It’s “Almost Monday,” a San-Diego based band it’s at the heart of SoCal surf culture, and is very rooted in indie rock/pop. The members are Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar), and Luke Fabry (bass). They made their start at D.I.Y gigs in the San-Diego area in the back of surf shops fitting their music of California sunshine in a bottle.
The group released their debut album “DIVE” in September of this year. They wanted their album to continue their sound of sun-drenched summers, it’s a classic pop indie album. You can definitely hear the influences of their producer Simon Oscroft who has worked with One Republic, Declan McKenna, creating a similar indie pop sound.
The album feels like a classic 2000s indie pop album. “DIVE” further encapsulates the album as a summer theme of nostalgia and growing older. It reminds me of a staple of coming of age film. Any of the songs on this album could fit right into the soundtrack of a classic coming of age film.
“DIVE” is a beach theme concept album. With the bouncy guitar riffs, tropical type instrumentals, to achieve retro-california rock like the beach boys mixed with the wallows, and their own indie influences. They also display this with their music videos full of pastel colors of the past, and play with more retro styles of filming and fashion. The videos look like saturated film, having an old vintage feel to it. They use bright illustrations and drawings for the cover of the singles. Making it a perfect beach album.
It’s a fun indie pop/rock album. It’s basic with its bright music and chessy classic indie anthems. It has catchy melodies and electric guitars, but there is not much more than that. When you listen to this album you can turn off your brain.
The album feels like every other indie pop group.Its message gets lost because it has been done before so many times, getting mixed in with all the other indie pop California bands. The music feels extremely repetitive, with the same tone, rhythm and catchy chesney lines, making the album extremely predictable. You don’t crave the songs on the album, because they have no new message, or a new way of displaying it.
I feel the album isn’t fully fleshed out. Creating a feeling that parts of songs that need to be finished, some parts are good, then others you quickly lose interest. It seems like a copout as a way of finishing up the songs without much thought, or care.
They have good songs on the album; some of the songs on the album just shouldn’t be there. They add nothing to the story of the album and make it harder to see the more unique, and the individuality of the album.It would have been a better release as an EP. They could’ve displayed more of their interesting/unique songs and the story could’ve been seen more clearly, and would’ve stuck with you.
I wouldn’t count this album out. I think for the future “Almost Monday” is just developing their own identity in the California sound. They are fun indie pop, good for summer and beach days. Hopefully with their next release they will continue creating an individual sound.
