currently loving What a Time to be Alive because it reminds me so much of Soul Punk with just a dash of Folie a Deux
upon first listen and even now I was almost disappointed that What a Time to be Alive didn't have a similar ending to Bad Side of 25 because they are sister songs.
reminiscing over better times, dreams dying, trying to cope with time passing, which yes multiple fob songs go along with those themes but the vocals and instrumentals that are almost theatrical tie them together so well. the bridges of both songs really adds to this tie I see between them.
I see Bad Side of 25 as almost the more self depreciating of the two while What a Time to be Alive is not necessarily more "hopeful", but sort of has a cheerier perspective. the first is about aging, and not really being too pleased with the process, while the latter has mostly gotten over those initial hurdles and is focused on another crisis and is trying to find someone to experience it with.
I'm probably thinking much too hard about it, but that's how I see it. I just love how similar the two are!
