Recording for
Better Days began in April 2024. When approaching recording a new album, Key was nervous about the prospect due to his more recent removal from pop punk. Feeling this way, he suggested that the band bring in outside collaboration for a new record, upon which Mendez almost immediately suggested that they work with
Nick Long. Mendez and Long had been longtime friends and previously played together in Starting Back before Mendez joined Yellowcard in 2006. Shortly before the band was set to enter the studio, Long pitched the idea of also working with
Blink-182 drummer
Travis Barker. Long and Barker were not only close friends, but frequent collaborators, having worked on multiple albums with
Machine Gun Kelly, and Long cowriting multiple songs for Blink-182's 2023 album,
One More Time..., so when Barker's schedule opened the day Long and Yellowcard were set to write and record, he joined them in the studio. The group wrote two songs that day, one of which was "Barely Alive", and when Barker's schedule continued to open up, it led to him not only producing the album, but playing drums on all tracks. Key and violinist
Sean Mackin described Barker's production style as very relaxed and supportive of the band. Key especially highlighted Barker's support on recording the vocals, feeling that it was one of his strongest performances, but crediting Barker's support with that. Lyrically, the album addresses themes such as interpersonal relationships, growing old and changing, and forgiveness. The album's title track tackles dealing with someone in your life that doesn't accept responsibility, but you still wish them well. "Take What You Want" was written about giving all of yourself to something, and not getting anything in return. "Love Letters Lost" was cited by Key as one of his favorite tracks on the album, primarily due to the involvement of
Alkaline Trio guitarist
Matt Skiba. Both Key and Mackin are big Alkaline Trio fan, so Barker brought up the idea of bringing Skiba into record with them since the two played together in Blink-182 from 2015 to 2022. "honestly i" was written about family relationship, with Key specifically talking about the birth of his son. "You Broke Me Too" was what the band wanted for the album's big ballad, which also includes a collaboration with
Avril Lavigne. "City of Angels" is a callback to the
Lights and Sounds song "City of Devils". Key wrote the first song about his distaste for living in Los Angeles, while the new song sees him reflect on the things he actually enjoys about the city. "Bedroom Posters" was written about Key reflecting on leaving his family behind to start his music career, but more so in a way that didn't sound like he was writing it in his youth. It was later re-recorded featuring a collaboration with
Good Charlotte's
Joel Madden. "Skin Scraped" is the song that mostly discusses the band's reunion, and how each of the members have come to reconcile with each other and come back together. "Barely Alive" was the first song the band wrote for the album, and tackles where they see themselves going with the future of their band. The album ends with "Big Blue Eyes"; another song Key wrote about how being a father has had such an impact on his life. ==Release==