Cut Worms

The car windows are down, the air is warm, and the possibilities are boundless. On Cut Worms, the new self-titled album from Brooklyn-based Max Clarke, the singer-songwriter and musician continues his exploration of what he calls “pop essentialism”. Mining the golden hits of yesteryear for a timeless double A-side sound, he contemplates age-old questions through a modern lens. Here, he leaves behind the legendary studio and sought-after producers for a more homegrown approach, working with a cast of gifted friends and collaborators. The result is a compact collection of daydream anthems that live between the summer’s hopeful beginnings and the season’s fleeting end.

As opposed to recording the entire album in one chunk at one studio, Clarke varied his methods. Three of the songs were cut from start to finish in his shared rehearsal space. “Don’t Fade Out” and "Living Inside” were recorded in Brooklyn by Brian and Michael D’Addario of the Lemon Twigs, who also played piano and bass, respectively, on these two songs. Further basic tracking was done by Rick Spataro (of indie folk band Florist) at his Hudson Valley studio, Onlyness Analog, with contributions from the long standing Cut Worms live band–keyboardist John Andrews, bassist Keven Louis Lareau, and drummer Noah Bond (who played on all three sessions).

A youthful spirit breathes throughout these nine songs. The carnation-adorned school dance serenade of “I’ll Never Make It”; the starry eyed infatuation of “Is it Magic?”; the first fall leaves on the bus ride to school on “Living Inside”–all evoke a place of warmth and safety. Declarations like “Don’t Fade Out”, “Let’s Go Out On The Town”, and “Use Your Love” make high demands for life to change, but beg for us, as people, to keep hold of what makes us human. Clarke wrestles with a paradox–the joys of experience cannot be won without the loss of innocence.

On “Ballad of a Texas King” Clarke sings, “Hey kid come along... something is wrong... I believe you know... All this to say, only one way that this can go…” It’s as if he’s reaching out to his younger self, letting him know the changes are inevitable. How do we hang on to a dream? How do we not lose ourselves in a world that is lost? The only way out of a nightmare is to keep going. Clarke’s answer lies in his art, where the search for love and the perfect pop song coalesce and transcend him to that other plane.

[Kyle Avallone]

Past Shows


Oct
3
rd
2023
Turf Club
Oct
3
rd
2023
Turf Club

Cut Worms

with Ryder the Eagle
Jun
5
th
2022
Turf Club
Jun
5
th
2022
Turf Club

Cut Worms

with John Andrews & The Yawns
Jul
9
th
2018
7th St Entry
Jul
9
th
2018
7th St Entry

Cut Worms

Independent Venue Week Show
with Shy Boys
May
26
th
2018
Turf Club
May
26
th
2018
Turf Club

King Tuff

with Cut Worms and SASAMI
Oct
28
th
2017
Turf Club
Oct
28
th
2017
Turf Club

Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets

with Cut Worms and DJ RYAN CAMERON of Let It Be Records
Oct
27
th
2017
Turf Club
Oct
27
th
2017
Turf Club

Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets

with Cut Worms and DJ RYAN CAMERON of Let It Be Records

More Shows

Apr
26
th
Amsterdam Bar & Hall

An Evening with
Keller Williams

Mar
8
th
Turf Club

The Brant Bjork Trio

Feb
27
th
7th St Entry

Blockhead

May
15
th
Fine Line

Cheekface