Pup – This Place Sucks Ass (EP)
Rock – Released October 23, 2020 – 6 songs, 17 mins
Average Rating: 6.7
LUNDI’S DROP:
New PUP EP today and I’m definitely not waiting a week to listen!
REID
The follow up to ‘Morbid Stuff’ has a lot of similarities. Rot and Anaphylaxis are both cool, bangin’ jams. Really dig the guitar in A.M. 180. Nothing Changes is my favourite. I particularly love the transitions to the chorus. Closing it heavy with Edmonton is fun but overall, it and Floodgates are low points of the album. Certain types of music can be appreciated much more in a live setting and Pup falls in that category for me. I probably won’t relisten to this often but would love to hear a few of the songs live with the boys.
Rating – 7.0/10
Favourite Song – Nothing Changes
ROZ
Firstly, I will start off by saying that I never really followed the career of this band at all - in fact, other than the days leading up to seeing them live, the night itself, and this moment right now, I have listened to them very little. That being said, I enjoy not only their catalogue but also their live experience immensely. Alright, here is my track-by-track review.
Rot - Here we go. Right out of the gate, Rot had all of the elements that I would have expected from the band: a distorted, loud, unforgiving sound that takes me back to the bands I'd listen to in high school. An insanely fast pace. Lyrics that are belted out with an energy that makes it almost impossible not to sing (or yell) along to. I noticed that the lyrics themselves seemed jaded, assumingly about the life of a rock star or at least the fading of fame over time. Nonetheless, I found it very catchy and figured that it would be my #1 by the end of this EP.
Anaphylaxis - I really enjoyed the drumming in this one - that stood out the most to me and it really seemed to shine throughout. The lyrics themself gave me some pretty strong feelings of hypochondria. Also reminded me of the bad trips I have when I get too high (do not like this please stop). This one won't be taking Rot's place on the mantle.
AM 180 - I enjoyed this one, which I attribute to its good source material. When I read the editors notes and saw that it was a cover song, I admittedly listened to the original song first to see how they would spin it. While I enjoyed what they did with it - the vocal processing, the energy, the distortion of the guitar - I honestly just enjoyed the original song more. In saying that, it's still not a bad tune.
Nothing Changes - Oh baby here we go. Right away I felt myself swaying to this one, even singing along "no nothing ever changes!". I really loved this one - the drumming (especially the little drum fills throughout) sounded fantastic. Halfway through when I was really feeling it, they hit me with the tempo switch at 2:30. Damn that sounds good. I could probably keep going but I'll wrap it up simply: my favorite track on the album by far.
Floodgates - Enjoyed the guitar at certain points, but I just didn't really feel this one. Is it because Nothing Changes set the bar so god damn high? Probably. Oh well - onto the next!
Edmonton - I'm not sure if I really consider this a song as much as a bookend for the entire EP - I was enjoying it but it cut off so prematurely. At one minute and ten seconds long, I just really wish they fleshed this one out a bit more.
And there's my review. Do I consider myself a big rock guy? No. Is PUPs energy in their music (and onstage) extremely infectious and fun? Yes. Overall, it was a good listening experience. Nothing Changes came out on top with Rot a ways behind it. I'll add these to my workout playlist and sit here hoping that one day, when the world is somewhat normal again, the boys and I can find our way into a PUP mosh pit one more time.
Rating – 6.0/10
Favourite Song – Nothing Changes
LUNDI
- Rot reminds me of Kids at the start with the spoken verse structure. Enjoy the chorus a lot. Great start, can see me moshing around to it.
- Anaphylaxis slaps. It’s straight from Morbid Stuff days no doubt. Heard before as they released it the summer as a single.
- AM 180 felt really off to their sound to me and turns out it’s a cover. IMO well done and cool to see they can make a different sound work.
- Nothing changes again sounds experimentally different. Higher pitched guitars than normal and a slower paced drum. Doesn’t sound like that high-octane rhythm that’s in most of their sounds. Great tune. Favourite song on the album.
- Floodgates has Full Blown Meltdown vibes from Morbid Stuff, feels like more of the same. Low point for me.
- Edmonton no real thoughts. Only 1:09 in length.
Can tell it’s a ‘B’ sides album with leftovers and a cover. Cool to hear new music but I think this is simply an attempt to stay relevant during COVID. Morbid Stuff put them on the map and they’re trying not to lose that.
Rating – 7.0/10
Favourite Song – Nothing Changes