Do That Again. An incredible album title. Something feels right. Do that shit again. Preach. Over the past few years, Malcolm Todd has gained severe popularity and released quite a few bangers. Getting attention all over TikTok and racking up those monthly listeners. His third studio album was released this past Friday and of course we are here to unpack it all.
Jean Skirt
The classic punky grunge tone opens us up with a kind of jungle tribal feel. Malcolm categorizes himself as the tank top and her as the jean skirt. The intimate description of him admiring a woman’s body follows, and both clothing items are missing now. The instruments erupt into what sounds like a wild night. His joy is visible and it almost sounds comparable to a jungle where wild animals pounce on each other. This very short introduction leads us into the album.
Obsessica
Slowly Malcolm breaks down the reasoning of why a woman would want to sleep with him. The slow sway gives a Daniel Caesar feel. He questions her interest but likes that it is happening. He wants to be used. His very honest thoughts that go through his mind when they are hooking up come to the surface. He wonders if he even has interest in her but doesn’t care. He knows he likes something about it but cannot place what it is, so he calls it obsession. He admits openly that he is very into it and “a little bit obsessed.” The outro of the track names multiple women and admits that he is obsessed with each one. The whisper tones make the entire thing almost a little creepy, yet somehow creates the feeling that he is self aware that he gets reeled in way too easily. He falls over and over again, but what is the difference between the last one and the new one?
Free.99
An overdrive synthesizer with a want what you can’t have phrase: “I couldn’t breathe with your hands on my neck/ Now I’ve got too much air.” He doesn’t like her when they are together but something is missing when she is gone. As the relationship gets further and further away, he forgets more and more what was so bad about it. He misses it because without her he is a “loner.” Saying that he will be free once the day comes that he knows her again shows the fact that he lacks closure on the situation and perhaps did her dirty by ending it. He doesn’t miss being with her, he just wants to confirm he is not missing out.
Breathe
The initial sound of this track is giving “FutureSex/LoveSounds” by Justin Timberlake. Analyzing the lyrics, I can only think of one thing: the Challengers movie. Right off the bat, the lyric “I had two best friends in a hotel suite/ Now what? It’s me and you” gives it away. All I can picture is Art and Patrick fighting over Tashi in the hotel room, and a flashforward to her only being with Art but feeling that something is missing by not also having Patrick. The lyrics “Don’t you miss it? It’s been so long” are the ways she is lured in. The curiosity. The familiarity of something that once brought her excitement. Even the later lyrics of Patrick trying to make her remember why she loved both of them in the first place, even though it’s wrong and unfaithful to Art. She knows that she shouldn’t. The line “You can’t be over me cause I know what you like” is such a tease that she cannot resist. She goes with him.
I Saw Your Face
The nostalgic tones that bring us in present us with the raw truth that Malcolm misses an ex. He acknowledges that pain won’t just go away because this is real life and things take time to heal. It’s clear that loneliness and boredom kill him and cause him pain. All he wants is her back next to him. Another love story that did not work out because of a lack of closure. The run on the bridge is a dump of thoughts that are all triggered by the mere sight of her. He loves her too much and struggles to actually follow through with letting her leave him, but does it anyway. His insecurities get the best of him when he says “Cause I’m not the one you dream about.” He admits that he let her leave because he knew he wasn’t good enough for her, then gets upset when she actually does end up leaving.
Difficult Love
The message is simple and comes out right off the bat as if Malcolm is begging this girl to “break my heart again.” He does not want easy love. He is turned on by difficulty. He wants the fighting and all the baggage and messiness. He has even gone through this one time and simply just wants it again. The bridge really brings in a raw aspect of this whole feeling where all the background noise fades. He says “This could hurt my ego/ That shit is so awesome.” All he wants is the chase. He wants to feel the hurt. He is in fact dying to feel it. Addicted to heartbreak.
Malcolm In The Middle
A play on words I am shocked he has never used before. Weird because the song doesn’t really have much to do with the show. Another song about fantasizing and yearning for a girl. An emphasis on being scared that whoever he is with will realize they are too good for him and leave. The bouncing chorus is super catchy and he begs “Don’t fall asleep” because he is so scared it will trigger her to leave him.
Ain’t That The Truth
This track is less of a yearner anthem. It seems here Malcolm is calling a girl out, gaining his confidence and spelling it out that he likes a girl that everyone else likes too. She gets around and he lets everyone know “you wanna date half of LA.” He finds her to be selfish but is still hurt by her not choosing him. The chorus is calling out, begging her to believe that he could be the one in control deciding when to leave. He blames her rejection for the fact that he is a whore now. The line “I thought it didn’t hurt/ But now I’m hesitating writing this verse/ For you” reveals it all to us. He pretends to be in control but actually has no control over his emotions. He throws it all out there telling us he is only thinking about her and devoting his words to her. He wants her to know she is the one that made him a fuck boy.
Gun To My Head
We are back with honesty as Malcolm admits things against a bass. He straight up says “I gave up loving you/ To pretend that I’m famous now.” He loves his life and is very lucky, but isn’t finding that spark with other girls. They do not think he’s funny and nobody is clicking with him. Nevertheless, he still thinks about her and wants her around. More repetitive wondering of why he ever let her go. Saying that “We’ll play pretend in my bed” tells us that they still connect in a physical sense but the friendship just is not there anymore between them.
X’s & O’s
Calling out pretty privilege in the first line, he admits that he lets pretty girls get away with hurting him. The whiney tone of “I’m just a girl/ Cut me some slack” acts as him imitating a girl that makes excuses. He is indecisive and has no clue if he loves or hates the chase, and warns that if she comes back to him he will not be able to hold back or control himself. Two minutes into the track we hit a voicemail that Malcolm recorded having confused feelings towards a girl. He has no clue what they are but knows he wants her around even if it is wrong or unfair to either of them. A repetition of the chorus once more reassures us that he still cannot control himself.
Lonely Song
The title of this one and the opening line of “Mattress on the floor, minimal decor” gives away the vibe of a miserable single person. The lyrics in the chorus have a cool play on words in which Malcolm says two things that make him seem like he is doing okay and then a contradiction right after with the line “That’s two lies and a truth.” He feels old and washed even though he is only 22. The relationship troubles have aged him. The outro is a bit of a creepy way to convince a girl to be with him but it seems like a stream of thoughts that he has towards girls begging them to stick around. He is desperate to have a meaningful connection beyond physical pleasure.
Good Bye
This track kind of seems like a message to a first love. A breakup is upon them. She taught him so much and just like that they are over and strangers. Everything they did together was so great to him and now he is sad because they are not together, but he has hope and full confidence that they will be together again and get married. His tone just sounds like uh oh, shouldn’t have done that, now I am frowning. The track is super casual in explaining his feelings toward the situation. You could hear the curve in his mouth knowing that they messed up by ending it.
Do That Again
Sounding more confident in the last track, he is calling it quits. He says no more, I am not going to see you. Yet again though, he caves one more time in saying “do that again.” He confesses the things he does during this breakup. Missing her, calling her, realizing it’s wrong. He knows she is wrong for him but wants her to make him feel good one more time. Switching between being sorry to her to feel good physically, then switching back to I’m not sorry to preserve his dignity. Crawling back in the chorus every time, muttering out “do that again.” Saying it over and over just uncovers the addiction to lust and the chase.
Overall, Malcolm Todd is doing something real. The vibe he brings is undeniable and the authenticity in his writing is something that does not go unnoticed. That being said, the album does live in the same emotional space from start to finish. Every track pulls from the same well of yearning, obsession and heartbreak. It works, but at some point you want to see him take a risk. Step outside of what is comfortable and show a different side. The talent is clearly there. Now it is time to do something unexpected with it.
lyricritic 
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