Veering into more introspective territory, it confronted the pressures of being a band for nearly a decade. It also chose to explore new, more bare sonics from the Canadian punksters, with the intention of highlighting how exasperated they were with everything.
Returning with a triumphant resolve, on PUP's fifth outing – Who Will Look After The Dogs? – they re-join the fraying cacophony with a more driven focus. Dogs has a frazzled energy that hits with a focused intensity not seen since their early years a decade prior.
The hopeful sentiment secretly holstered in the title, explored on “Hallways”, finds vocalist Stefan Babcock digging for reasons to continue before settling into the reality of if we have to deal with it, then let's get into the grit of it; understanding the pessimism is often the first step towards optimism.
“Concrete" brings out some of the heart of Dogs, with Babcock also proving his deftness with lyrical wit ("You seemed pretty disturbed / And I was just trying to get down with your sickness").
Joined by future tourmate, and perpetual influence
Jeff Rosenstock, on "Get Dumber", it’s the album’s most chaotic and fiery moment, but the rest still burns with the same defiant energy as they rattle through discordant chords soaked in
distortion.
"Best Revenge" is where the self-help kicks into gear by
admitting the cold hard truth: "The best revenge is living well / I've
been living like shit, it's been fucking up my sleep / The best revenge is living well / Didn't even know what was right in front of me". It’s in the back half where the album truly shines, home to its most reflective and gut-spilling moments, culminating in the closer “Shut Up”. With the same immediacy it began, Dogs
winds up with Babcock admitting he can't help himself while comparing
himself to his pained partner ("You've got your masters thesis / I've
got my stupid little songs"), before it all stops.
As
it stands, the more things change the more that stay the same. But, when you have a formula as egregiously glorious and cacophonous as PUP
is no bad thing. Still as prickly as ever, but sharpened by the clarity that comes with maturity, Who Will Look After The Dogs? find a PUP ready to charge headlong into whatever comes next.
