Malcolm Todd (album)

Malcolm Todd
Studio album by
Malcolm Todd
ReleasedApril 4, 2025
Genre
Length37:33
Label
Producer
Malcolm Todd chronology
Sweet Boy
(2024) 		Malcolm Todd
(2025)
Alternative cover
Malcolm Todd (still)
Malcolm Todd (still)
Singles from Malcolm Todd
  1. "Chest Pain (I Love)"
    Released: December 4, 2024
  2. "Bleed"
    Released: February 28, 2025
  3. "Cheer Me On"
    Released: March 28, 2025
  4. "Original"
    Released: July 18, 2025

Malcolm Todd is the debut studio album by Malcolm Todd, released on April 4, 2025 by Columbia Records. It follows his 2024 mixtape Sweet Boy and contains a guest feature from Omar Apollo. Three singles were released in support of the album: "Chest Pain (I Love)", which went viral on social media, "Bleed", and "Cheer Me On". A deluxe version of the album, Malcolm Todd (still), was released on August 8, 2025, and was promoted with the single "Original".

Background and recording

Malcolm Todd released his debut mixtape Sweet Boy in April 2024. It was his third project overall, following the EPs Demos Before Prom and Shower Shoes. He gained exposure through the virality of the songs "Art House" and "Roomates" from the mixtape.[1]

Production and composition

Overview

The album is primarily an alternative R&B and indie pop album. The album is produced by Todd along with his bandmate Jonah Cochran and Charlie Ziman.[2] It contains funky guitar riffs, drum beats, and electronic synthesizers.[3]

Songs

The opening track, "Harry Styles", is a short, ironic song in which Todd compares himself to Harry Styles, saying "But if I’m not a Harry Styles / They’re gonna put me on the shelf." over passive instrumentation. He also reminisces his failed attempt to perform at the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in 2024. "Make Me a Better Man" is a blues-influenced track that contains crooning about sexuality and masculinity and a guitar solo that Rolling Stone likened to work of Mk.gee. "Bleed" is a smooth collaboration with Omar Apollo. "Concrete" is co-written by Todd's sister and Gracie Abrams collaborator Audrey Hobert.[4] On "Florence", a ballad, Todd adds a rock influence, and he strips back the instrumentals on "I'll Come Back for You", the closing track.[5][6][7][8]

Release and promotion

Malcolm Todd released the first single from the album, "Chest Pain (I Love)", on December 4, 2024. It went viral on TikTok, especially in Southeast Asia, after he teased a snippet the week before its release.[2][9] On February 26, 2025, he announced the album and released the single "Bleed", featuring Omar Apollo, two days later.[10] In the song's music video, Jack Harlow, Harry Daniels, and Keith William Richards make cameo appearances.[11][12] Todd also announced a North American tour, The Wholesome Rockstar Tour, from May to June.[13][14][1] He released the third and final single, "Cheer Me On", on March 28.[15] During March, "Chest Pain (I Love)" received more attention when it was used in a viral video from the video game R.E.P.O.[16]

On July 18, Todd announced a deluxe edition of the album called Malcolm Todd (still), which was on August 8. He released the single "Original" for it on the same day as the announcement.[17][18]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]
The Daily Californian[3]
The Ithacan[20]
Rolling Stone[5]
The State Hornet9/10[21]

The album received generally positive reviews. Marcy Donelson of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, comparing Todd to Steve Lacy and Dominic Fike and noting how he does not take himself too seriously.[19] Larisha Paul of Rolling Stone rated it the same, noting his similarities to an alternative pop star that focuses on his self-awareness, flaws, and resilience.[5] In June, the magazine named it as one of "The Best Albums of 2025 So Far".[22] Adam Camarena, writing for The State Hornet, gave the album a 9/10, highlighting the cohesiveness of the album and Todd's growth and maturity, although he thought the album could be longer.[21] Mariana Contreras of The Ithacan rated it 5 out of 5 stars, praising his unconformity to mainstream music and experimental production.[20]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 103 on the Billboard 200, becoming his first album to chart there. The lead single "Chest Pain (I Love)", also peaked at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first charting song overall as well.[23] Following the release of the deluxe in August, the album reentered the chart and peaked at number 49.[24]

Track listing

Malcolm Todd track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Harry Styles"
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
1:31
2."Make Me a Better Man"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
3:30
3."Who's the Fool"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
1:56
4."Chest Pain (I Love)"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
3:20
5."Doll"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
1:59
6."Bleed" (featuring Omar Apollo)
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Jonah Cochran
2:59
7."Good Job Malcolm"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
1:00
8."Lying"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
2:03
9."Walk to Class"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
3:48
10."Florence"
  • M. Hobert
  • Ziman
  • Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
3:05
11."Concrete"
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
2:53
12."I Do"
  • Al Burton
  • David Kurtz
  • Michael Jacobs
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
1:00
13."Cheer Me On"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Ziman
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
4:17
14."I'll Come Back For You"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Ziman
  • Charlie Ziman
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
4:07
Total length:37:33
Malcolm Todd (still) track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Attention"
  • M. Hobert
  • Ziman
  • Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
1:53
16."Nemo"
  • M. Hobert
  • Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
3:39
17."Zip Up My Fly"
  • M. Hobert
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
2:11
18."Original"
  • M. Hobert
  • Ziman
  • Cochran
  • Malcolm Todd
  • Jonah Cochran
  • Charlie Ziman
3:15
Total length:48:32

Charts

Chart performance for Malcolm Todd
Chart (2025) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[25] 49

References

  1. ^ a b Paisley, Danielle (March 31, 2025). "I Love, I Love 2025's Next Big Thing: Malcolm Todd". Her Campus. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Malcolm Todd New Single "Chest Pain"". Shore Fire Media. December 4, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Joines, Carmen (April 16, 2025). "Malcom Todd sings of misdirection, he's heading the right way". www.dailycal.org. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  4. ^ "Malcolm Todd Self-titled Debut Album Out Now". Spotlight Report. April 4, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Paul, Larisha (April 3, 2025). "Malcolm Todd Steps Into the Pop Arena With Knockout Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  6. ^ Fithian, William (April 8, 2025). "Malcom Todd breaks pop star stereotypes with new album". The Suffolk Journal. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  7. ^ Cohen, Sam (April 10, 2025). "Malcom Todd feels incomplete on his self-titled debut album". The Daily Targum. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Chin, Corinna (April 15, 2025). "Tuesday Tunes: Malcolm Todd is lightheartedly honest in debut album". New University. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "'Chest Pain (I Love)' takes Phl and asia by storm". Daily Tribune. January 17, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  10. ^ Turner, Olivia (April 7, 2025). "Review: 'I love, I love' Malcolm Todd even more for his debut album - The Baylor Lariat". Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  11. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (February 28, 2025). "Omar Apollo And Malcolm Todd Get Jack Harlow For Their 'Bleed' Video". UPROXX. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "Malcolm Todd And Omar Apollo Takes Fans To Fight Club With 'Bleed' Video". www.antimusic.com. March 2, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  13. ^ Gehlich, Clare (March 3, 2025). "Malcolm Todd announces self-titled album out in April and The Wholesome Rockstar Tour". Melodic Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  14. ^ Urbanczyk, Miranda (March 5, 2025). "Malcolm Todd and Omar Apollo's "Bleed" Is a Danceable Dive into Heartache & Power". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  15. ^ "Malcolm Todd Says 'Cheer Me On' With New Video". www.antimusic.com. March 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  16. ^ Lubczynski, Dawid (March 31, 2025). "„I love REPO" trend is so big that Malcolm Todd reacted to it". Gamepressure.com. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  17. ^ "Malcolm Todd Announces Deluxe Self-Titled Album". antiMusic. July 18, 2025. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  18. ^ Lange, Alice (July 19, 2025). "The Wholesome Rockstar in High Definition: Malcolm Todd is More Than Just an Algorithm's Dream". Martin Cid. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  19. ^ a b Donelson, Marcy. "Malcolm Todd - Malcolm Todd". AllMusic. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Contreras, Mariana (April 18, 2025). "Breakthrough artist delivers on his debut album, 'Malcolm Todd'". The Ithacan. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  21. ^ a b Camarena, Adam (April 14, 2024). "Malcolm Todd transcends 'symptoms of sorrow and dread' in emotion-packed debut album". The State Hornet. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  22. ^ "The Best Albums of 2025 So Far". Rolling Stone. June 5, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  23. ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of April 19, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  24. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of August 23, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  25. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
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