I spent years railing against subjectivity in art. “Well that’s just your opinion, man” doesn’t cut it; there have to be standards for what’s good and bad! In politics and morality, subjectivity can even be dangerous. But objectivity—fixed, unmoving ideas, a.k.a. certainty—has its limitations too. This song trips over itself with its odd occasional extra beat—fallible, admitting in its lyrics, “Better than pretending to know what’s wrong and what’s right.” Better than. We all want to take comfort in being better than, in our personal certainties, with no room for that terrifying shadow at the door, doubt.

Lake Street Dive, "Better Than," written by Bridget Kearney, 2014.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to early June, 2025.

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