Upchuck – I’m Nice Now: Album Of The Week

Artwork for the Upchuck album I'm Nice Now

Upchuck released their new album this week and received 4* from Live4ever – revisit the review and stream ‘I’m Nice Now’ right here.

You don’t start writing about music to talk about vomiting, but you can’t deny the times might call for it.

Not just general queasiness about the descent of once noble institutions into patriarchy, but also thinking by extension that you may be able to excise this poison from your body by strength of will.

Upchuck are a five piece from Atlanta, fronted by woman of colour KT, who have at their centre a belief that people should not have to swallow bullshit and by refusing it violently – but not necessarily with violence – this rejection is an act of rebellion in of itself.

Formed in the nightmarish middle of the first Trump administration, the quintet – KT, drummer Chris Salado, guitarists Mikey Durham and Hoff, plus bassist Ausar Ward – have released two albums to date, their 2022 debut Sense Yourself followed the next year with Bite The Hand That Feeds.

Evolving from their initially combative punk phrasings, the latter earned them support slots with Faye Webster and Amyl & The Sniffers, and renowned producer Ty Seagal has signed up again for this third instalment.

Recorded at Sonic Ranch Studio – a residential facility in the Texas desert on the border of the Rio Grande – the setting felt for Upchuck felt like, ‘a fucked-up summer camp kind of vibe where you’re on the edge of your seat’, Hoff says.

With the isolation and freedom they were able to be outside of things, looking back in at a societal malaise which shows no sign of healing itself. The results are I’m Nice Now.

The title partially reflects the mental exhaustion of being boxed in to a constant state of anger, as opener Tired articulates.

Click here for the Upchuck review in full