I thought I knew what to expect from the new Real Sickies record. After starting out as a Ramonescore unit in the vein of Teenage Bottlerocket, the Edmonton band found the absolute sweet spot between pop punk, power pop, and rock ’n’ roll on their 2021 Love Is for Lovers LP. But Under a Plastic Bag is far a sequel to that record—it’s more like a reboot.

And that reboot is fully intentional. The band brought in Joshua Wells as engineer and producer, shifting toward a more post-punk sound. Also shaping the album’s vibe? The extreme cold, which left the band holed up in the studio. The result is a record that doesn’t grab you instantly like their previous work, but one that rewards patience.

It took me exactly two spins to warm up to it, but then I started noticing the familiar Real Sickies magic—the infectious melodies, the anthemic songwriting—just delivered in a more subtle, brooding way. This is still poppy punk rock, but it’s less extroverted, more nuanced, with darker edges. Under a Plastic Bag gets under your skin. Less sugar rush, more slow burn—but just as fun. It is out now through Stomp Records.

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