10 Canadian Albums PUP’s Steve Sladkowski Thinks Everyone Should Own

Welcome back to Crate Digging, our recurring feature series that has artists explore music history in search of albums that all music fans should know. In this edition, PUP guitarist Steve Sladkowski recommends 10 great Canadian albums.

Oh, Canada, America’s friendly neighbor to the north that has been, let’s just say, particularly newsworthy in the early period of Trump’s second term. That one’s on us guys — sorry ’bout that. Luckily, as proven by PUP and their ripping new album Who Will Look After the Dogs?, confusing tariff situations and threats of annexation hasn’t yet stopped Canadian acts from sharing their wonderful art with us here in the States.

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Apropos of Who Will Look After the Dogs? and the newfound level of Canadian pride — elbows up, as Mike Myers instructed — we got on the horn with PUP guitarist Steve Sladkowski to learn about 10 essential Canadian albums he thinks we should all be listening to. You know, to immerse ourselves in the culture, just in case we need to pull out what I’ve been calling “Plan C.”

After a check-in on how his March Madness bracket was faring (as we connected in the midst of the NCAA basketball playoffs) and a quick recap of how PUP’s opening slot on Sum 41’s farewell tour went, Sladkowski detailed 10 projects that’ll make you want to grab a hockey stick and head on over to Tim Hortons. Along the way, Sladkowski importantly and poignantly reckons with Canada’s own problematic aspects, at once celebrating the culture of his home country and addressing when and how that culture falls short.

“Do I have to [add] 25% on some of these?,” he quips before launching into his selection.

Luckily, at least at the moment, music recommendations are tariff-free. Check out all of Steve Sladkowski of PUP’s picks below, which include records from icons like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, indie favorites like The Weakerthans and Fucked Up, the obligatory Tragically Hip inclusion, and more.

PUP’s new album Who Will Look After the Dogs? releases Friday, May 2nd via Little Dipper and Rise Records; Pre-orders are ongoing. The band also has a whole bunch of tour dates on the horizon, including a co-headlining run with Jeff Rosenstock. Check out PUP’s 2025 tour dates and pick up tickets here.

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