Max's Weekly Music Roundup
Caroline Polachek, Rae Khalil, Big Thief, we've been spoiled again.
Yeah yeah yeah, it’s Saturday, SO WHAT?! Sorry, it’s unlike me to be so confrontational. But I’m late and feel bad about it, so caps lock feels like a nice way to ya know, break the ice or whatever.
Anyways, it’s another beautiful morning in LA (which I will never get over), and it feels fitting for this week’s roundup. Some hot, some bright, some warm, all welcomed. Hope you find something to love here. There’s some real wonderful selections.
What I’ve Been Listening To This Week
playlist #2, that’s right, there’s another playlist. every song is so good, this really is what i’m listening to most hours of most days. If you like what you hear (very likely) or read (less likely, but hopefully still likely?!) please share it all with your nearest and dearest.
The New Stuff:
Caroline Polachek - Billions
A gift from a genius. Caroline Polachek can do no wrong in my book, but better than that, she continues to find and choose new ways to do right. The intro, creative as hell, built out of these extended and reversed notes reaching their end with a pop. Chords and choirs slowly rising to the stage. The first verse is quintessential Polachek - moments, scenes, shared with thoughtful and masterful use of language, her voice floating and fluttering into and out of unexpected places. Sexting sonnets / under the tables, Polachek our generation’s best poet. We hit the chorus, these big expansive, explosive ah’s framing this perfectly weird say say say say say something to me, the say’s overlapping with each other just enough to give it all a unique shape. A second verse that sends Polachek into the depths of her range, a growl reaching out for those last moments of arrival. The song twists once again, that elegant piano, Polachek’s whispers playing into that big choir, a taste of what’s to come. As the song starts to spilt at the seams, she holds it together for one last pre-chorus and chorus, giving way to that synth way out there, a table saw ripping through wood in the garage. The magic continues with this choir, and it’s just magnificent. (also her version of this Oneohtrix Point Never song is so sick)
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
A double album for the ages. I have been overwhelmed by the early reviews - Steven Hyden calling it a masterpiece and all. I am delighted to live and breath in this for months/years/decades to come. There’s just something that happens to me when I listen to these songs. The singles that have already come out and the first listens last night and this morning. Take this morning, walking down my street for a coffee. A walk similar to one I’ll take nearly every day. And yet it feels brand new. It feels connected to the world around me. The music soundtracking new observations and a new relationship to the physical environment around me. Feeling the sudden urge to be patient, to be present. To walk slower, to feel the sun, to feel the moment. There’s magic in these songs and I can’t wait to experience it all. Heavy Bend has caught my ear already, blossoming from the center of the forest, world alive around Lenker’s perfect voice. Fuck!!!
Rae Khalil ft. Shayhan - MAKE IT TRUE
I hope this isn’t the first time you’ve heard this. But if it is, cherish it. A cough/sneeze, that guitar rambling on in the room. Fifteen seconds and a moment to clear their throat, this song is about to transform. In a blink of an eye the energy skyrockets. Rae Khalil singing out, soft and smooth over this incredible band, speaking to a lover, trying to make things work. It moves so well, this groove is remarkable, but don’t lose sight of how good Khalil sounds - that little run just passed 40 seconds in - a powerful end to the verse. Recent MMM fav Shayhan pops in for the chorus, soaring into the clouds with the melody, a nice contrast with Khalil dealing with a more intimate love. Her second verse gets woven into Shayhan’s section too, filling the space the other leaves, building and pulling from what the other has to say. It’s a really cool dynamic. Some guitar chooses to amp up the fuzz and powers over it all, a surprising and fun switch up. Shayhan steps back in for a verse too, a hazy, dog-days-of-summer feel, hot in a sweltering way. Almost a mirage as it falls across the groove. From there things explode a bit, that fuzz elevating the whole song. When the band drops out, things feel light again, floating through another chorus. More drums start to break the ending open, unclear whether or not things are gonna work out, but I will keep listening to this song to try and find out…
Omar Apollo ft. Daniel Caesar - Invincible
This song has been growing on me endlessly with every listen. Those warm guitar strums pouring through the amp, it has a charming simplicity. Daniel Caesar, of course, has one of the most beautiful voices around. These first lines show them begging to be seen, scared of being forgotten. Those background vocals descending down only to reappear pushing gorgeous harmonies. The drums pop, Caesar popping too, keeping up with this sudden rush and setting up a story. The simple songwriting, that friendly and casual You won’t believe what happened to me, it’s hard to resist. The delivery on ambuuulance… round of applause. Disappearing drums let Caesar slow things down again naturally, beautiful as ever as the drums pick up steam again. Omar Apollo finds his spot and hops in, a beautiful verse. He slides so easily over it all, when the drip drip’s come back he savors the moment, those quiet runs floating on. He rejoins at full speed, the rest of the verse unleashed so fast it might just take your breath away. As you’re huffin’ and puffin’, the two come together again for the bridge - an earnest and vulnerable admission of their own weaknesses. But boy do they sound strong doing it. A lovely collaboration and lovely song. The whole thing feels like a crisp and bright winter morning. And the video has those sick Andrés Gudiño masks.
The Less New Stuff:
ROSALIA - SAOKO
The way this song has taken over my entire brain. It is the first thing I think to listen to in absolutely every and any situation. Going for a run? Easy choice. Going to the grocery store? Yeah, why wouldn’t I want to listen to this. Walking from my bedroom to the kitchen? Hmm should probably put on my headphones and listen to this again for those 10 steps. It starts so fun and breezy but when the beat hits with that monster of a synth, things get a bit more intense. The vocals in this yo me transformo section are so cool to me. Some autotune and plenty of chops/cuts that make it feel alive in a totally not-human-but-still-human way. And just when that bebé section pushes and pushes up to On Sight levels of nasty synths, the whole thing falls away and we step into the jazz club, ROSALIA laughing through it all. Then it all gets crazy and hot and dark one last time, a 2:17 song that flies by at the blink of an eye.
Arlo Parks - Softly
This one snuck by me last Friday, but the more I listen the more I love it. The light drums rolling beneath that gentle piano. The guitar feels just out of tune in a mesmerizing way. Arlo Parks’ performance is gorgeous throughout - light and easy in the verses, leaning into the emotion for a passionate but still controlled chorus. Navigating moment to moment so easily. The chorus is a juicy one!! Instantly catchy, good luck not singing along. The star of the song comes right after the second chorus, as things take an unexpected turn. Just ten seconds of groove, but the way it oozes out is spectacular. Coming from this bass that has held things together but just can’t any longer. The whole song is great, but that gem of a 10 seconds is worth sticking around for - and if you do, you’ll have a hard time not falling for the rest.
A shorter week sure, but not short on good songs. I spent a lot of time with this batch this week, and was grateful for it. Each one incredible and special and worth a listen (and then some). I hope you agree.
We know the drill - plz share!!! The songs, the newsletter, the playlist, any and all the above. Grateful for you :)
See you Monday, looking forward to you all being my valentine <3
Max
I haven’t had a chance to listen to the Big Thief album yet, but the Polachek and Rosalía singles are getting me so hyped for their upcoming albums!!