B-Side Guys

Musical irony achieves its most potent form when sound and substance create deliberate contradiction. Brooklyn outfit Decades Late understands this principle thoroughly on “Better off Dead,” wrapping environmental fatalism in deceptively bright indie-pop packaging.

The track opens with immediate textural contrast—nylon-string acoustic guitars establishing warm organic foundation before electric elements introduce sharper edges. This production approach creates fascinating sonic parallel to the song’s thematic territory, the gentle acoustic elements suggesting natural world while harsher electric tones represent human intervention. Producer Reed Black (of Vinegar Hill Sound) deserves particular credit for maintaining clarity amid these shifting textures, allowing each component—including the whimsical toy keyboards—to occupy distinct space within the mix.

What gives “Better off Dead” particular impact is how it navigates between melodic accessibility and thematic weight. The hook-driven structure invites immediate engagement while the lyrics explore profoundly troubling territory—human apathy toward planetary collapse. This contrast creates cognitive dissonance that enhances rather than diminishes the song’s emotional impact. When vocals shift from “airy to dark and aggressive,” they mirror psychological progression from complacency to urgent concern.

Frontman Andre Delaroche’s vocal performance demonstrates impressive range, both technically and emotionally. His delivery navigates between playful detachment and genuine distress, creating dimensional characterization rather than simple environmental preaching. This nuanced approach transforms what might be didactic messaging into more complex emotional exploration.

The rhythm section—featuring David Butler (known for work with Guster and Lee “Scratch” Perry) on drums and Brett Bass (Gregg Allman, Chris Barron) on bass—provides crucial propulsive foundation. Their playing incorporates 90s alt-rock rhythmic sensibilities while avoiding mere nostalgia, creating contemporary energy that enhances the song’s modernized grunge aesthetic.

As part of Decades Late’s newest EP “Second Take” (released April 20, 2025), “Better off Dead” represents the band’s continued evolution beyond their ’90s-inspired early material. While their debut LP “Double Appropriation” featured songs actually written during that era, this newer material demonstrates forward-looking engagement with “pressing global issues—climate instability, rising autocracy, and the erosion of civil liberties.”

For a band whose name itself suggests belatedness, “Better off Dead” ironically demonstrates timeliness—addressing environmental concerns through musical framework that honors past influences while refusing to be constrained by them. The result offers compelling evidence that message-driven music can still prioritize melody without sacrificing substance.