“Don’t call it a fallout”: PUP Bring It Back to Basics With New Single “Paranoid”

PUP © Martyna Bannister
PUP © Martyna Bannister
“Don’t call it a fallout.” PUP’s explosive return via new single “Paranoid” brings back the unfiltered energy fans love, with an extra dose of introspection.
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Stream: “Paranoid” – PUP




It’s been two years since even a whisper of new music from the Canadian punk band, but they’ve finally come back swinging.

Known for their snarling, satirical lyrics and high-energy shows, PUP have released “Paranoid,” a blistering track about lost love that dares to ask what happens when a band revisits their old sound, bringing everything they’ve learned in half a decade. Breaking away from the polished, experimental sound of 2022’s THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND, “Paranoid” marks a new era in their discography, setting an explosive direction for their career while staying true to what made them punk’s darlings.

Paranoid - PUP
Paranoid – PUP
You really thought that I’m the safe option?
I guess I just saw it differently

Since 2013, PUP have carved out a unique niche in the punk scene, never sacrificing their indie rock or pop-punk influences. 2014’s PUP and ’16’s The Dream Is Over both feature plenty of distortion and self-effacing lyrics, which carried over into 2019’s Morbid Stuff.

What set Morbid Stuff and THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND apart was a shift toward a more refined sound, with a cleaner tone (and even horns on their most recent release). While critics have praised this evolution, many fans have missed the ferocity and grit of their earlier work — after all, what is a punk band without bite?

“Paranoid” is PUP’s answer to this call.

Their trademark frenetic energy, driving rhythm, and chaotic feel are back in full force. The track is scorching and defiant, but something’s different. Gone is the self-deprecation fans have come to expect. Instead of lyrics like “I’m a goddamn failure, and I’m okay with it” from “Yukon,” the new single finds vocalist Stefan Babcock on the defensive. He’s still urgent and manic, but after over a decade with PUP, there’s a sense that he knows exactly who he is.

Did you get what you wanted?
You said that I’m just paranoid
I got caught in the teeth
of the thoughts that keep me awake
And you’re still not being honest
And you swear that I’m just paranoid
And I didn’t need it,
I was gonna bleed anyway

In the Doghouse With Pop Punk Icons PUP

:: INTERVIEW ::



The song feels almost anthemic, as Babcock rejects someone trying to convince him he’s crazy in the breakup. They keep coming back, but they refuse to be honest. While the old him might have tolerated it, he knows who they are now, and he’s resolute in his identity. These manipulative tactics won’t work — he’s leaving for good.

I was just a notch in your checklist,
It didn’t bother me all that much.
You were something I was willing to part with.

The combination of their early sound and Babcock’s self-assured nature makes “Paranoid” their best music in years. He’s more cathartic and messy than ever, but it’s exactly what makes the song work. In a post on their Substack, More Bad Stuff, Babcock discusses collaborating with Grammy-winning John Congleton for their new music. He confesses to thinking he sounded terrible on the third recording, but Congleton responded, “Perfect, I love when you sound bad. We’re keeping it.” He was right. The raw take echoes their earlier DIY days, with fans on Substack calling it “Magic in the slop.” That scuzzy charm, sorely missed, makes its return in this track.

The charm doesn’t stop with just a song. The accompanying music video, shot by Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux, is a mock one-take filmed vertically at the Toronto venue and restaurant Sneaky Dee’s. Each lyric appears on t-shirts, stickers, and signs, even writing the final lines in vomit on the floor. A Sum 41 shirt also makes an appearance, as they’re currently touring together. There’s no shortage of moshing, merch buying, or frantic bathroom trips, making the viewer feel like they’re right there at the show.

PUP © Martyna Bannister
PUP © Martyna Bannister



With “Paranoid,” PUP have proven they’re still a force to be reckoned with.

Pissed off and unapologetic, Babcock has cast aside his self-doubt. The band have blended everything that worked in their past with what’s worth boasting about in the present, leaving us with a rowdy track that signals a brand new chapter.

Don’t call it a fallout
Hands bared, step out of the dugout
I can deal with what comes after that
If I’m your backup,
I guess you should have planned for that
Don’t call it a fallout

PUP aren’t slowing down anytime soon. With a new record on the way, an arena tour with Sum 41 happening now, and a UK/European tour kicking off later this summer, there’s more than enough PUP to go around. All that’s left is to watch the chaos unfold.

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:: stream/purchase Paranoid here ::
:: connect with PUP here ::

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Stream: “Paranoid” – PUP



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Paranoid - PUP

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