B-Side Guys

On “Lose,” Max Bien Kahn doesn’t just acknowledge the universal experience of loss—he celebrates it. Drawing inspiration from the opening lines of Scott McClanahan’s “The Sarah Book,” Bien Kahn crafts a song that’s equal parts melancholic and uplifting, a bittersweet ode to the way life strips us bare.

Bien Kahn’s vocals are the centerpiece of “Lose,” his delivery oscillating between weary resignation and defiant joy. “Baby, I’m losing / Can’t you see how I lose?” he sings in the opening lines, his voice dripping with a kind of world-weary swagger. But as the song unfolds, it becomes clear that this isn’t a lament—it’s a rallying cry, a call to embrace the inevitable losses that come with living.

Musically, “Lose” is a masterclass in understated garage rock, with Bien Kahn’s guitars and Ray Micarelli’s drums laying down a foundation of gritty, propulsive energy. But it’s the subtle flourishes—the shimmering organ work of Duff Thompson, the ethereal backing vocals of Howe Pearson—that elevate the track into something truly special. These elements swirl together to create a sound that’s both raw and expansive, a perfect match for Bien Kahn’s lyrics about the way loss can crack us open and let the light in.

By the time the song reaches its final chorus, Bien Kahn’s message has taken on an almost anthemic quality. “Every day’s another chance,” he sings, his voice soaring over the instrumentation. “Baby, I keep losing it all.” It’s a simple sentiment, but one that feels almost revolutionary in its honesty and optimism. In a world that often pushes us to deny our pain and put on a brave face, “Lose” is a reminder that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is to embrace our losses—to let them wash over us and trust that we’ll come out the other side stronger and more alive.

Ultimately, “Lose” is a triumph of songwriting and performance, a track that manages to find beauty and meaning in the darkest corners of the human experience. It’s a testament to Max Bien Kahn’s skill as a songwriter and his willingness to grapple with life’s big questions head-on. And in a world that often feels like it’s falling apart, it’s a much-needed reminder that sometimes the only way to find ourselves is to first lose everything else.