Max's Weekly Roundup
Friday? More like FriYAY there's more music!!!
Good morning and happy Friday.
I guess it’s Remi Wolf week?? There’s just nothing I can do about it. (Insert obligatory “in this house, every week is Remi week” joke that is only half a joke and mostly true now that I really think about it…) Her remix project is out and it’s a dang treat. I’m taking a swing at three of the new remixes below, but it’s an hour of incredibly creative and incredibly varied remixes. Such a great project, Remi’s already-wild sound giving these artists a lot of freedom to get weird themselves. Just loaded with legends, it’s an inspiring release. But that’s not all!! A few other gems on the list this week too (not that the remixes wouldn’t have been enough). Enjoy!! I know I am.
What’s New This Week:
mhm that’s right it’s my other playlist!! I love this one so much, it’s really good and I’m only totally and completely biased. but besides that, it really is good as hell. always adding to this one, please tap in!!!! <3
New additions to MMATOD:
Shawty - Nile Rodgers Remix - Remi Wolf
For Fans of: good music (lol sorry), blue skies, smiling with your tongue out
Hahahaha it’s just so nuts to me that there’s a Nile Rodgers remix of Shawty. I can still remember the night I heard this song live for the first time. A tiny little bar show, Remi closing her set with an unreleased song. She KNEW it was a hit. I wish I could be so confident. But that confidence gets amped up even more in this remix. Rodgers offering a steady hand on guitar, the drums feeling brighter and wider. It has such a lovely and lively feel, just a sunny day treat to add to the rotation.
Thicc - Gabriel Garzón-Montano - Remi Wolf
FFO: really fun percussion, suspense pop, dancing but also being a little nervous
Whew. GGM came through!! The instrumental is a bit haunting, a bit eerie. The vocal is pitched way down, and does almost sound like Garzón-Montano singing?? I really love how much he made this his, truly could’ve been a cut off his album. A dark sexy groove, after that minute mark you can just feel the wave coming. That 808 absolutely devastating. Someone get this remix in over the final heist of a movie or something. There’s a pressure from this one, a gentle urgency. It never fully lets up, and I can’t stop playing it.
Sauce - Beck Remix - Remi Wolf
FFO: the wild west but make it futuristic, if the people in Mad Max had fun in their society I bet this would KNOCK at the clubs.
Okay wait Beck also a legend and also came through. Making Sauce a cowboy rock number, the vocals landing unexpectedly across that first verse. It’s really a new life for this song. One I have played countless times (by which I mean, an entirely countable number, just not one I am confident counting to), it is so disorienting to hear these vocals presented this way. But disorienting in an exciting way. And it works!!! Of course it does, it’s mf’ing Beck, what’d you expect. Delivering a masterful indie-western tune, vocals aside. Hand this instrumental to anyone - would love to see what an Omar Apollo could do, a Troye Sivan even! - and it’d be a smash, so I feel lucky to get the wild experience of it being a Remi remix.
From The Back of a Cab - Rostam
FFO: dreamy love songs, wandering and wondering guitar riffs, feeling like you’re floating
Whew. A perfect music video starring all of my favorite people?? Generous of Rostam to give us such a perfect song and visual to boot. Feels like it was made just for me and I am GRATEFUL. A daring intro, full of sweet sweet Rostam keys, and bold/fascinating sounds rounding out the percussion. There’s something so calming, so loving about his voice. The perfect mellow contrast to a rush of rhythm. I am in love with this chorus, just so endearing. I am happy you and I got this hour - are you serious???? When the chorus hits again, the band subtly expanding underneath?? Yeah, this one has made me cry!!! A beautiful beautiful song.
Middle of Love - Jake Wesley Rogers
FFO: the power of love, big as heck piano anthems, homemade jewelry (an incredible selection in the music video), Elton John
He’s back, MY GOODNESS. This is a big one. JWR is a force, and this release really captures his magic. The band is clean, almost majestic, fearlessly powering through a soft smile of a first verse. I’m grateful for the pre-chorus, a chance to spotlight an incredible voice. But the chorus! So bouncy and big, it just sounds… great! Polished but not too polished, bright but not too bright, big but not too big. Just great. His delivery on the “didn’t ask” section is perfect, walking us to an emotional “hope it’s worth dying for”. But somehow there’s still more. After the chorus, the production gives us a taste of JWR as a festival headliner, belting and riffing to all of our benefit. He steps forward with a brave bridge, it’s efficient and powerful. Ride on out with gorgeous vocals and the band marching on right by our side.
Need Ur Luv - Charli XCX
FFO: nostalgic but still contemporary pop songs, Rostam’s drums, running down the middle of the street
Yes yes yes the song from 2014. Rostam did a little pre-premiere chat with Demi Adejuyigbe, and the two briefly talked about this song. So obviously I went back and listened and my oh my does it hold up. Charli is truly a visionary… this song is 7 years old and still feels new. A deep album cut off the same record as Boom Clap. It feels timeless. Thanks, in no small part, to the drums & guitar that have Rostam written all over them. But also for Charli’s performance, a star in the biggest moments and most intimate. Toss in just enough weird sounds and layers to make it entirely unique, its fair to say they went ahead and went off with this one. The way her voice flutters like a flute (with a flute??) on the bridge is fucking sick. This one rules, it’s so complex and feels so simple?
Five more songs that just dropped that I bet will be good but I haven’t listened to enough to actually write about.
In case you missed it, some stories and links:
Dora Jar delivers with this vid for Multiply, still one of my fav songs of the year!! The moss mask is a sick look.
Hey can some of you send me your Release Radars so I can keep tabs on more new music? Tysm!!
Again, I hope you like the playlist (both in the real way and the clicking the heart button on spotify way) <3 <3 And please share with anyone else you know who might be looking for new music.
Have a great weekend, friends,
Max