GET DUMBER with pup

Toronto punkers, PUP, have announced their return to the land down under with their upcoming tour in August, 2025. The dynamic act have recently shared the third single off PUP’s fifth studio album, 'Who Will Look After The Dogs?', to be released later this year in May. 

'Get Dumber featuring Jeff Rosenstock' holds a tangy, sharp, self-aware crunch that we’ve come to know and love over the last decade. Knowing that Babcock wrote the song in Rosenstock’s basement adds a layer of intimacy, forcing themselves to get it right in a single take curates this atmospheric raw edge of acidity and salt. PUP is known for their bold, polyrhythmic flavour of tone in their artistry which is heightened in this latest release. 

Lyrically, 'Get Dumber' grapples with themes of stagnation, frustration, and self-deprecation. Speaking about the album, Stefan Babcock says:

“The title of our new record, Who Will Look After The Dogs?, is what I wrote at the top of the page, the very first thing written for this album. I think it’s devastating, but in a ‘holy shit this is overdramatic’ kinda way.”

This blend of over-the-top dramatism and genuine devastation, delivered with a sense of humour, explodes throughout the track.

Desperation, regret, and escapism, with humour acting both as a crutch and a punchline, all painted against a backdrop of prestissimo urgency.

“You should try getting high more often / Holy shit, what a concept.”

There is a tale of belittlement from others and one’s self illustrated here, tied tightly together like a woven wicker basket. Something I view as external voices shaping our own self-perception. 

"I think I'm a drain, I can't argue / You're kinda the same, it's sorta part of your charm” // “You finally call, it's so arrogant / You still playing those song, it's so embarrassing."

One of the most interesting aspects of this song is the inclusion of "Ahhhh, lyrics"—a line that was originally a mistake during recording, both Babcock and Rosenstock facing one another in the process. The song is more unfiltered, honest, and quite punk with the inclusion, contributing to this vinegar to taste crescendo. 

Ultimately, PUP has maintained consistent quality across four previous records, and that legacy remains strong as they gear up for their upcoming tour and album. 'Get Dumber' carries the weight of this momentum; an explosive mix of raw energy, bitter frustration, and desperation, all channeled through heavy vocals. This feels like an argument almost, one that I desire to be a part of, or even a fly on the wall of the basement. Only I’m still undecided if the argument is with someone else, yourself, or likely both. But I’ll leave you to answer that. 

8.5/10