Atlanta emo group shares poignant new single off long-awaited sophomore LP
Atlanta’s worlds greatest dad returns with “Taking One For The Team,” the third single from their upcoming sophomore album Better Luck Next Time – out Sept. 13 via SideOneDummy – their first album since 2018’s get well soon.
The track demonstrates a significant evolution for the band, blending the raw emo energy of their earlier work with mature, introspective songwriting touching on alt-country and power-pop influences. The song begins with a gentle, pulsating rhythm that gradually swells into a searing anthem exploring mortality, loss, and the struggle to persevere through grief and helplessness.
The music video, directed by Summer Schantz, features lead singer Maddie Duncan alongside a clown, creating a visually striking narrative set against the backdrop of Atlanta. Duncan is seen deadpanning at the camera, lighting a cigarette off a birthday cake, and performing in a red room, adding a surreal edge to the song’s emotional weight.
“A few years ago, we had to put my childhood dog down,” Duncan explained of the track. “I didn’t have a great relationship with my family and I knew it would be really hard to be there with them and him for his last moments, so I opted out. Around the same time Noah was being put to sleep, I was driving in the rain and saw this little black dog run onto the interstate. I did everything I could to try and get behind it and go slow and protect it from the cars speeding by, but it just kept sprinting. It dodged cars, looking back at me and I watched as it got hit but I had to just keep driving. It felt like a really fucked up fate or something and kind of sent me into a fear of death spiral. Being able to help as much as you can with something, while also not feeling responsible if it fails is really hard. This song is about that feeling of responsibility and helplessness.”
You can pre-order worlds greatest dad’s Better Luck Next Time HERE, and watch the music video for “Taking One For The Team” below:
