Max's Weekly Music Roundup
Barrie, Maisyn, and Dijon... still.
Wow we’re back already, huh? Another week just flying by and plenty of great music to fill it. It seemed like the new format went down well so we’ll still with it for once more and see what happens.
I wrote a whole intro and then I realized I could just make it one of the songs below so now the intro is feeling a little empty… But that’s ok because I have One Very Good Link. If you haven’t already, please read Jia Tolentino x Caroline Polachek. It’s so beautiful and wise and fun and quite literally gave me goosebumps (can send photographic evidence upon request) reading about Polachek taking the stage.
Here is the link to read it, please do!! and let me know what you think.
What I’ve Been Listening To This Week
playlist #2, every song is so good, this really is what i’m listening to most hours of most days.
The New Stuff:
Many Times - Dijon.
Hahahahahaha yep, it’s still here. I was cleaning out the template to start this week’s newsletter and realized the only honest thing I could do was writing about this one again. It’s that good ok!?!?! My heart still races every time I hit play, and it’s been a lot of times. I can’t quite put a finger on it, but it’s perfect. The train gets rolling and never stops. And this music video… ok I gotta stop while I can.
Dig - Barrie
Not sure where this one came from but fell into my life and I’m glad it did. The tone of the singing in the intro was all it took to wedge deep in my head. Barrie’s first verse so gentle, just sneaking out. The band is stunning there too. Simple and sparse, that descending roll (idk even know what it is) a breathtaking piece of the puzzle, I love it. Exploding out with this “I can’t get enough of you” it’s jarring in the best possible way. The rhythm, those claps building at the end. Right around two minutes that fast-picked guitar pairs with the piano for the most ‘two people smiling at each other while they play an incredible song’ moment of the tune. Instantly expanding again. A unique song that has my ear and heart right now.
Valkyrie - Lou Roy
Ok, what a stunning release!!! The pitter patter percussion walking us in, Lou sitting strong right above it all. An entrancing moment, even her breaths sound just right, the perfect compliment to the percussion. The harmonies are beautiful, a helpful transition to take us further into the song. It builds slowly, the slightest bit of chatter adding to the rise, subtle and chaotic, quickly pulled away. Tablecloth-esque, the vocals staying true right where they were. Leading to the catchiest section - the way I’ve been singing “hey man whatcha doin”… infectious!!! The harmonies underneath the claps are another taste of Lou Roy’s talent. The second verse/chorus evolve and grow, the vocals going off, the little laugh back to Hey-Man’s, now with saxophones helping blow it up like a balloon, but it’s a cloud? Does that make sense? So much richness and beauty, a good tune!!
Nosebleeds - Maisyn
Maisyn’s EP is here!! I’ve thrown a few of the singles on here as the summer has gone on, and am thrilled to add Nosebleeds for all the same reasons. The guitar and percussion start with such urgency, Maisyn’s first verse refusing to take the bait, her gorgeous melody coming to life patiently. As always, some wonderful storytelling. In this case it’s hypothetical, but specific and touching nevertheless. Kicking into a new gear at 0:45, we’re treated to some incredible strings. Elevating the moment even more. It all rolls towards something bigger, something different, and with the help of those monster drums, we… slow things down?? It’s such a powerful move, the song going from “running down the middle of the street” to “standing strong with massive searchlights at our back” in the blink of an eye. A surprise that won me over from the first listen. Another great verse comes soaring out, ripping by like we never slowed down. Then the second chorus → outro is so wonderful, what a performance. So massive and still so loving.
Say My Name - Godford
I know we got some Godford last week too, but this new single soothed my soul. It’s so warm and easy. Swelling and settling around that chord progression and ‘say my name’ vocal line. Takes all the right turns, and even with its consistency, always feels fresh. Another one of those to leave on repeat for hours.
The Old Stuff:
I’m Sorry - Becca Mancari
This was the part I referenced in the intro. I got to see Becca perform last night, and wow. I’ve been devouring this record since it came out. An album full of vulnerability and pain, of hope and fear, of so much emotion. All presented over incredible production. Dark and haunting in some moments, thrillingly free in others. So many songs that’ve found me in different moments over these past 15ish months and helped carry me through. But it’s a rare experience that I become so obsessed with a record and don’t see it live immediately. Obviously that one was a little out of my hands this time, but holy moly what an experience. To truly feel these songs and how alive they were. To see Mancari singing and rocking, just giving even more humanity to the record. It was intense for me, and to be honest, it’s 7:48am and I’m still getting emotional just thinking about it.
I picked I’m Sorry this time around. An intimate apology holding onto the edge of the cliff as the drum loop bounces back and forth. “Do you know your body anymore? Does it haunt you every night?” Chilling stuff!! That slide guitar grabbing our hand and pulling us on. Like so many of Mancari’s songs, this one bends and changes shape throughout. Here, opening up and rocking out, the drums going wild, the apology turning into a definitive statement. It really ruled live too. Ugh <3
I Feel Energy - Dirty Projectors
Whew this one rocks. Lamp Lit Prose sprung to mind this week, a record I love to remember. So weird and fun. This one starts out hot from the jump, massive horns over busy percussion. One heck of a vocal performance from Longstreth and Amber Mark. There’s so much happening from moment to moment and it’s all good :)
Psycho - Benjamin Carter
Ok “old stuff” might be a stretch here… but anyways, this one’s been kicking on the playlist for a month and a half and always puts a smile on my face when the shuffle lord queues it up. Benjamin Carter rocks. A massive one, his vocals still come across as so personal. The production on this song is special, the whole band crushing start to finish. Plus we get an instrumental break, epic in the most true sense, it’s all there.
Have a great weekend, and thank you all for making my half-ironic but also not so ironic celebration of reaching 300 likes on the MMM playlist this week. Had a lot of fun making a goofy fuss about something I can recognize as both so small in the world and yet big to me!!!
See you on Monday,
Max