someone uploaded this one. This song always hits for me. So, to hear the crowd singing along and hear those drums come to life, mmmmmm. Has me back listening to Pang top to bottom again and again and again and again.
That Life - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
UMO has a one of a kind sound. This first verse has a real walking-down-main-street-waving-hi-to-everyone-you-pass sound. Dreamy, timeless. A song that has rewarded me more with more listens, falling deeper into its magic each time through. That chorus is a feat. A release from the whole band, I can’t really describe it but it feels so special to me. And yet the lyrics paint a bit of a bleak image… too late I’m already smiling and swaying.
13th Century Metal - Brittney Howard
As I mentioned on Monday, a failed Bonnaroo led me to seeing Brittney Howard and for that, I’m grateful. This song has stuck with me, her live performance bringing SO much power and connection. The band rocks. A message of love and righteousness. So many moments of beauty, so many moments of bravery, this thing takes on countless shapes. Five minutes of me being in pure awe.
Okay okay so how do we feel? I always struggle to cut off this list. This urge to post another handful of songs (I’m looking at you SCOOP ft. Doja Cat…), to show you all the possibilities. But I gotta draw the line somewhere, trusting that you know there’s a lot more where this came from, and if you want more songs please say hey :)
Until Monday,
Max