| Freak Out City | ||||
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| Released | 15 August 2025 (2025-08-15) | |||
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| Length | 35:15 | |||
| Label | Sub Pop | |||
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| Bret McKenzie chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Freak Out City | ||||
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Freak Out City is the second studio album by New Zealand actor and musician Bret McKenzie. It was released on 15 August 2025 via Sub Pop in LP, CD and digital formats.[2][3] Produced by McKenzie and Mickey Petralia, the album was recorded in Los Angeles and New Zealand.[4][5] "All I Need" was released as the lead single of the album on 5 June 2025.[6]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Beats Per Minute | 67%[7] |
| God Is in the TV | 9/10[8] |
| Spectrum Culture | 60%[9] |
Loz Etheridge of God Is in the TV called the album "even better than the debut" and "superbly crafted with a nod to the greats."[8]
Beats Per Minute's Ray Finlayson noted it as "more vibrant than its predecessor" and the album "lulls when the mood does, despite the colourful production and instrumentation."[7]
Writing for Spectrum Culture, Eoghan Lyng commented, "Freak Out City shows the artist largely abandoning comedy for more conventional pop, a decision which works in its favor just as often as it doesn't."[9]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Bret McKenzie, except "That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round" written by John Prine.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bethnal Green Blues" | 4:12 |
| 2. | "Freak Out City" | 4:51 |
| 3. | "The Only Dream I Know" | 2:30 |
| 4. | "All the Time" | 5:06 |
| 5. | "That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round" | 3:10 |
| 6. | "All I Need" | 4:07 |
| 7. | "Eyes on the Sun" | 3:05 |
| 8. | "Too Young" | 4:30 |
| 9. | "Highs and Lows" | 3:44 |
| 10. | "Shouldna Come Here Tonight" | 3:48 |
| Total length: | 35:15 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[1]
- Bret McKenzie – lead vocals, guitars, arrangements, production
- Moana Leota – backing vocals
- Iris Little – backing vocals
- Drew Erickson – keyboards, string arrangements
- Chris Caswell – keyboards
- Leo Coghini – keyboards
- Justin Clarke – guitars
- Dean Parks – guitars
- Ben Lemi – drums
- Joey Waronker – drums
- Jacqui Nyman – bass
- Leland Sklar – bass
- Bryn van Vliet – saxophone
- Louisa Williamson – saxophone
- Kaito Walley – trombone
- Andrew Bulbrook – violin
- Wynton Grant – violin
- Sarena Hsu – viola
- Christine Kim – cello
- Lee Prebble – bottle smashing, chief engineering
- Mickey Petralia – production, chief engineering
- Michael Harris – mixing, chief engineering
- Darrell Thorp – chief engineering
- Troy Kelly – chief engineering
- Chaz Sexton – assistant engineering
- Jacob Kell – assistant engineering
- Tucker Andrew – assistant engineering
- Carter Shepstone – assistant engineering
- Logan Taylor – assistant engineering
- Mike Gibson – assistant engineering
- George Janho – assistant engineering
- Zack Zajdel – assistant engineering
- Dusty Summers – art direction, design
- Ardneks – illustrations
References
- ^ a b Freak Out City (Media notes). Bret McKenzie. Sub Pop. 15 August 2025.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Downs, Sarah (3 June 2025). "Bret McKenzie Announces New Album Freak Out City". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Knox, Payton (4 June 2025). "Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie Announces New Album Freak Out City". Exclaim!. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Murray, Robin (3 June 2025). "Bret McKenzie Announces New Album Freak Out City". Clash. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (14 July 2025). "Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie preps new album, announces US tour dates: hear "Freak Out City"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Rigotti, Alex (5 June 2025). "Flight Of The Conchords' Bret McKenzie announces new solo album Freak Out City with romantic single 'All I Need'". NME. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ a b Finlayson, Ray (26 August 2025). "Album Review: Bret McKenzie – Freak Out City". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ a b Etheridge, Loz (15 August 2025). "Bret McKenzie – Freak Out City (Sub Pop)". God Is in the TV. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ a b Lyng, Eoghan (4 September 2025). "Bret McKenzie: Freak Out City". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
