Uncle

fish narc — 2026

“Uncle brings the spirit of ’90s alternative rock roaring back with crunchy guitars, irresistible hooks, and just enough emotional weight beneath its sunny melodies.”

fish narc’s fifth album, Uncle, is a fantastic throwback to the mid-’90s alternative rock scene, where crunchy guitars, bright melodies, and a memorable chorus could carry an entire record. Pacific Northwest songwriter Ben Funkhouser has come a long way from his days producing emo rap alongside GothBoiClique, but following 2025’s frog song, he sounds completely at home making classic guitar-driven indie rock. Working with producer Alex Farrar (Wednesday, MJ Lenderman), Funkhouser delivers a clean, punchy collection where every song seems to have another hook waiting around the corner. I especially like how the guitars balance fuzzy distortion with ringing chords while the vocals remain slightly rough, warm, and inviting. Beneath those instantly hummable melodies, on standouts like “Much Less Me,” are reflections on aging, expectations, and figuring out where you belong, giving these seemingly carefree songs some emotional weight. Nothing on Uncle is groundbreaking, and that is part of its appeal. fish narc understands that a perfectly placed guitar riff and a big singalong chorus never go out of style. Even the acoustic closer “Yakima Canyon” keeps the melody front and center, bringing the record to a satisfying, understated finish. Funkhouser may be looking backward for inspiration, but with songs this catchy, he is clearly moving forward.