Today, Jeff Rosenstock returned with a ripping new single called "LIKED U BETTER." It's the musician's first new single since 2020's NO DREAM, which was followed by its ska-rework brethren SKA DREAM (not to mention Rosenstock's soundtrack work on Craig of the Creek and his collaboration with Laura Stevenson). "LIKED U BETTER" was recorded last summer in Los Angeles during a break in the band's exhausting tour schedule, and it was tracked at EastWest Studios with Jack Shirley.
Rosenstock understands how to pack a song with vim. "LIKED U BETTER" contains jack-up acoustic guitar, acidic bursts of electric strums, and stomping drums. It's a good time, but the heart of the song is less jovial than the surface suggests. "I liked you better when you weren't on my mind," Rosenstock shouts during the chorus. For the song's three minutes, he's trying to relinquish himself from something that's driving him up the wall: "Why are you hardwired to my brain / While I just skip along and tell myself I’m fine?"
The single comes with a video by Ryan Baxley, which features a furry brown Muppet. Things aren't what they seem with this cute little guy, but you'll have to find out why for yourself below.
