B-Side Guys

Brooklyn foursome Blanket Approval presents a fascinating contradiction in their February 2025 release “Heartbreak City,” crafting an irresistibly danceable critique of metropolitan alienation. Formed in 2021 when physicist-turned-musician Jack Matteucci transformed lab basement demos into the foundation for a proper band, the group’s latest single perfectly captures the disorienting experience of finding yourself simultaneously seduced and repelled by urban environments.

The track’s instantly memorable bassline, provided by Max Mena (who joined after a serendipitous collision in a Queens punk show crowd), immediately establishes both momentum and tension. This foundation allows keyboardist/guitarist Rahul Charkaborty’s vocals to deliver scathing observations about modern city life without sacrificing the song’s infectious energy. Drummer/vocalist Joey Hadden creates propulsive rhythms that mirror the relentless pace of urban existence.

What distinguishes “Heartbreak City” from countless other urban critique songs is its unflinching examination of contradictions. The narrator simultaneously condemns the city’s excesses while participating in its rituals, noting the jarring juxtaposition of “the Marxist party” beside “a trendy bar and a Maserati.” This observation does more than highlight economic disparity—it captures the particular cognitive dissonance of leftist politics existing alongside conspicuous consumption, often within the same social circles.

Most revealing is the chorus’s repeated insistence that “we don’t have the time,” a phrase that functions both as party invitation and existential lament. This temporal anxiety permeates the track, with references to fleeting connections—”might be gone next week”—and emphasis on the transactional nature of urban interactions. The invitation to dance becomes not just social gesture but survival mechanism, suggesting that movement might temporarily distract from the city’s fundamental emptiness.

The production balances indie rock immediacy with psychedelic atmospherics, creating sonic space that mirrors the emotional landscape of the lyrics. Drawing from influences spanning Iggy Pop to The Kooks to Parcels, Blanket Approval crafts a sound that honors their diverse inspirations while establishing distinctive identity.

As the band prepares for their first-ever festival performance, “Heartbreak City” serves as perfect introduction—a track whose surface appeal masks deeper complexities, much like the urban environment it critiques. By making alienation sound this appealing, Blanket Approval achieves the remarkable feat of creating party music for people who have grown suspicious of parties.