PUP- a four-piece punk rock band from Toronto.
I have this theory that the best music is discovered by word of mouth and through friends. I uncovered PUP’s music through both of these routes and by far have not regretted my decision to start listening to them. Initially, when I first listened to their music I thought that their sound was a bit too scratchy and screamy. But, after reclicking and replaying a few of their songs, I finally recognized the appeal behind the lead singer’s ferocious and quirky style.
First off, a little background information about this band is that they are from Toronto, Canada and are composed of Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula, and Steve Sladkowski. Their style of music is generally described as pop punk, punk rock, and hardcore, as it meshes 
clanging guitar riffs with sweet and catchy hooks. PUP formed in 2010 under the name “Topanga,” which was a tribute to their “first middle-school crush” who was the character from the Disney series Boy Meets World. The band was created in college after recording a song for a project, which inevitably furthers the cliche of a punk band full of college kids. A few years later, the band changed their name to the acronym “PUP” which was inspired by the lead singer’s grandma who said that playing in a rock band is a “pathetic use of potential.” Currently, the band has three released albums, with their most recent album “Morbid Stuff” released in early 2019.
Now the question is, why is this music interesting? What makes PUP’s songs so distinguished from other music in the same genre or any other genre? A lot of their songs feature a driving tempo, a steady upbeat rhythm from the drumset in the background, a catchy guitar riff, a thrumming bassline, perfectly accompanied by the scratchy, distinct voice of the lead singer. Common themes in PUP’s music feature hardships in life ranging from toxic relationships, the death of a loved childhood pet, or the feeling of a seemingly-endless sludging gloom. PUP is raw, exciting, earnest, dismal, and passionate all at the same time.
One characteristic that I absolutely adore in PUP’s music is their ability to bring out a hopeful undertone throughout their songs, and assure their audience that even though things may be messy and bad, there is always a possibility for things to be less bad. One song in particular that embodies 
this theme is Dark Days, as the lyrics state, “We’ve had some dark days/We’re in the thick of it now/And when the ice breaks/There will be no one around.” This songs mentions that even though troubles may plague us at times, pushing through while keeping our chins up is our best bet. Additionally, that there doesn’t need to be an immediate solution to these problems and that it’s perfectly okay for these instances to happen, because others feel the same way too.
Life happens at its own pace and it’s better for all of us to hang around, scream a little bit, laugh, cry until snot drips from our noses, and feel this way together. And maybe listen to PUP while we’re at it.