Applied Communications Has a Midlife Crisis is a comeback EP – 17 years in the making – from Max Wood (a.k.a. Applied Communications). It’s a collection of five alt-pop songs that navigate Max’s journey through depression, gender dysphoria, existential panic, and self-love. While more accessible and beat-driven than past AC records (such as the polarizing Uhhh Sort Of ), . . .Midlife Crisis remains deeply personal and idiosyncratic. Max Wood comments on the track “Sinéad”: “‘Sinéad’ is about a pretty intense mental breakdown I had while visiting Los Angeles for work. I tried to capture the anxiety and mania of those feelings, but also keep the spirit of the song off-kilter and not too serious. I had a version of the song that was more straightforward and poppy, but it didn’t feel rig...