8.5/10
Almost Monday is a trio of gifted artists that produces American indie pop music. Based in San Diego, the band released their first studio album, Dive, on September 25 of this year. The album features eleven tracks that truly embody the youthful and lively nature of the group.
“dive” (7/10)
Starting with the track that shares the album name, “dive” is a melancholic piece that utilizes layered vocals to convey a unique feeling of sorrow. The trio expresses their longing to dive into a place “where the summers don’t stop.” Personally, I found this song to be very nostalgic as it reminded me of Michael Bublé in some ways. However, I wished this song had a more pop sound to it like the other songs in this album.
”is it too late?” (10/10)
This song was upbeat, and its repetitive lyrics helped set a rhythm that was easily memorable. I liked the use of bass and guitar, which added a great amount of depth to the song. The first two verses set the story of how the narrator misses their summer romance and wishes their former lover back. They also question if it’s too late to think this way. Despite the more gloomy message of the song and the words of missing someone deeply, “is it too late?” is a great summer song worth listening to. The overall sound and beat of the track gives me the same summery vibes of playing volleyball at the beach. I could see this also being a fitting song for karaoke.
“jupiter” (9/10)
Almost Monday did an amazing job creating this piece. The rhythmic beats and vocals combine to produce a catchy, memorable song. The lyrics are also creatively unique, with lines like, “I know we got that cosmic vision / Like a rocket ship, we’re passing through” showcasing their “out of this world” application of lyrical art. I found this song to be a very fun listen.
“sunburn” (7/10)
This track uses a clever analogy to connect the summer experience of getting sunburnt to healing from a past relationship. It describes the need to go home after a long day out in the sun, yet still having to deal with sunburn even after night has fallen. This is a metaphor for how, even after a relationship is over, the memories remain because we as people still hold on to them. I thought this song was very catchy, but not as catchy as the ones before. The repetition, though a common theme throughout the rest of the album, did not really make the song as interesting as I thought it would have been.
“tidal wave” (10/10)
This song was by far the most engaging. I found the guitar riffs very captivating, and the lyrics set the perfect story. The song beautifully expresses the gradual progression in a relationship from just meeting to becoming pivotal in one’s life. The lines, “I read the signs and I followed the path / In the blink of an eye, it’s a photograph” created an amazing description for how fast time passes – especially the moments we come to love in the future when we reminisce. I found “tidal wave” to be the best track out of the entire album.
True to their word, Almost Monday embodies the summer spirit and its closure with their debut album. I hope to hear more of their albums in the near future, and can’t wait to see the growth this trio experiences.
