Freak Out City

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. Produced by McKenzie and Mickey Petralia, the album was recorded in Los Angeles and New Zealand. "All I Need" was released as the lead single of the album on 5 June 2025.

Reception

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."
Beats Per Minute Ray Finlayson noted it as "more vibrant than its predecessor" and the album "lulls when the mood does, despite the colourful production and instrumentation."
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."

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

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