"Worth It" confronts that most ancient of human torments – self-doubt – with the kind of unflinching directness that would make even Brett Anderson squirm. Finnegan Bell's vocals carry the weight of someone who's genuinely grappled with their reflection and found it wanting, while Zachary Skinner's Manchester snarl provides the perfect foil for this transatlantic meditation on inadequacy.
The track builds from haunting beginnings into something altogether more cathartic. Bell's genre-hopping instincts serve him well here – there's grunge's emotional heft, emo's confessional urgency, and just enough pop sensibility to keep things from disappearing entirely up their own existential rear end. When the guitar solo finally arrives, it doesn't merely punctuate the song; it tears through it like therapy made audible.
What elevates "Worth It" beyond mere angst-peddling is its understanding that self-examination needn't be self-indulgent. The Skinner Brothers bring their characteristic working-class bite to proceedings, ensuring Bell's introspection never drifts into navel-gazing. This is music made by people who've clearly asked themselves the hard questions and decided the struggle itself might be answer enough.
The production wisely avoids over-polishing these rough edges. Like their previous collaborations "Freedom in a Padded Cell" and "Scrapbook," this feels authentically lived-in rather than focus-grouped to death. "Love Ghost and The Skinner Brothers prove once again that their partnership isn't just worth it — it's essential listening" rings true; this is a creative alliance that continues to yield genuinely affecting results.
The accompanying visual treatment matches the song's emotional weight without resorting to cliché – no mirrors, no dramatic lighting, just honest performance that lets the music speak for itself. It's refreshing to see artists trust their material enough to let it stand without elaborate conceptual scaffolding.
"Worth It" confirms that this unlikely pairing has found something worth preserving. While it may not revolutionise alternative rock, it reminds us why the genre matters: sometimes you need someone to articulate the questions you're afraid to ask yourself. And sometimes, just asking is enough.
*Worth It is out now. Love Ghost and The Skinner Brothers tour the UK in November.*
