Omaha’s Names Without Numbers returns with their post-pandemic EP We Create Reality, a five-track collection that grapples with the shared trauma of recent years while channeling post-emo and pop-punk energy. In a world turned upside down, We Create Reality offers a cathartic reflection on the upheaval of our daily lives, tinged with nostalgia for the paradoxical peace that isolation sometimes brought.
The opening single, “Ping Pong Ball in a Concrete Room,” sets the tone with its driving guitars and reflective lyrics. Ryan Cruickshank’s vocals cut through the chaos as he wrestles with the feeling of being trapped in the endless grind of modern life. The video offers a visual contrast, featuring images of solitude and empty spaces, emphasizing the album’s thematic undercurrent: the tension between wanting to break free and yearning for simpler, quieter times.
We Create Reality navigates that tightrope of post-COVID disillusionment with sincerity. The band openly acknowledges the shared PTSD we carry from those isolating times. But rather than wallowing in despair, Names Without Numbers finds empowerment in the chaos. Songs like “Box Fort Kingdom” transport the listener back to their roots in pop-punk, blending catchy hooks with introspective storytelling.
Produced by Joshua Barber (Norma Jean, The Devil Wears Prada), the EP manages to feel both timeless and of-the-moment, capturing the essence of bands like Jimmy Eat World and Anberlin, while also introducing a depth akin to the heartland rock anthems of Springsteen and Tom Petty. The blend of raw emotion and polished production adds layers to what is, at its core, an album about wrestling with what’s been lost—and where we go from here.
Though We Create Reality is driven by uncertainty, the hope within it is palpable. The EP suggests that despite the upheaval, we are capable of creating something new and beautiful from the wreckage. It’s the perfect soundtrack for anyone grappling with their own post-pandemic reflections, and an essential listen for fans of alt-rock and post-emo revival
