Singer/songwriter Brian Dunne tackles themes of class, desire, and the price of pursuing a ‘good life’ in “Clams Casino,” the vibrant, emotionally honest title track from his forthcoming fifth album. This song serves as a witty and weary anthem for those feeling financially strained yet still pursuing the American Dream.
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Stream: “Clams Casino” – Brian Dunne
All I want is just a little bit more; is that so much to ask? And clams casino on a Sunday night, is it wrong to aspire for a good life?
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There’s something about reaching your thirties that prompts reflection: Is it really so wrong to desire a good life?
Brian Dunne’s “Clams Casino” appears to be crafted for this precise moment of introspection—a struggle between self-doubt and self-worth, between what we feel we should possess and what we are entitled to wish for. This track cuts deep into millennial disillusionment, continuing to explore the quest for sweetness amid hardship and hope amid chaos.
I’ve been aiming for a good life
Yet no one seems happy for you
They raise the stakes and take their cut
Leaving you with the debt to shoulder
They claim you get what you pay for
I purchased a mattress on sale
But it feels like I’m resting on concrete
I guess fulfillment comes with a price.
“I experience both considerable class pride and considerable class shame,” Dunne, a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, a member of the folk rock supergroup Fantastic Cat, and a long-time favorite of our pages, shares with Atwood Magazine. “The narrative oscillates between ‘why is it so difficult to have something nice?’ and ‘is it so wrong to want something nice?’ It’s a question I frequently ask myself—when I can’t attain what I desire, I feel an existential frustration. Conversely, the moment I do, I’m plagued by imposter syndrome, questioning if I deserve this $6 coffee.”
Why is it so difficult to have something nice?
It seems like it should be simpler
You better be wealthy and attractive
Because it’s hard to enjoy the good things.
“Clams Casino,” the title track, serves as the central theme of Dunne’s upcoming fifth album, set for release on September 5th through Missing Piece Records. Drawing inspiration from working-class struggles and modern discontent, the album explores what unfolds after dreams dissolve—when the antagonists have triumphed, leaving you to restore dignity, purpose, and a little joy at your dinner table.
“I’m really interested in chronicling my generation as we navigate different life stages,” Dunne explains. “The characters in these songs are the same people featured in my previous two albums, both centered on millennial disillusionment. This record addresses what comes next. For me, it’s about the divide between selling out and moving on. Should I stay or should I leave? That’s the perpetual dilemma.”
I’m just trying to have a good life
Clams casino on a Sunday night
Wagering everything for a bottle of wine
I’m simply aiming to enjoy myself
Is it so wrong to desire something nice?
Don’t let them catch you looking
Don’t let them see you make your way in
Is it so wrong to aspire for something nice?
Because all I seek is just a little bit more
Is that too much to wish for?
And clams casino on a Sunday night
Is it so wrong to want a good life?
Is it so wrong to pursue a good life?
The tension resonates throughout “Clams Casino,” set against layered guitars, gentle synths, and a soulful vocal that ignites slowly. Dunne begins the song in a state of quiet frustration, describing the everyday indignities faced while getting by. He ultimately reaches a crescendo in the song's lively chorus—bold, uplifting, and strikingly sincere: “Why is it so hard to have something good? / It ought to be easier, one might think / You better be wealthy and attractive / Because it's so hard to enjoy the good things.”
Dunne describes how this song materialized quite naturally for him, inspired by the title he had contemplated for a while and always liked. The question was never whether he would write this song, only when. “I felt ‘Clams Casino’ represents what a working-class person perceives a wealthy person consumes, and I thought I could weave a lot of narrative into that,” he says. “This one came easily; the themes were particularly pressing for me. The moment I penned it, I knew it was the path I needed to take. I could envision all the characters as if they were in a film.”
She accused me of merely complaining
Claiming I’m never satisfied and always absent
Everyone desires what they lack
And truly, I don’t have it that poorly
But darling, I
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Singer/songwriter Brian Dunne addresses themes of class, desire, and the price of pursuing a 'good life' in "Clams Casino," the vibrant and heartfelt title track from his forthcoming fifth album – a witty and reflective anthem for those who are struggling yet still pursuing the American Dream.