“Designed to Lose” by The Twilight Sad

The Twilight Sad have been a frequent opener for The Cure in recent years, and there’s definitely something very Cure-ish about the opening moments of “Designed to Lose”; the bass line, in particular, possesses a certain Simon Gallup je ne sais quoi. But then James Graham’s thick Scottish burr comes in, as do Andy MacFarlane’s roiling, tumultuous guitar tones, and there’s no mistaking this for anyone else’s song.

The band’s upcoming album, It’s the Long Goodbye, is their first in seven years, and emerges from a heavy place. Graham lost his mother to dementia during that time period, while also becoming a father and wrestling with mental health issues — all of which he details in a recent NME interview. “Designed to Lost,” along with the Robert Smith-blessed “Waiting for the Phone Call,” suggest that the band’s latest is going to be something pretty special, indeed.

It’s the Long Goodbye will be released on March 27, 2026 by Rock Action Records.