Megacity Madness (Official Live Recordings): PUP

For those who were fortunate enough to catch the PUP show at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium in December, I seriously envy you. For those who weren't able to be there, Megacity Madness (Official Live Recordings) is a chance to listen to their music in a way the studio recording just can’t replicate. The 13 tracks capture what makes music so authentic: the crowd joining in at their favourite parts, the moments where a smile or laugh will peek through the singer’s voice, and raw, live emotion. It's really special that those moments are immortalized, in a way, through this album. Plus, it features all of PUP’s hits, including personal favourites “See You At Your Funeral” and “Reservoir.” Both are quick-paced, pop-punky songs with powerful vocals that encapsulate the vibe of the whole album. Another standout is “Hunger,” with its calm, almost bedroom-pop start that builds into a barrage of guitars and headbang-worthy drums that completely challenges the genre of pop-punk. This album is super neat and has definitely convinced me that I need to see PUP live. 

-Sara Stoppel