As I listened to My Best Unbeaten Brother's new single "Extraordinary Times," I couldn't help but think about the impermanence of our existence. This song, the second single from their upcoming album Pessimistic Pizza, is a poignant reflection on the ephemeral nature of life and the debris of our collective experiences.
The lyrics, "It takes extraordinary times to make extraordinary things... But now they're broken things," resonate deeply in a world that often feels like it's spiraling beyond our control. We're like asteroids, aren't we? Spending eons wandering through the vastness of space, yet our moments of impact – whether they light up the sky or leave craters – are fleeting. This song captures that essence, the bittersweet realization that we do more wondering about where the time went, why it’s so messy, and why we didn’t do a better job taking care of each other.
The song isn't just a lament; it's a mirror held up to the contradictions of our nature. "And we don't know what to do with ourselves / We're becoming arseholes just by being ourselves," sings Ben Parker plaintively, encapsulating the internal conflict of being part of a society where the outer often belies the inner, where the decent underneath isn't enough to correct what the world perceives as grotesque.
Musically, the track is a tightly performed piece of indie rock that carries the emotional weight of its lyrics without becoming overwrought. The influence of bands like Sebadoh and Pavement is evident, with drummer Adam Parker providing a percussive backbone that's both grounding and dynamic, echoing the tumult of the song's themes.
Listening to "Extraordinary Times" is like watching rain streak down a windowpane with a half-cup of cold Earl Grey in hand, pondering whether we're a part of the mess or apart from it. It's a song for those who feel overwhelmed by the chaos but are still searching for a glimmer of hope among the ruins. As My Best Unbeaten Brother articulates so well, maybe these broken things can be fixed, or maybe they shouldn't be – but first, we must acknowledge them. Check the track out and then pre-order here.