---
title: "applied communications has a midlife crisis"

description: "April 2024 comeback EP by Max Wood (Applied Communications), five alt-pop songs on depression, gender dysphoria, and self-acceptance; mixed by Scoobert Doobert, mastered by Riley Knapp."

year: 2024
releaseDate: 2024-04-26
releaseType: "EP"

artist: "applied communications"

bandcamp: "https://applcomm.bandcamp.com/album/applied-communications-has-a-midlife-crisis"

tracks:
  - { title: "oxytocin drunk", song: oxytocin-drunk }
  - { title: "tomboy femme", song: tomboy-femme }
  - { title: "crying in k-mart", song: crying-in-k-mart }
  - { title: "subcision scars", song: subcision-scars }
  - { title: "sinéad", song: sinead }

press:
  - outlet: "V13"
    url: "https://v13.net/2024/04/applied-communications-share-oxytocin-drunk-single-from-new-ep/"
    desc: "Comeback EP announcement; mix credit Scoobert Doobert (CHAI, Victor Marc), master Riley Knapp."
  - outlet: "Northern Transmissions"
    url: "https://northerntransmissions.com/listen-to-a-new-single-from-applied-communications/"
    desc: "Single feature; same mix/master credits and five-track listing."
  - outlet: "It's Psychedelic Baby"
    url: "https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2024/04/oxytocin-drunk-by-applied-communications-applied-communications-has-a-midlife-crisis.html"
    desc: "Exclusive premiere of Oxytocin Drunk."
  - outlet: "SF Shameless"
    url: "https://www.sfshameless.com/the-artists/2024/3/28/applied-communications-release-new-single-tomboy-femme"
    desc: "Tomboy Femme single; EP mixed by Scoobert Doobert."

draft: false
---

**applied communications has a midlife crisis**, five-track EP by **Max Wood** under the alias [Applied Communications](https://applcomm.bandcamp.com/) (**April 26, 2024**). Washington, D.C. · [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3r9y4rQZTS7RzYCFPFWgUx). A comeback **17 years** in the making ([V13](https://v13.net/2024/04/applied-communications-share-oxytocin-drunk-single-from-new-ep/)): TikTok-era rediscovery of the old catalog pulled Max Wood back while navigating depression, gender dysphoria, and self-acceptance.

The early run — *Africa Baby, Yeah Yeah Yeah* (2004), *Uhhh Sort Of* (2005), was lo-fi anti-rock: discordant vocals, found sounds, basement-pop computer collage. [Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/477-uhhh-sort-of/) read *Uhhh Sort Of* as emotionally exposed but famously abrasive (also on the [15 worst of 2005](https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/6219-2005-comments-lists-the-15-worst-releases-of-2005/) list), polarizing teen outsider-pop later re-found. Bandcamp still tags the project **“noisy screamy mostly electronic pop music.”**

This EP is more beat-driven and accessible ([Chorus.fm](https://chorus.fm/features/applied-communications-oxytocin-drunk-song-premiere/): Casio, drum machines, random electronic elements, discordant melodies, key changes) but still deeply personal: samples, nonbinary identity, mental-health narrative, Emperor X on the closer.

**Mixed by Luke Francis Walton (Scoobert Doobert)**; **mastered by Riley Knapp** (Rosie Tucker, Lou Roy). English-language press naming both: [V13](https://v13.net/2024/04/applied-communications-share-oxytocin-drunk-single-from-new-ep/), [Northern Transmissions](https://northerntransmissions.com/listen-to-a-new-single-from-applied-communications/), [It's Psychedelic Baby](https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2024/04/oxytocin-drunk-by-applied-communications-applied-communications-has-a-midlife-crisis.html), [SF Shameless](https://www.sfshameless.com/the-artists/2024/3/28/applied-communications-release-new-single-tomboy-femme). Also: [Backseat Mafia](https://www.backseatmafia.com/premiere-max-wood-returns-as-applied-communications-taps-emperor-x-and-literally-has-a-midlife-crisis/) premiere of *Sinéad*.

Luke did not write these lyrics: **mixing credit only** (not produce). Track pages document the mix; later Applied Communications singles on [Bandcamp](https://applcomm.bandcamp.com/) postdate this EP.

---