You remember when the phrase ‘What a time to be alive!’ was mainly used to express excitement and fascination for our advanced society? Well, these days it somehow feels as if you can also use it to ironically express your lack of understanding for this twisted world with its lacking empathy and regressive forces. Songwriter Joe George made a song about exactly that issue and it’s a really sweet one, despite the subject. The tender Stand Down delivers a gentle and melancholic questioning of contemporary life’s bizarre scenery. It starts quite calm but make sure you’ll stick around for the cinematic finale. Joe George‘s new LP Beautiful Dreams arrives on December 14 via SANTINI Records.