Yarn

Released in 2018, Yarn represents a pivotal moment in McCafferty's discography, moving away from the purely lo-fi bedroom recordings of their early EPs toward a more structured, full-band sound. While still retaining the 'anti-folk' spirit and the distinctive nasal vocals of Nick Hartkop, the album introduces more complex arrangements and a cleaner production style that highlights the interplay between acoustic and electric elements. The record is deeply influenced by the 'Midwest Emo' revival and the lyrical honesty of bands like The Front Bottoms, yet it carves out its own niche through its meta-commentary and more aggressive, punk-leaning tendencies. Critical reception was polarized, with some praising its brutal honesty and others finding its self-referential nature abrasive. Despite this, it solidified the band's cult status within the indie-rock underground, particularly for its unflinching portrayal of mental health struggles and suburban isolation.