Each week during Left of the Dial, KUTX Music Director, Rick McNulty shares the best song he heard this week. Ryan Wen is in for Rick this week.
We can count on a few things in this life: death, taxes, and a good Cut Worms record every two or three years.
Cut Worms is Max Clark, whose consistent excellence as a songwriter consistently reminds one of today’s lack of great songwriters. The Ohio native’s ear for melody and concise songcraft places him among musicians like the Everly Brothers or Buddy Holly more than any of his modern contemporaries, but unfortunately, that bygone craftsmanship is rarely appreciated as much as it deserves to be. Music’s availability as our constant companion for any and all activities pushed it toward the background where sound or vibe trumps all other qualities. Not that there’s anything wrong with passive listening, but some music only reveals its merits when it has your complete attention.
Even though Clark was probably born in the wrong decade, his reliably great records are a gift for modern listeners. His new self-titled record releases this Friday, July 21st on Jagjaguwar, and he’ll be here in Austin September 16th at the Ballroom.
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“We can count on a few things in this life: death, taxes, and a good Cut Worms record every two or three years. “
-Ryan Wen
