Norwegian band The Real Jobs are back with ‘Bubblegum’, a track that sharpens their already volatile sound into something leaner, louder and more dangerously addictive. It’s from their sophomore album 'Do-gooder,' out now via Tellé Records, and it finds the band doubling down on their reputation for warped pop hooks wrapped in post-punk abrasion.
True to their self-described “evil boyband” identity, ‘Bubblegum’ fuses gnarly synth lines, jittery guitars and a melodic core that feels permanently on the verge of collapse. There’s a sense of sticky sweetness at its centre, but it’s quickly corroded by distortion and unease - pop music chewed up by anxiety and spat back out with a grin. It’s meticulously constructed chaos, balancing precision with the feeling that everything could fall apart at any second.
The single feeds directly into the wider themes of 'Do-gooder,' an album that takes aim at the relentless internal voice that sabotages any attempt at self-betterment. It’s a soundtrack to digital overload and creeping self-loathing, where blown-out electronics and reverb-drenched guitars mirror the mental static of modern life. As the band bluntly put it, the record captures the “brain rot” of staring too long at a screen - “bad fun” that’s meant to hit hard and move bodies.
'Do-gooder' presents a tightly wound, psychedelic-tinged take on melodic post-punk. Known for their chaotic, cathartic live shows, The Real Jobs are set to return to the UK on tour in May, with dates to be announced soon. If ‘Bubblegum’ is anything to go by, this next chapter is louder, stranger and more unhinged than ever.
