Toronto-based alternative band PUP knows how to make light of dark situations. After a two-year wait, they returned with a brand new single, “Paranoid” that openly and bluntly questions the failings of a relationship with flair. Produced by John Congleton and written by the band members, the lively track leads their highly-anticipated album, Who Will Look After The Dogs?, scheduled to release on May 2nd of this year. Riding the high of an arena tour with Sum 41, PUP is readier than ever to share their new project with fans.
“Paranoid” takes the listener on a temporal journey, playing with half-time and time signature changes at various points, perhaps to embody the instability of paranoia. The shouting vocal style paired with fuzzed-out instrumentals mimics a grunge “live” sound, further emphasized by the organic, conversational, and unfiltered lyrics. As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20; or at least it can be. Where someone’s heart truly lies or what decisions they could have made can be hard to speculate, even after the fact. PUP notes this potential distortion:
The good was good, but the bad was better / And that pretty much sums up everything / I don’t know what you wanted or if it was something I could even give / And if I could, I don’t know if I would give it
Despite the heartbreak, the track is infused with a sense of humor, both in arrangement and vocal style. PUP is known for this smart mixture of snarkiness and sincerity, as noted by Bandcamp in an “Album of the Day” segment. Band member Stefan Babcock expands on “Paranoid”’s charm in an interview with NME, saying:
I think because it’s so intense… it’s actually kind of funny and a bit hard to take seriously.
This lighthearted approach comes full circle with the music video by Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux. It is a vertically-shot live performance showcasing dancing and moshing fans decked out in band merch. In the words of Rioux, it is “a little love letter for rock band merchandise and the unsung heroes who run the merch table.” This message also shows PUP’s deep connection with the genre’s culture and fans.
Furthering this connection, the band recently revamped their former PUPTHEZINE into a substack titled “MORE BAD STUFF – A PUPTHEBAND Substack” for fans to indulge in everything from unreleased tracks to live recordings to tour stories. Not only is this a uniquely tight-knit fan club, but it provides regular updates between now and an upcoming summer tour season.
Beginning in May 2025, PUP will embark on a UK/EU tour with support from Illuminati Hotties and Goo in all locations save for Spain. Spanning 18 different cities, thousands can experience PUP’s vibrant music live. For more information on dates, locations, and tickets, visit their website.
To keep up with PUP, subscribe to their Substack and follow them on social media: Instagram | Facebook | X | Bandcamp
Stream “Paranoid” now on Spotify and Apple Music, and pre-order their upcoming album, Who Will Look After The Dogs?
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