The Dream Is Over is the second album by Canadian punk rock band PUP, released on May 27, 2016, through Royal Mountain Records in Canada and SideOneDummy Records worldwide. The album was recorded with the financial support of Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters. The album title comes from the doctor of lead singer Stefan Babcock, after the doctor found out about a problem with Babcock's vocal cords.

The song "DVP" was featured in the video game Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator. The band themselves also make a cameo in the game.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.0/10
Metacritic82/100
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
The A.V. ClubB+
Consequence of SoundB
DIY
Exclaim!8/10
Kerrang!4/5
The Line of Best Fit9/10
Pitchfork7.8/10
Spectrum Culture
Spin7/10

Exclaim!'s Adam Feibel gave the album a positive review, calling it "youthfully sassy and sarcastic in one breath and introspectively mature in another".

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeYearRank
StereogumThe 50 Best Albums of 2016201622
The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s201998
NoiseyThe 100 Best Albums of 2016201619
The New York TimesThe Best Albums of 2016201611

Track listing

All tracks are written by PUP.

No.TitleLength
1."If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will"2:18
2."DVP"2:28
3."Doubts"3:00
4."Sleep in the Heat"3:21
5."The Coast"3:53
6."Old Wounds"2:19
7."My Life Is Over and I Couldn't Be Happier"2:26
8."Can't Win"3:07
9."Familiar Patterns"3:39
10."Pine Point"4:00

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

PUP

  • Stefan Babcock – performance
  • Nestor Chumak – performance
  • Zack Mykula – performance
  • Steve Sladkowski – performance

Additional contributors

  • Dave Schiffman – production, recording, mixing
  • Alex Gamble – engineering assistance
  • John Dinsmore – engineering assistance
  • Masumi Kaneko – engineering assistance
  • Howie Weinbergmastering
  • Christopher McKenney – cover image
  • Jessica Flynn – inside photo
  • Graham Wright – piano on "If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will"

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)48
Top Album Sales (Billboard)82
US Independent Albums (Billboard)12
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)13
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)20
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)5