Upchuck, I'm Nice Now

Be warned, the spit coming off of the songs on I’m Nice Now is liable to hit you through the mesh of whatever sound system you happen to be listening on. Fervent as ever, Upchuck’s latest, caustically named effort is another dose of well-deserved fury from Atlanta’s favorite punk band. 

Track one, “Tired,” opens the can of worms on what the record is about: how the world seems to be falling apart at the hands of oppression and inequality everywhere you look, the relentlessness of our terrible news cycle, and the bewildering fact that some people still don’t seem to be worried. A gruff, descending guitar riff tees up to shouts. “And I’m tired of darker news / And I’ve tried warnin’ you / It feels right scarin’ you,” singer KT Thompson repeats. The song sounds like spinning down a cold, metal funnel. Fast, dizzying, exhilarating. 

But don’t let my focus on their hard, punkish identity lead you astray; Upchuck’s no one-sound wonder. “New Case” is a nifty, kicked-back indie-rock cut fitting in with the likes of “Crashing,” one of my personal favorite tracks from their previous record Bite The Hand That Feeds. Later in the album, “Slow Down” offers a similar sonic reprieve, in which Thompson admits to feeling overworked and fatigued with the path ahead seeming unclear, but she lets herself breathe for a moment. She sings, “For right now nothin' even matters,” “′Cause I'm only human, ain′t I?” These are the most melodic tracks of the record, showcasing a different facet of Thompson’s vocal range and style and giving the band space to refashion what’s usually ferocious and heavy into a new context. While certainly proof of thoughtful songwriting, I’ll also give some credit here to returning producer Ty Segall, who keeps things blistering, yet balanced.

Diversifying Upchuck’s sound further are the Spanish language vocal appearances by drummer Chris Salado, coming in greater frequency on I’m Nice Now than on previous records. “Homenaje,” “Un Momento,” and the bridge of the (previously reviewed) lead single “Plastic” have similar themes of world weariness, the all-encompassing suffering he sees and feels, and the sense that people are constantly being used and commodified by higher powers. “Dame un momento / Para sufrir / Dame un momento / Para vivir / Dame un momento / Para pensar,” he implores on “Un Momento,” his register ragged and brash. It’s empowering to hear Salado’s voice so clearly on I’m Nice Now in a time when we need it most. 

This record packs a lot of heat into its 13 compact tracks, shaping up into the band’s most biting work yet. “Leave for the moment / Take all your dead thoughts / Flee when it gets hard / Nod off to our cause," Thompson sings on mid-album track “Kept Inside.” It’s in the anthemic drive of this song where I’m Nice Now’s motive is laid out most clearly: to rally people together in the face of uncertainty, whether that means giving them a space to grieve their struggles and losses or forcing them to wake up and face the music. 

Shot by Mary Beth Bryan

I'm Nice Now, the new album from Upchuck was released on October 3rd, 2025, via Domino Records