B-Side Guys

Learning becomes forward momentum when Don’t Worry transforms past mistakes into future preparation through Smashing Pumpkins-influenced alternative rock architecture. “This Time” operates as both personal growth anthem and generational statement, capturing how millennial adults navigate 2020s uncertainty while refusing to remain trapped in nostalgic comfort zones. Ronan Van Kehoe and his Essex bandmates have created their most directly alt-rock statement yet, proving that maturity sometimes requires abandoning familiar musical territory.

The track’s production approach reflects the band’s evolution from their previous nostalgic frameworks into something more contemporary and expansive. Those layered keyboards, synthesizers, and additional percussion create richer textural foundation that supports their traditional indie rock setup without overwhelming it. This expanded approach mirrors the album’s thematic concern with embracing present reality rather than retreating into past comfort.

Van Kehoe’s songwriting demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how personal growth operates through accumulated experience rather than sudden revelation. The track avoids typical recovery anthem clichés by focusing on practical application of learned lessons rather than dramatic transformation narratives. This mature perspective distinguishes “This Time” from songs that promise unrealistic change in favor of sustainable progress.

The band’s musical influences—spanning from Pavement and Pixies to UK Grime and GTA Vice City soundtrack—create eclectic foundation that prevents the song from feeling derivative despite obvious 90s/00s inspiration. Their ability to synthesize diverse reference points into coherent artistic statement reflects years of creative development across three albums.

Most significantly, the track represents genuine artistic risk for band previously comfortable operating within nostalgic parameters. Their decision to “push through the comfort of the past” and “look forward to the future with hope” manifests musically through production choices that expand rather than repeat their established sound.

As final single from “Idealism,” “This Time” establishes Don’t Worry as artists capable of growth without losing essential identity, proving that sometimes the most honest thing you can do is admit you’re ready to stop making the same mistakes.