A Brief Interlude: On Malcolm Todd's "Bleed"
How my heart bleeds (at 124 bpm).
Where to start… Last month, Malcolm Todd’s latest single “Bleed” featuring Omar Apollo dropped along with a music video and I’ve had it on constant loop since. As a fan of Malcolm Todd and Omar Apollo, it comes as no surprise that I love the song. For both artists, I know their music is bound to be good — you can simply count on it. Before seeing him open for Omar last year, I first stumbled across Malcolm Todd after hearing “Hot in NY” sometime in 2023. The song had remained my all-time favorite of his, until now. Enter “Bleed.” I know a song is about to become a part of my personality when I can’t remember the tune well enough. Not out of any kind of amnesia, but rather a wishing that I could instantly know the song in its entirety. I just play it over and over trying to memorize it all, as if cramming for a test I’m not taking.
Drums are the first thing I think about when it comes to groove. I think good drums get taken for granted too often, when it’s such a crucial piece of the sound. The drums in “Bleed” bring in more crash cymbals (and the quick-close hi-hat that I love so much) than many indie songs, which gives it an older sound. It feels like a 2025 indie version of “The Eye of the Tiger.”
Perhaps that’s controversial, but I really do think “Bleed” is a seemingly subdued relative of the classic hit. Maybe it’s subliminal messaging from the music video, which features Malcolm Todd in a boxing ring, but the song could soundtrack a sports movie training montage. (In other related news, I finally watched “Rocky” and maintain my previous statements about “Safe In Your Skin,” though perhaps it’d be more fitting in a modern remake’s redemption arc scene.) The only similarity may well be the punchy drums. It could even be as simple as “punchy” = boxing, but I like to think my rationale more complex than that. Anyway, naturally I made a playlist of songs with a similar sound, so if you’re a music supervisor for Rocky VII(?) or just a fan of a good snare feel free to check it out. (Also, most of the songs in the playlist mention bleeding, fighting, training, etc. so clearly there’s a wavelength to be on.)
But onto the next element. I could honestly talk about the guitar forever. The guitar bends that punctuate the first verse (specifically on the upbeats) are an important hook in the song’s memorability. And so good. The guitar riff that runs through the post-chorus (more like a chorus) feels like just as much of a refrain as “how my heart bleeds.”
While the percussion momentarily drops out, Omar comes in singing — ethereal as always. When they rejoin for the chorus, all elements are back. The last line repeats over again, though instead of getting tired, it just makes me want to snap my fingers to the rhythm a la “Beat It.” As it begins to fade out in classic 80’s fashion (more on that another time), the guitar ends the song abruptly reminding you that this is 2025 and (with all due respect) faders have switches. It’s a successful homage to and reimagining of 80’s songs, complete with new elements and production of today’s indie music. And certainly well worth the listen. Happy Bleed-ing!