Even though summer is long gone, the good vibes that derive from it follow us throughout the fall months. The studio album “Dive” by Almost Monday screams of summer all throughout. As a lifelong fan of groups like the Beach Boys and Tame Impala, I was eager to give the album a listen after it was recommended by a friend. I had never listened to anything created by Almost Monday before, so I truly did not know what to expect.
The first track titled “dive” is slow and melodic, immediately reminding me of one of my favorite albums from the Beach Boys, “Surf’s Up.” This introductory track was very misleading as it certainly did not set the tone for the rest of the album. The second track titled, “is it too late?” immediately takes a sharp surf-rock turn as we are immediately greeted with a catchy guitar riff and the in-your-face vocals of Dawson Daugherty, the lead vocalist of the group. Luke Fabry is the primary bassist, while Cole Clisby plays the guitar, forming the trio Almost Monday.
The rest of the album certainly follows this “beachy” tone, with a variety of unique, upbeat riffs and hooks. Daugherty’s vocals shift into a more laid back tone for the rest of the album, yet they still remain expressive and always compliment the instrumentals. From unique synths to digital and physical drums, the group utilizes a variety of instruments, varying from unique synths to digital and physical drums, to create a distinctive sound for each of the 11 tracks on the 28 minute album. It’s like one big blend of beachy pop, rock, and blues, with an overarching coming of age theme with undertones of love and even heartbreak in songs like “sunburn.” While it certainly takes inspiration from a variety of genres and groups such as The Beach Boys, Tame Impala, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Mild High Club, it still manages to form its own eccentric sound, different from the likes of many repetitive modern tracks.
Debuting on September 25, 2024, I almost wish the album came out earlier in the summer because it would have certainly been echoing around beaches across Long Island; however, I still think it holds up value throughout the year, as everyone likes to hold onto summer feelings, and “DIVE” certainly delivers those.
