Max's Weekly Music Roundup
It's a mini this week SORRY (but not that sorry, there's some magic in here)
Top five answers on the board, we surveyed 100 people named max himelhoch and asked, “how are you doing?” *me buzzing in like crazy, just smashing that button* “hanging in there?” steve harvey in disbelief, “yes that’s actually all 100 points you win the game, wow that’s never happened before congratulations”
That is a dramatic recounting of a not true story, but my true emotions!! It’s been a week type of week. But things are looking up, and now I am sitting in Oakland, California drooling at the thought of seeing Remi Wolf live in a mere matter of hours…
When life gives you lemons, I cling to the music around me and boy oh boy did they help make some dang lemonade this week.
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:
MESS U MADE - MICHELLE
We love MICHELLE, we know this by now. The nyc supergroup (imo) is addicted to churning out hits. MESS U MADE is an emotional banger disguised as smooth R&B. The moment it finds its sweet stride in the second verse, it erupts, past pain visceral and still present. This band can do it all and what a joy that they seem to agree :) Nowhere is that more clear than in the live performance of this one. A real treat to see them pass lines back and forth, and how lucky we are to be let into their world for those emotional peaks.
Charmander - Aminé
Talk about addicted to hit making. Aminé firing off an urgent smash. The beat is so good from the first second. Bouncy and darn fun. That stuttered vocal sample is infectious. As it hits its stride around 30 seconds, that nintendo flute floating along side, I knew it would find its way here on the roundup. And Aminé hasn’t even started… but we don’t have to wait long (good) for him to go off (also good). It’s a quiet, confident, and quick verse. The chorus/bridge moment with that just-a-bit distorted kick drum hammering home is sick. Another gem of a verse, I’ve never heard anyone use ‘lonely’ this way - a choice and one to be proud of, keeping himself safe. Pushes so fast, the 2:11 feels like so much more and not nearly enough.
wanna be - BEL
Hard for me not to write about. BEL teaming up with Bantug?? Y’all are too generous to me!! Yeah this is gonna go ahead and be absolutely my shit. The first verse feels so real, BEL with bad neighbors, sounding exhausted by the situation. The only escape leading to just as much exhaustion. The band sounds so good here, that bass really pushing through. A surprise acoustic guitar wipes the arrangement clear for the pre-chorus, and gives it such a lightness. Obviously as someone who also lives in LA this chorus does land for me. The second verse doing the same, all too familiar thoughts/experiences. The pre-chorus picks up a kick drum this time around, a voice whispering in our ear, trying to change our minds. I love it. Subtle peaks and valleys, moving forward and changing shapes in such easy and natural ways. By the end, those final, “I just live in LA” lines feel a little more accepting, a cheeky grin, appreciating the ridiculousness of it all.
The Greatest - SASAMI
SASAMI rips. Even with that guitar pushed to the back, the vocals really ground the first verse and it feels so heavy. The kind of song that holds me in its grasp, so sure something is coming. I’m glad we get this moment, to hear and feel the edges of SASAMI’s voice, the grit, digging lower and lower. We get all the way through the first chorus, one last phrase floating on, before the drums come and shatter the calm. “You drew a line and I licked the paint” oof… SASAMI leaning all the way in on love, knowing how hard it could hurt. I’m pretty mesmerized by the bridge, besides the gorgeous lyrics, there’s the buried choir singing on, humble harmonies holding the melody near, and the guitar reaching higher and falling with each line. Trying to step forward but continually dragged back. The guitar solo is a cherry on top, connecting the moments so well. The song is so full but SASAMI never falls from focus, it’s a wonderful song.
The Less New Stuff:
Rodeo Clown - Dijon
It’s just this one, sincerely…
I mean, this is going to be the album of the year. Planting the flag now. Dijon’s storytelling is fucked up good, and has the perfect voice to match. I had some tough moments this, and this song was the one I needed to ride to find my way through. It destroyed me time and time again in all the right ways. The story itself is heartbreaking as it’s told, but this week after another hundred listens, the song changed shape for me. Suddenly it felt like Dijon was throwing that chorus right at me. Pouring through my headphones like a best friend would. Pushing me, challenging me, and genuinely forcing me to think about ~life’s rodeo~. Remembering who my Dijon’s are. Those biggest fans showing up and clapping for me. Knowing they’re there, those fears suddenly start to melt away.
That’s it though, I think this might’ve been the only song I listened to all week…
Alright I realllllly gotta go, Outside Lands is here and I need to be there. Back on Monday with a little recap/review and some new heat as per usual.
XOXO love y’all!!!!
Max