The Beat Generation's "It Ain't Easy" offers a hand to hold through tough times

In the weight of the world around us, The Beat Generation provides an essential reminder that we are not walking this path alone. Their most recent release, "It Ain't Easy," is an aural shoulder from which to cry from group founding member Lawrence White.

This is raw and reassuring fare from White in a stripped-down solo performance. His voice, soaked in experience, cradles each note like a warm hug. There is no artifice here, just a man, a message, and music that goes right to the soul. "It Ain't Easy" unspools like a hushed conversation with a friend who gets it. It's sparsely arranged, with the music taking a back seat to White's voice and the message. It's a calculated choice that fits the theme of the track perfectly. Life is fucking tough, and sometimes all you need to know is that someone else gets it.

"It Ain't Easy" is not about giving into struggle but banding together. It gently pushes back against isolation, offering solace while not glossing over the abundant strains of the moment. It's its equilibrium of vulnerability and hope that makes the song feel so human, so essential. The Beat Generation has always represented artistic honesty and social conscience, and this track upholds that tradition. Lawrence White doesn't just show off his musical chops here, but also deep emotional intelligence and a desire to connect.

And with their half-hour set at the ITNS online event on June 20, this is a fitting and poignant taster. If "It Ain't Easy" indicates what is to come, fans and new listeners will have something grounding and uplifting waiting for them. At a time when many are in search of light in dark times, The Beat Generation isn't providing easy answers. They suggest something better, the reminder that even if life isn't easy, we don't have to deal with it alone.