The Bug Club: Very Human Features [Album Review]

The Bug Club
Very Human Features
Sub Pop Records [2025]

“Garage-pop charmers slow their roll just enough to make you lean in.”

Album Overview: Formed in 2016 in Wales, The Bug Club are a scrappy, clever trio made up of Sam Willmett (guitar/vocals), Tilly Harris (bass/vocals), and Dan Matthew (drums). They earned early buzz with no-frills gigs and a killer sense of humor, but their 2021 release Launching Moondream One really set things in motion. A flurry of concept EPs, offbeat singles, and 2022’s debut LP Green Dream in F# followed, leading up to their 2024 Sub Pop debut On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System. By then, they had cultivated a cult following on both sides of the Atlantic.

Very Human Features, their fourth full-length, doesn’t reinvent their sound and keeps it following a more expected path. It’s still unmistakably The Bug Club—smart, raw, and full of personality—but this time they stretch into more reflective territory. They poke at everyday absurdities and emotional soft spots with the same wink and smirk as always, but more tempos are slower, the tone a little more considered and tracks are little longer. There’s less sprint and more stroll, which gives the songs space. The band is clearly in full command of their voice, though, and if you like what they’ve been dishing out, you’ll find more of it here.

Musical Style: The Bug Club keep their garage rock DNA intact—fuzzy riffs, dry humor, and scrappy charm—but throw in some glam sparkles, spoken-word asides, and occasional curveballs that keep you guessing. The production stays stripped down, but there’s nuance in how they shift gears: sudden vocal flips, tangled solos, and weird little sonic left turns that feel messy in all the right ways. It’s music that never takes itself too seriously but doesn’t phone it in either.

Evolution of Sound: Compared to earlier records, Very Human Features has more emotional range and a bit more space to breathe. The goofiness is still here, but now it’s mixed with insecurity, introspection, and quieter moments of weird beauty. Sam and Tilly’s vocal dynamic is smoother than ever—sometimes you can’t tell who’s singing, and that ambiguity plays well into the album’s themes of connection and identity. That said, it occasionally feels like the band’s sticking too close to their formula—fun, sure, but not as surprising as past releases.

Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage or The Lovely Eggs, The Bug Club’s balance of wit and charm will hit the right nerve. There are shades of Courtney Barnett’s observational songwriting, the playfulness of early Of Montreal, and the scrappy energy of The Moldy Peaches. Fans of Gus Englehorn quirky moments and X’s flawless compatibility, will also find something to love here.

Pivotal Tracks: “Full Grown Man” kicks things off with a headlong controlled narration, turning a travelogue into a chaotic chant with weird interjections that derail it in just the right way. “Beep Boop Computers” takes on digital disconnection over a glam groove, swapping voices and perspectives like it’s no big deal. “Twirling in the Middle” skewers their own relentless output with some side-eye at pop culture and religion, all set to one of the catchiest choruses on the album. “Appropriate Emotions” closes the record and is more stripped back and serious, asking what it even means to feel the “right” way. “Jealous Boy” toggles between calm and chaos as it dives into the messy middle of comparison and self-doubt. And “Muck (Very Human Features)” stands out for its warped tempo, more robotic lyrics, and an off-kilter spirit that feels like a late-night existential spiral—equal parts silly and striking.

Lyrical Strength: The Bug Club have always walked the tightrope between absurd and profound, and Very Human Features keeps that going. They ask real questions—about identity, purpose, and emotional honesty—but disguise them in jokes, sidebars, and oddball characters. The lyrics feel like sketches or stories, bouncing between inner monologue and imagined conversation. Even when they’re at their silliest, there’s usually a sting in the tail.

Final Groove: Very Human Features doesn’t mark a big leap forward for The Bug Club, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a solid, slightly more introspective continuation of their garage-pop ethos—full of character, wit, and just enough weirdness to keep things interesting. That said, the formula is still very evident even as the pacing slows. The surprises feel a bit more expected, and a few tracks blur together but there’s plenty to like here, especially if you’re already on board. The Bug Club haven’t hit a wall—they’re just taking a breath. Where they go from here could easily be their most interesting move yet.

THE BUG CLUB REVIEW HISTORY
On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System (2024) / Rare Birds: Hour Of Song (2023) / Green Dream In F# (2022/2023)

THE BUG CLUB LINKS
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Sub Pop Records