Bug Hunter - Repercussion Roulette

(9/25/26)

The first review on this site! Wow! Originally I was going to make my first review be the new Weezer album but I got lazy and didn't. So I've been listening to Bug Hunter for a good while now. Since 2022! His album 2023 album Happiness (Without a Catch) was pretty alright, but was definitely his worst album yet. So I was hoping that this album would be better.

Before this album released Bug Hunter said that not all the singles will make it on the album. There were only 3 singles released between HWaC and this new album. The first one, Disc Golf, was my least favorite. The second one Call You Out was obviously going to be on the album, a snippet of it's lyrics were literally the album title. And then there's the most recent song Bottle Rocket Astronaut. I really like the song and I was reallllyyy hoping it'd make the cut.

a picture of the album art.

Call Out Boy

Funny thing I didn't know this song was coming out until I saw it on Spotify a day after, and this thing was being HEAVILY advertised on the Instagram page. It just somehow went over my head that we were getting a new song. At first I didn't like Call Out Boy too much, but it has grown on me. It's pretty catchy albeit the chorus sounds a bit like a nursery rhyme. The lyrics are a bit funny though. At first I didn't like how Bug's been going in a comedy direction lately but then I remembered I'm a Ween fan so like why should I care you know?

Flattering!

This is one of the songs taken off the Jam Mechanics podcast he does with his music pal The Narcissist Cookbook that's been revised and made into an album track. I don't really care for his podcast much, I only occasionally listen to some of Bug's new songs I hadn't heard yet. This is one I remember not making much note on but this new album is WAY better, one of my favorites most certainly. The synth solo and chorus are awesome. Also the song's plot is funny, it's about how Bug's trying to recoup flat earthers into knowing that the earth's not flat and how they should flatten it with him.

In The Meantime

In The Meantime is one I really don't care for much. It's not bad but I feel like Bug was just trying to make his token 'this is the really sad one' song. The constant vocal cracks feel intentional and not out of actual emotion like his other ones. I'm not saying I hate the song is just that it feels likes it made to be another heartache jam like Fan Fiction and Take It Back. And I don't like Take It Back.

Disc Golf

During the listen along premiere before each song there was a little roulette animation that would also reveal the song title. I was so dissapointed when this came on. This song has grown on me a little but really not that much. It's too quirky and silly for my taste, I don't know.

Board Games

This is another song chosen from the Jam Mechanics library, wouldn't have been my first choice *cough cough* Fix Itself *cough cough* but whatever. This song's nice though I don't really have a strong opinion on it.

Just Because

The piano on this song goes crazy bro!! The honky tonky piano is so cool!! This song is very upbeat and joyful but also it feels.. off? Like it's very poppy but to the point it feels like a song I'd hear in a Old Navy ad. I almost feel wrong for liking this song like it's catchy and fun but also this doesn't feel like Bug Hunter. It also really exemplifies how much higher quality this album is compared to Bug's other music. I like this song but also I hope Bug Hunter doesn't go full force in this direction. Also the fact this song is about doing some 'just because' makes me think Bug is running out of stuff to write about which would explain the near nose dive into silly songs.

Loud and Clear

This song is about how Bug doesn't like the country music his wife insists on playing, but he does actually it reminds him of his father. It's a sweet song and kind of a country song in of itself. Now some people will hear that and like die on the spot but I don't mind country at all. Although if I ever hear that texas song again I'm going to jump in a pit of spikes. This song is good I like it :D .

Oops!

The progressing mistakes he does throughout the choruses are funny and clever and I like them but also they kinda ruin the flow of the choruses a bit. So much for going with flow huh. Also I think the best lyric snippet comes from this song:

On your left, no right, frick! dammit
I get those mixed up by habit

Franz Ferdinand was shot in the head

Curse word in my Crossword

This one's a very nothing burger song. No hooks, no cool production choices or neat sounding instrumental, not even any funny lyrics! I wish how I wish oh so wish that Bottle Rocket Astronaut took the place of this song. Because suprise it's not on the album! My favorite and single of his and also his single that literally got 2 million streams in 4 months isn't on the album! I really don't get it.

me, venting on twitter.

Not Your Fault, Kid

Dude... When I saw this pop up next in the premiere I was STOKED!!! This is one of my favorites from the Jam Mechanics library and I wanted to see it revised but I thought But Hunter probably pushed it aside. Had to make room for Serendipity Bop or something. This new version is so cool, so angsty too. Reminds me of The Rough Draft which is really good. But just when I thought the cool moments were gone.

The Hydra

HELL YES OH MY GOD!!! This song is so good!! The people in the premiere chat were apparently familiar with it so it may have been a Jam Mechanics song I was unaware of but still. This song not only sounds super cool, but lyrics are funny as well which is great. Overall might be one of the best songs Bug Hunter has done ever. Great end to the album, albeit a bit short but whatever.

So that was Repercussion Roulette. I think it was good and it has exceeded my expectations. There are some details and songs I wish were different but overall I had a fun time. While I hope Bug Hunter doesn't lean in too hard into this style I am very happy with how this was, especially after Happiness (Without a Catch). Good stuff!

Highlights: Flattering!, Loud and Clear, Not Your Fault, Kid, The Hydra
Lowlights: Disc Golf, Curse Word in my Crossword

Album Rating