A Sunny Debut: ‘DIVE’ Into The World of Almost Monday

Almost Monday brings beachy, summer energy to their debut album “DIVE”

San Diego trio almost monday has captured the sunny, feel good energy of the California surf scene and bottled it into DIVE, their 11 track debut album. almost monday consists of Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar) and Luke Fabry (bass), who began making music together in 2020 after becoming friends through the surf scene during their childhood. Released September 25, at the tail end of summer, this album is the perfect cure for the cold weather blues. Though there’s a general indie vibe present throughout the tracks, almost monday dips into other subgenres like funk (“jupiter”), surf rock (“seaside market”) and even a vintage Beach Boys inspired sound (“dive”). There’s something for everyone on DIVE, no matter what corner of the indie pop/rock world you inhabit. 

Kicking off with “dive,” listeners are immediately immersed in the world that almost monday has curated. A ‘60s inspired, Beach Boys-esque track, “dive” recalls the days of barbershop quartets. Complete with stacks of vocal harmonies and a gentle drum beat, it serves as the perfect introduction into the rest of the record, inviting listeners to truly dive into the project. 

“is it too late?” sits at track two, a complete 180° from the opener. “is it too late?” is an upbeat, indie rock track with an earworm chorus. Daugherty laments on the prechorus, “I’m in a headspace and it’s all wrong, is it too late?” building up into the high energy drop. Reflective, almost regretful lyrics are paired with a buoyant soundscape, turning a more somber emotion into a danceable moment. It’s the perfect balance of genuine emotion and upbeat energy.

Shifting into a more guitar heavy sound, “never enough” features a primarily instrumental chorus, pulling back on the verses to let the vocals shine through. It’s one of the best instrumental moments on the album, letting Fabry and Clisby take the lead. In terms of the live show, “never enough” stands out as a track that would transfer extremely well to the stage, giving all band members a moment to shine and giving the audience a chance to rock out. In the same vein, “you look so good” features a call and response style chorus. “You look so good,” Daugherty drawls, a short phrase that audiences are able to pick up quickly. Another rock influenced, guitar heavy track, “you look so good” is a setlist staple.

“she likes sports” is a lively, lighthearted track about, simply, a girl who likes sports. With handclaps and funky guitar lines and lyrics about playing tennis, “she likes sports” is unapologetically fun. Clisby lays down an incredible bass line on the second verse, one of the coolest moments on the album. On the subject of bass lines, “can’t slow down” is up next, which kicks off with a bass heavy verse. “can’t slow down” leans more indie pop, with a soaring chorus. A feel good anthem about a night out, “can’t slow down” stands out as a more pop adjacent track and fits perfectly in the middle of the tracklist. 

Pivoting completely, “jupiter” is a funk inspired track that takes the tempo down a bit. Featuring shimmery synth lines and a solid, driving drum beat, “jupiter” leans into a different sonic space, proving almost monday’s musical versatility. It’s fresh and fun, a testament to the band’s commitment to not put themselves into a box when it comes to genre. “tidal wave” follows, a breezy, relaxed surf rock track narrating a whirlwind relationship. When it comes to the beach themes and summer energy on this album, “tidal wave” encapsulates it: gentle vocals and sun drenched guitar tones. 

“sunburn” was originally released as a single in 2022, and fits perfectly on DIVE. “You’ll always be that sunburn on me,” Daughtery reassures the subject of affection on the chorus. The lyrics are reflective, narrating a temporary relationship. There’s a hint of regret on the bridge: “Why’d I give you my everything just to watch us spiral down the drain? What if time doesn’t heal a damn thing?” A stand out detail on this track is the whistling, which is present during the chorus. It adds to the casual, breezy feel of the track. Easing into “seaside market,” the lyrical themes shift  from reminiscing to yearning. “seaside market” is a balmy surf rock track, with lyrics about falling for someone after running into them at a seaside market. It feels immersive, transporting listeners to a seaside market on the coast. 

Rounding out the DIVE tracklist is “life goes by,” an indie rock track that pays homage to California, laced with themes of homesickness and a yearn to return to the beach. “Take me to the beach ‘cause I miss the feeling,” the chorus begs. “life goes by” encapsulates the concept of DIVE, and arguably, the concept of almost monday itself: beach themes, sunny instrumentals and lyrics that dive a bit deeper than the surface level. 

DIVE is a collection of different genre explorations, but the throughline is almost monday’s authenticity and infectious high energy. As temperatures drop and the sun sets earlier, DIVE is an album to return to whenever you need a bit of sunshine.