Jacob the Horse Maintain Levity with New Single “Totally Depressed” [Premiere]

As Jacob the Horse demonstrates on their new single “Totally Depressed,” being super sad and devastated may be a sufficient condition when it comes to serious topics, but it’s not a necessary one. The band emerges today with their new single from their brand new album, At Least It’s Almost Over. The song arrives ahead of the album’s release on March 20th, a surprisingly upbeat track given its subject matter. There’s certainly a serious statement being made here, but the group doesn’t get carried away with it. The song has a vintage punk-rock energy, along with a certain deadpan, humorous delivery. It features talky vocals, reminiscent of Devo and the originality and absurdity of Mark Mothersbaugh’s legendary lead vocals. Much like Devo, Jacob the Horse similarly loves to feature off-the-wall moments in their songwriting. It’s what makes them both a memorable and original act.

Lead guitarist Josh Fleury comments:

“Aviv (Rubinstein) walked into band practice one day with a long face, and we said to him, ‘Hey buddy, you look totally depressed!’ And he dropped his guitar gear, mouth agape, and said, ‘Boys, grab a pencil! I just got a great idea!’ And that’s exactly how it happened.”

Lead singer and guitarist Rubinstien adds:

“I remember it a little differently. Josh had this riff (that wound up being the opening riff of the song), and there’s a little part of it that scratches my brain and reminds me of my depression. Not the can’t-get-out-of-bed depression, more like the I-am-about-to-run-through-a-brick-wall kind of depression.

“Lyrically, I was really into the idea of repeating one phrase over and over again until it lost all meaning, especially because ‘Totally Depressed’ is five syllables, and the song is in 4:4, so every time the phrase repeats, it has a different emphasis with the rhythm of the song, which scratches my brain in a fun way. There’s a Titus Andronicus song (‘No Future Part Three: Escape from No Future’) that repeats the sentence ‘you will always be a loser’ over and over again. That served as a big inspiration for me. I wanted to try to beat how many times they repeated in that song (30). We do it 49 or 50 times in the song.”

At Least It’s Almost Over is a very topical record, given modern trends and events. It’s an album about disillusionment, stemming from the disappointment in the realization that the people who were supposed to look out for us couldn’t care less. It feels as though those in charge are leading us towards the worst possible outcomes. And through the arrogance and ignorance of those in charge, the people are being betrayed and disregarded. Throughout the record, there is commentary on the rise of modern fascism, trying to deal with anxiety, and rallying cries for anarchy. Musically, the album slices through moments of classic punk with elements of grunge and folk-punk lyrics that hit on the complicated times in which we are living.

Anger and despair are very real emotions that are overwhelming society at large. Jacob the Horse are doing their part by helping us wade through these dangerous waters by making sure we’re having as much fun as possible along the way.

Tour Dates:

March 19 – Harvard and Stone (album release show w/ Jordan Maye, Crisis Actor, The Hazards), Los Angeles, CA

Jacob the Horse ‘At Least its Almost Over’ album artwork