Max Frost is an American multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville and originally from Austin, Texas. We’ve featured him once before on the blog, way back in 2018 through his track and video Good Morning.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Laura Partain

His new EP pays tribute to his Shelby Avenue home in which it was recorded. Meditating on some dark topics, Max manages to bring some brightness to the melancholy across its six tracks. It’s a collection that acknowledges that, in order to change and start a new chapter, we must go through something to get there.

This is perfectly demonstrated by opening track Creep Back. Lyrically it’s about the end of a relationship and dealing with the mental aftermath, and it’s delivered through a bright and soulful composition. Benny And The Jets-era Elton John-esque keys form the bedrock on which Max’s silken vocals are poured.

Cig in the Morning marries introspection with bouncy pop rock. Black Hole Love uses soft romanticism to deliver a devastating tale of toxic love. The Ghost strips things back while hitting us with perhaps the EP’s biggest emotional punch. There is power in minimalism and Max nails it here.

The EP is rounded off by two previously unreleased tracks, Avalanche and Stand By Me. The former takes things in a surprise electronic direction, bringing in elements of hyperpop while not losing any of the organic soul that’s been established. The latter leaves everything out there. Max’s vocals are at their most pleading during an exposed first verse and from there we build to a suitably cathartic close.

It’s so great to have Max Frost back on the blog after all these years and his new EP is a triumph. In a crowded musical marketplace, your best bet to get noticed is to break the mould and he clearly understands this well. His approach to constructing an emotional song is second to none. I’m very much looking forward to part two.

Shelby Ave, Pt. 1 is out now via Nettwerk Music Group. You can check it out below.