“Sad Blue Planet” depicts a perspective of life and existence in a way that many can relate to in a world where the feeling of doom is somewhat ubiquitous. As we navigate our lives, it becomes difficult to balance purpose and contentment as we are often prone to second-guessing our life directions in jobs that hinder our happiness or relationships that feel questionable. Despite the number of uncertainties in our lives, Knifethroat delivers perspective on these questions through honest and relatable lyrics that give listeners an opportunity to think about our respective existences on this “Sad Blue Planet”.
Primary lyricist Elio begins with “Dawn of a New Age,” candidly describing a life threatened with doom and desolation. In the present day, millennials are faced with an environment of a higher cost of living, loss of mainstays, and an impending death as the world under capitalism continues to disproportionately allocate wealth and resources between the haves and the have-nots. This attitude is shared amongst the population as it becomes difficult to feel stability, as the economy gravitates towards profitable opportunities rather than allowing sustainable living standards for all. Between fierce acoustic guitar, energetic backing vocals, charismatic bari sax, and complementing bass lines, listeners are treated to a number of moods and energies throughout an exemplary folk punk song (and a stellar folk punk album), reminding the listeners to move and dance despite the world falling apart. But before we give up in this crumbling world, the song ends with a declaration of not being broken, not quite yet; this doesn’t deny the upcoming struggles that will accompany the rest of our lives, but it also is a reminder that we are still alive now, and we still have the power to stay afloat.
The key to surviving this lifetime isn’t quite the same for everyone, but for many, we struggle with finding and maintaining purpose. This is sometimes found in a job, despite how much or little reward or gratification comes with it, as “Dawn of a New Age” describes the common scenario of working hard for little reward and being driven by income for survival. On the other hand, “Love Songs to the Early Shift” portrays purpose as making a difference while surviving, as this attitude alleviates the struggles of life by providing the comfort of a community. With a social ladder somewhat parallel to an economic ladder, we find similar pain points attempting to thrive in communities while being as good as human beings to each other. Songs like “Decatur” and “Timeshares” question our connections, as is something almost natural when life is so full of questions and people fighting for survival, and we often need assurance that others are as community-driven as we think we are. “Decatur” questions more personally with Bex delivering the choruses in “so much uncertainty, is everyone alright with me?” as a source of debilitating anxiety despite being surrounded by a community. “Timeshares,” on the other hand, acknowledges the worst parts of the anxiety and chooses to break walls and build bridges (through a vocal appearance by Max Rauch), despite the self-criticism and the antagonistic portion of the population. The choruses have a more pop punk delivery with a bouncier delivery of wonder why “anyone would waste their time fretting over little things, as is a common sentiment shared with the pop punk attitude that many millennials find solace in.
As if climbing the economic and social ladders isn’t enough, we also have conflicts within ourselves. It is easy to get discouraged from the vigor that comes with “not broken, not quite yet,” as life is always full of unpleasant surprises. Self-destructive thought patterns breed in such tumultuous times, as “Early Evening Naps” begs for additional sleep, allowing time for a heart to rest. Elio’s lyrics portray a desperate need for rest in the chorus and then, within the verses, a harsh admission of unhealthy habits riddled with self-deprecation during these never-ending questions of existence. The contrast between the vocal deliveries and instrument arrangements between the verse and chorus further amplifies the conflict within the self. The verses are almost shouted with the full band present. The choruses are delivered more softly with more intricate guitar picking, with bari sax presence preceding and during the second iteration of the chorus. Ending the song comes a resolution to the self-conflict, as Bex sings about the admission of the bad habits, but allowing patience to create space and understanding to move in the direction of a healthy life.
The album ends with a succinct conclusion and an idea of a direction. It is reasonably aware of the frustrations and acknowledges all the issues that come with existence, but appreciates the ownership of this life. “This Busted Treadmill Called Life” portrays the progression of living as a treadmill that is not working as well as expected, but is the only one we have. It takes time to figure out a pattern to coexist with this treadmill, with caution and attention required so as not to lose the rhythm and fall off. Life shouldn’t be easy, nor should it encourage mindless behavior, as this busted treadmill reminds me of the legendary video game “Desert Bus” requiring constant care to succeed with the limited tools granted to us. And even with the busted treadmill, “everyone around is so nice” is a reminder that community is still important, and we’re all walking our own respective treadmills.
“Sad Blue Planet” is folk punk at its finest, with raw and emotional vocal delivery by both Elio and Bex, accompanied by Bex’s incredible bari sax performance. The album is honest and acknowledges life and circumstances beyond our control. As the introspective lyrics depict, it is not easy to maintain the vigor that we may have had at younger ages, as the world continues to move in precarious directions, requiring careful movement as life remains so fragile in both the short and long run. Finding purpose on this planet is accompanied by the questions surrounding the ways we love each other and ourselves, as community makes living feel full. The important takeaway is that we must keep walking, and with our people by our side, this life is worth living.
Written by Christian Ang
