A few years ago, I stood at a crossroads that felt more like a cosmic joke. The decision itself isn't as important now, as much as the moment. One we've all faced. But in my case, there I was, a regular Marie at the mercy of life's big questions: to continue on the well-paved but soul-sucking path or to dive headfirst into the creative abyss? Fast forward to today, and along comes My Best Unbeaten Brother’s mini-album, Pessimistic Pizza, the kind of record that feels like it was tailor-made for those life-defining moments. While I’ve made my leap without this soundtrack, discovering it now is like finding a note in a bottle that washed ashore just when I needed to hear its more validating-than-pessimistic message.
Listening to "Extraordinary Times," I’m transported back to those days of doubt, where every decision felt both monumental and minuscule. The lyrics, "We had extraordinary things / Now they're worth nothing," echo the sentiments I wrestled with when questioning what really holds value in life. It’s a melodic reminder of the fleetingness of our choices and the artifacts of our bravery.
"Time on Our Hands, Spider-Man" would have been the perfect battle cry, urging me to seize the day rather than getting lost in what-ifs. Its pulsing rhythm and poignant words serve as a timely nudge, even now, to keep living deliberately and not just by default. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to feel like Spider-Man swinging through the pivotal chapters of their life story?
Then there’s "Blues Fatigue," which might as well have been my theme song. It sings to the soul-tired part of me that knew all too well the drain of the mundane, the everyday grind that chips away at your dreams like a relentless drip. “Let's put our fingers in the till and start a new life out of this” isn’t just a lyric; it’s a manifesto for anyone tired of waiting for permission to live differently.
And for all the moments I felt foolish for caring too much, "It's Not Embarrassing To Care About Stuff" comes in like a warm embrace from an old friend, reassuring me that passion is not passé. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to shout from the rooftops, or at least tweet with fervor, that caring deeply is, in fact, the new cool.
Now, with Pessimistic Pizza ringing in my ears, I’m not just reminiscing; I’m reaffirming. This album is a retrospective soundtrack that validates the past me, encourages the present me, and excites the future me. It’s a musical journey through the ups and downs of personal evolution, a collection of songs that celebrates the beauty of our broken, extraordinary lives.
For anyone who’s ever stood at a crossroads, contemplating the leap into the unknown, let this album remind you that your choices are valid, your doubts are shared, and your paths are worth treading with a soundtrack as thoughtful as this one. A soundtrack that, at the end, like My Best Unbeaten Brother, we "sing it loud like we don't care/when we sing it no one's there" at the top of our lungs and just for us.