Max's Weekly Music Roundup
Yeah yeah it's Saturday get OFF MY BACK, the music is still great.
Listen I had the full intention to publish this yesterday. You can check my notes!! All the songs listed, some first thoughts and links all squirreled away to help the writing flow. But sometimes shit happens! Except this time shit = my getting a tattoo instead lol turned out great too.
It’s been nice to be back in LA, moments that feel so right happening all week long. Moments that feel earned, proof that my world here continues to grow in beautiful ways. And in those moments, I’m grateful, and also usually walking around listening to music. This week there were plenty of new tunes that helped shape those moments of appreciation. And as a small token of my thanks to them, I’ve written about them here. I hope you enjoy :)
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. 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:
Mitski…. ya done it again….
I think this is my favorite of the singles yet. Slow and steady, marching forward through the storm. But it’s a march in Mitski’s head - that first lyric showing time passing ever so slowly as the thoughts continue to cycle and cycle. The song begins to grow, picking up momentum and heft as the chorus rolls. This section, like 0:55 to 1:10 or so, is nuts. As I listen to it over and over now, trying to pick out the pieces that make it special, I’m getting overwhelmed each time. The whole thing erupts and feels so massive, opening Pandora’s Box and completely consumed by what’s inside. Giving way to that piano moment, all of us pretending that didn’t just happen and everything is cool and chill and normal mhm. A second verse that checks all the boxes for what I love in a Mitski song - painful vulnerability, gorgeous imagery, and the word anemones. This time the acceptance in the chorus feels more true, avoiding another climax, letting the storm wash over us all. Love it.
Runnner covers Sun June
Runnner is back at it, something I am always grateful to type. Covering the closing track off of Sun June’s Somewhere from early this year. The original is a beauty - simple and intimate. Band members offering each other space, each element mixing gently together. The lyrics are short and sweet (emphasis on the sweet), lending so well to Runnner’s style. His version, with drums and a bit of pace, accesses that yearning in a whole new way. The vocals stacked beautifully, emotion always present there. Some far off flutes or maybe strings reaching out from the edges. As we fly past the end of the original lyrics, we add a synth and some keys, along with Sun June joining the fun and building out the story just a little more. A connection pulling apart, wondering what could be. The daydreaming road-trip coming through the lyrics and the music, you can feel the memories and what-if’s passing by the windows as you move. <3 love it.
Porches covers Harry Styles
An unexpected delight. A naughty little take on such a bright song. Dark and twisted guitar paving the way for Porches to give these lyrics an entirely new life. Bouncing so uncomfortably off of themselves, it makes “just let me adore you” feel like much more of a demand than an ask. Desperate for the chance in a way Harry isn’t. When Harry says it, it’s a romantic and flirty line, in this cover it almost feels like life or death. The way he hits the consonants… cutting through that delay. It’s intoxicating, holding the drama the whole way, as simple as is it.
Buscabulla covers a Christmas Classic
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico released Cantares in late 1965, and boy oh boy does it still hold up. The energy is infectious - the brass, the percussion, the vocals. It’s just a great song, you can feel it’s a hit. It’s festive, and carrying this winter warmth that I assume(?) mirrors Puerto Rico’s holiday season.
Modern day Puerto Rico legends, Buscabulla, drop their reinterpretation this week, giving it a generous dose of their signature sound. The drums with an entrancing groove, Raquel Berrios’ vocals so tender and warm. It’ll get you swaying just the same as the original, festive and fun the whole way through. And the lyrics are so dang sweet (and relateable), singing of holiday cheer, bringing a little extra since they couldn’t come home last year. Hard not to want to sing along with from the start.
Perfume Genius remixes Charli XCX
Charli called this a very chic remix and I agree. An expectation (and gravity?) defying remix? Good Ones is a big, bold, and fun with a retro feel, this remix is devastatingly drawn out, haunting in its ever-expanding presence. Even the bed squeaks feel menacing. At 0:54 we move into an eerie chorus, those vocals floating out with red in their eyes. It drops into a horror movie score, the blood dripping off its lips with every new bit of guitar feedback. The spooky dial gets cranked up with every new moment, Perfume Genius on their evil villain shit. Yes it’s giving me nightmares, yes I love it.
The Less New Stuff:
Chartreuse - Swedish Water
Some of you have been privy to/responsible for my ever deepening obsession with Chartreuse. They are unbelievably talented musicians and songwriters, I can’t get enough of their latest EP. This song specifically has had its grip on me and my heart. The rainy day production, the cozy attic feel, looking out at a bleak landscape, the emotion spilling out as the ooo’s and ahh’s come soaring through in the background. The vocals in the verse are delivered with this matter-of-factness story telling that I adore. It sets up the chorus to be even more moving, a transition to a fuller sound from the band, those two vocals paired so well moving with such a sadness. The second verse will break your heart. Plain and simple. So beautiful, as it slowly pares down to the bones of the song. The flood of the chorus welcomed and perfectly timed. The whole thing just swirls and moves with this elegance that I adore. I can’t get enough of this one and hope everyone listens.
Burna Boy - Kilometre
Maybe the most addicting song I can name off the top of my head. The chorus begs and begs for you to sing along, but it really shouldn’t have to worry so much because when the kilome kilome kilome’s hit, it’s irresistible. The dub-y guitars keep the whole thing moving, Burna Boy powering straight ahead, I just love his voice. We add in the little (well, big) drum fill into the chorus, that air horn offering a smooth landing. The second verse knocks too, the adlibs coming through all gruff, it’s a delight. The song is an ode to how far he’s come, and you can feel the confidence and pride in every moment. A smile on his face and mine from start to finish. The music video hammering that home. Burna is a star and it’s pretty easy to understand why.
Talking Heads - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Ok idk if you heard but I did go to NY recently and I did have the dang pleasure of seeing LCD Soundsystem twice. And while the shows themselves were fucking incredible, I gotta say the DJ set’s rocking to warm up the crowd were also a treat. Somewhere in the time between doors and LCD taking the stage for night one, the crowd (namely: me) was blessed with this beauty. Talking Heads being funky, being fun, being weird, being inspiring. My journey to Talking Heads was a backwards one - started first by becoming a late to the game LCD fan in ~2016 thanks to their Lollapalooza set and Meet Me in the Bathroom. Then primed for it, I still remember the first time I heard Once in a Lifetime randomly as I walked to work in Chicago. And finally seeing the inspiration for so much of my favorite music. Was a mind blowing moment, “woah old songs are good as hell!!”. Anyways, back to Born Under Punches - this one whips and would be a hit if it came out today. You can hear the LCD inspiration, you can hear the Caribou inspiration. It just carries so much life and creativity, really a treat.
A day late and no dollars short, because I’m the boss around here!!! Anyways, thank you for reading as always. I hope there’s something here that catches your ear. If you liked what you read I would be honored if you shared, subscribed, followed, the works!! You know the vibe!! (the vibe is me being embarrassed to self promote but also being so happy when the numbers go up!! such is my burden)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, can’t wait to see you Monday,
Max