Solving Problems with Really Great and “All My Problems” [Single Premiere]
“I didn't even have a guitar when I wrote it,” confessed Owen Harrelson to Wormbrain about his band Really Great’s sophomore single “All My Problems.”
“Inspiration struck on a beautiful day, and I decided to write a big song about all my cool flaws that were making my life bad, and then sing it into Jake (Cardinal)’s phone before I forgot everything I wrote. I also made him promise not to listen to the voice memo because I was too embarrassed.”
The two minute and change jam reflects this excited urgency, this determined resilience, and certainly this open vulnerability. Really Great’s “All My Problems” is a downtrodden, swinging waltz that immediately recalls the self-critical crooning and infectious power pop chops of AJJ, Me in Capris, and Jeff Rosenstock.
“And look at me now,” Harrelson joked with W.W, “hardly embarrassed at all!”
You can hear Really Great’s new single “All My Problems” below, shared exclusively with Wormbrain days before its release on November 19th, 2021.
While the project has been active in various forms for five years at this point, the quartet of Boston, MA friends only really respawned on the music landscape together recently with their debut offering, “JO Bud,” this summer’s strong folk punk anthem led by vocalist Owen Harrelson calling out for genuine queer community over some truly ripping guitar courtesy of Jake Cardinal, held up by bassist Fenn Macon and drummer Nick Dussault.
The dynamic pairing of their first two songs reaffirms early that Really Great’s eventual full album (which rumor tells is called So Far, No Good) will be ripe with personality and off-kilter quirks, maintaining an air of inherent, but unstated humor. The band carries the great potential to sensibly, seamlessly surf the pop rock spectrum like Ozma, Rozwell Kid, or Telethon before them.
“...And look at me now — hardly embarrassed at all!”
For further insight into Really Great, W.W asked them to help us solve a few common everyday problems — here is what their collective hivemind said:
Problem 1. It's a scorching hot day and you just ordered a double scoop of your favorite ice cream, which is quickly melting down your arms when you notice the napkin dispenser is empty! What do you do to stop the sticky situation from getting stickier?
RG: This one is easy: just look for a local dog to clean up your body, and then get a straw to stick in your ice cream so you can drink while you lick. It’s literally easy to do this.
Problem 2. You've committed to baking a friend their grandmother's favorite cookie recipe and when you bust out all of the ingredients, you realize you're out of cinnamon. All the stores are closed, but your spice rack is pretty well stocked (aside from the cinnamon). Can you figure out recreating the treats on the fly?
RG: Couple of options here: if you want to deviate from grandma’s recipe, use garam masala in the cookies instead - there’s cinnamon in there, and you could make an argument that the other ingredients could be good in a cookie context. But, that does violate the Drake and Josh edict regarding cumin being where cinnamon should be, so maybe not. Lucky for you, we have a bonus answer: grab a mortar and pestle, and some cinnamon tic tacs, and go to town. Problem solved!
Photo by Gwendolyn Moser.
Problem 3. Today is "picture day" at school and you're dressed in your yearbook best, but they're serving something extra sloppy in the cafeteria for lunch and your social circle are notoriously messy eaters! How do you stay stainfree until photo time without going hungry or offending your friends?
RG: This one was tough for us - all of our solutions were mostly just augmenting the problem, not solving it, and with your friends expectantly waiting to get messy with you, we realized the best path forward was to accept your fate by covering yourself in painter’s tape in a cool pattern before eating the slop with your friends. All that matters here is intentionality - the stain will be there, but you did it on purpose, so it’s a look.
Problem 4. You just carted back to camp and are confronted by Rajang, but you don't have any weapons at all. Also, it has been five missions at this point, but still your Meowcenaries have not returned. What do you do?
RG: It’s good that we can officially come out as a “gamer band” through this question. That said, if this happened to you, that would be it. End of the line. No Meowcenaries? Too sad to even think about. I'm so sorry.
Problem 5. The local Top 40 radio station is giving away two tickets to see your favorite band's sold out show and in a stroke of luck, you win! When you post the good news online in celebration, both your best friend and your biggest crush comment "I can't wait to go with you!" How do you get out of this scenario?
RG: Now, see, this is why you should never post anything online, ever, in any circumstance. The good news is, there’s a really simple answer here: you’re not taking your best friend or your crush. You’re bringing a cool local dog who helped you out when you were in a bind one time. And isn’t that beautiful?
Photo by Gwendolyn Moser.
W.W: What is Wormbrain?
RG: Wormbrain is a little guy/professional wrestler who lives in your brain and tussles with troubles.
W.W: Thank you for sharing with Wormbrain.
Really Great’s “All My Problems” will be officially available streaming everywhere on Friday, November 19th, 2021.
