GENRE; Pop/ Rock
RELEASE DATE; 26 September, 2025
RATING; 6.8
SPIRIT! feels like a bold rebirth for HUNNY — or rather, for its frontman Jason Yarger, who now carries the project solo after earlier bandmates stepped away. Released on September 26, 2025 via Epitaph Records, the album is a 15‑track blend of indie‑pop, alt‑rock and playful experimentalism, born from creative freedom and a desire to “just let whatever ideas… run wild.”
From the moment opener “title track” kicks in — complete with real cheerleader vocals recorded by fans — SPIRIT! sets a tone of unfiltered exuberance and youthful nostalgia. The song’s chant‑like quality and heavily layered production perfectly encapsulate the album’s overarching vibe: loud, chaotic, and invested in joy.
Tracks like “POV ur dead and i’m checking my hair in ur sunglasses” and “spam calls” fuse whimsical guitar lines and quirky lyricism with modern alt‑pop energy, often feeling like musical snapshots of bizarre, everyday moments. Yet this same boundless momentum can work against the album — its relentless pace leaves little room for introspection or sonic breathing space.
One of the record’s standout moments, “i can see my house from here,” slows things down just enough to reveal Yarger’s playful yet poignant storytelling, hinting at emotional depth beneath the surface fun.
Critics have generally received SPIRIT! with mild praise (around 3‑star/75 overall), noting its infectious energy and inventive stylistic shifts, even as some listeners find it uneven or noisy.
SPIRIT! is a vibrant, whimsical snapshot of an artist unafraid to embrace weirdness and spontaneity — a joyful burst of indie creativity that may not always land perfectly, but never stops surprising.