The Unraveling of PUPTheBand
The Unraveling of PUPTheBand (stylized in all caps) is the fourth album by Canadian punk rock band PUP, released on April 1, 2022, through Rise Records and Little Dipper, the band's personal label.[9] The album will be accompanied by the Canadian, American, and European tour PUP Returns.[10] The album's cover artwork was illustrated by Jordan Speer.
The Unraveling of PUPTheBand | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 1, 2022 | |||
Genre | Punk rock[1][2] | |||
Length | 35:44 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Peter Katis[3] | |||
PUP chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Unraveling of PUPTheBand | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 83/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Clash | 9/10[2] |
Kerrang! | 4/5[6] |
NME | [7] |
Pitchfork | 7.8/10[8] |
Background
PUP released their third studio album, Morbid Stuff on April 5, 2019, via Little Dipper and Rise Records.[11] During the COVID-19 pandemic, all scheduled events were interrupted, and the band released the EP This Place Sucks Ass on October 23, 2020.
Single "Waiting/Kill Something" was released on November 9, 2021, with "Waiting" set to be the seventh track on the album. The band announced The Unraveling of PUPTheBand alongside the single release of "Robot Writes a Love Song" on January 18, 2022.[12] "Matilda" was released on March 1, 2022, one month before the album release.[10] The album's fourth single, "Totally Fine", was released on March 22, 2022, along with a music video which showcases the band being put on trial.[13]
Their first show since the start of the pandemic took place on March 23, 2022, in Toronto.[14]
The album was longlisted for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize.[15]
Track listing
All tracks are written by PUP
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Four Chords" | 2:07 |
2. | "Totally Fine" | 3:43 |
3. | "Robot Writes a Love Song" | 3:36 |
4. | "Matilda" | 3:51 |
5. | "Relentless" | 4:34 |
6. | "Four Chords Pt. II: Five Chords" | 0:27 |
7. | "Waiting" | 3:10 |
8. | "Habits" | 3:58 |
9. | "Cutting Off the Corners" | 4:07 |
10. | "Grim Reaping" | 2:57 |
11. | "Four Chords Pt. III: Diminishing Returns" | 0:09 |
12. | "PUPTheBand Inc. Is Filing for Bankruptcy" | 3:05 |
Total length: | 35:44 |
Personnel
PUP
- Stefan Babcock – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Zack Mykula – drums, backing vocals, percussion
- Steve Sladkowski – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Nestor Chumak – bass, backing vocals
Technical
- Peter Katis – production, recording, mixing
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Greg Giorgio – recording
- Kurt Leon – additional recording
- Erik Paulson – assistant engineering
- Jake Gray – assistant engineering
Additional musicians
- Thomas Bartlett – additional keyboards
- Peter Katis – additional keyboards
- Sarah Tudzin – additional vocals on "Relentless"
- Melanie Gail St-Pierre – additional vocals on "Totally Fine"
- Kathryn McCaughey – additional vocals on "Waiting"
- Erik Paulson – additional vocals on "Cutting Off the Corners" and "Grim Reaping"
- Marie Goudy – trumpet on "Four Chords" and "Grim Reaping"
- Paul Tarussov – trombone on "Grim Reaping"
- Colin Fisher – saxophone on "PUPTheBand Inc. Is Filing for Bankruptcy"
Charts
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] | 67 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[17] | 56 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[18] | 11 |
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[19] | 34 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[20] | 3 |
US Billboard 200[21] | 134 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[22] | 19 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[23] | 16 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] | 22 |
References
- Deville, Chris (March 29, 2022). "Album Of The Week: PUP The Unraveling of PUPTheBand". StereoGum. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- Roseblade, Nick (March 29, 2022). "PUP - THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND". Clash. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
This feels like everything that punk should be in 2022. It's honest, dark, funny, tragic, moving and incredibly catchy. This is PUP's finest album to date.
- Sacher, Andrew (March 29, 2022). "THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND – how PUP reinvented themselves in the most PUP way possible". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- "The Unraveling of Puptheband by PUP". Metacritic. April 1, 2022. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- Monger, Timothy (April 1, 2022). "The Unraveling of PUPTheBand". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- Pearlman, Mischa (March 30, 2022). "The big review: PUP – The Unraveling Of PUPTHEBAND". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- Hughes, Mia (April 1, 2022). "PUP, THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND – review: destructive Toronto punks get meta". NME. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- Schonfeld, Zach (April 4, 2022). "PUP: The Unraveling of PUPTheBand Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- Gregory, Allie (January 18, 2022). "PUP Announce New Album 'The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND'". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- "PUP Release 'Matilda' Off Upcoming Album". Spin. March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- Punknews.org (March 26, 2019). "PUP - Morbid Stuff". punknews.org. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- Punknews.org (January 18, 2022). "PUP announce new album, share "Robot Writes A Love Song" video". punknews.org. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- "PUP Share New Track 'Totally Fine'". DIY. March 22, 2022.
- @puptheband (March 3, 2022). "Toronto we're doing a lil warm up gig ahead of our tour. First show in 2 years, small crowd, bound to be a total trainwreck, you don't wanna miss it" (Tweet). Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via Twitter.
- Allie Gregory, "Here's the 2022 Polaris Music Prize Long List". Exclaim!, June 14, 2022.
- "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 11 April 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1675. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 11, 2022. p. 6.
- "PUP Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- "PUP Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "PUP Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "PUP Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- "PUP Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.