“My Smile Is Extinct" is the second track from New Zealand singer-guitarist Kane Strang’s sophomore album Two Hearts and No Brain (2017). It's a perfect showcase of Strang's melodramatic flair, introspective lyricism and a solid ear for melodies, delivered in a retro-inspired but contemporary-sounding blend of alt-rock with ‘60s jangle pop. The song's plot is straighforward: Strang's romantic dalliance with the best he’s ever had” is derailed after she reveals that she became entangled with “another pretty boy" (while he was asleep in his car), thrusting him into the throes of nihilistic agony: “I said kill me now, I want to die/ There’s a chance at an afterlife/ I might not get in, but at least I won’t be living.” This confession might seem grave and alarming on paper, but Strang's low key delivery indicates an awareness of the hyperbole that's coming out of his mouth. In time, this too shall pass.
There's something Swiftian in his ability to channel the darker aspects and intensities of teen angst into a catchy and sparkly hook, even if his sonic template is more alt-pop than country-inflected. But while Swift nearly always opts to directly engage her critics, detractors or ex-lovers in a quest for personal redemption, Strang turns inwards to isolate and explore the depths of his own emotions. A glance on the other song titles on the album (e.g. ‘It’s Not That Bad’, ‘Oh So You’re Off I See’, ‘Don’t Follow Me (I’m Lost)’) might suggest a state of perpetual romantic disconnection and mild depression, but Strang has stated that his music is not perfectly representative of his state of mind:
“I think the thing is that I just got into a habit of only writing songs when I’m feeling sad. It’s because it’s therapy for me. It’s how I process things. Once that song is written, it’s like that’s it. I don’t feel like that anymore about that certain thing".
Kane Strang, The Spinoff
