BEST NEW MUSIC: MXMS - DEATH ROW

Deep, whispered emotions piped directly to your brain. The huff of a breath meant only for you. In a day and age of the bigger, the better, MXMS make deeply personal, solitary tunes. Music that feels best listened to alone, rather than on big systems. Riding around on the bus with your headphones in, scowling at anybody who dares look at you twice. This, we feel, is the target demographic of MXMS’ “Deathrow.” Or maybe that’s just me and I’m writing this narrative in my head to justify my own loneliness and this band’s ability to break through. Has goth ever breached this line? Am I a goth now?

I mean, what time could be more loneliness-inducing than waiting on death row? No place to go but a straight line to the end. I don’t know about you, but I’d specifically request these beets as my last meal. Is that too silly of a notion or this deathly serious band? 

MXMS - DEATH ROW

We’ve been calling MXMS dark pop for eons on this site, with Ariel’s vocals taking the lead role on many of the duo’s songs. But here it’s Jeremy that shines, with an industrial-tinged, sampled-laden beat that is raring for the remix. This feels like early Trent Reznor production, or at least Massive Attack in their prime-- a track that has the ability to break out of those headphones and into the megasphere with the kind of driven production that won’t let up. Driving you, yes, to a point of insanity. Maybe I’m on Death Row. Maybe life is Death Row.  The samples thrown in the background take the front seat to any of the band’s notions toward pop music. By the end of the track it feels like we’re listening to industrial goth production straight out of the darkest warehouse you’ve ever been. MXMS keep it dark, just like we like it. 

From deep within the murky depths of the Los Angeles River emerged a creature: 50% raver, 50% comedian, 10% Robotcop. Kurt Kroeber doesn’t own a dog, operates Soundbleed (the world’s only dance party comedy talk show rave), and is down to party with you. Come up some time and say “Hey dude!” But definitely make sure to casually drop the secret Illuminati password.