When was the last time you heard of a boy band? In an era where pop music shifted towards mainstream solo artists, Almost Monday disrupts the norm and brings back the idea of a boy band into the public eye. While dropping singles and EPs since 2020, they recently released their debut album, “DIVE” on Sep. 25, 2024.
The idea of reigniting a boy band may seem outdated—a recurring pop-music practice in the 2010s—and nostalgic, but the tides are changing with Almost Monday’s album debut in the music industry.
Their story starts in the San Diego North County Area when they were just three high schoolers with a love for surfing. Dawson Daughtery (lead vocalist), Cole Clisby (guitar), and Luke Fraby (bass) have been inseparable ever since.
The album opens with the song “DIVE”, which is more of a slow and 60s-like romantic ballad to get listeners prepared for the more upbeat songs to follow. It is a slower-paced song compared to their other tracks. But just as the tune settles into the melancholy feel of “DIVE”, the second track, “Is it too late?” moves listeners into an entirely different direction. The mood of the music shifts to a high-energy rhythm with a bright bass riff by lead singer Daughtery. The transition from slow to an upbeat and beach-like feel is almost striking at first. But it works perfectly and shows that Almost Monday can be the best of both worlds.
Moving further into the album, Almost Monday does not let the energy slip. “Can’t Slow Down”, is a track that brings the surf-rock culture of California. Daughtery’s vocals remind listeners of Empire of Sun’s iconic song, We Are the People. Much like Empire of Sun’s Luke Steel, Daughtery brings a unique youthfulness to the album. Their ability to capture such an iconic genre is not just a “good debut” to me, it feels more like the beginning of something greater emerging for this new band.
With songs like “Sunburn” with over 34 million plays on Spotify and “Can’t Slow Down” with over 5 million, Almost Monday is well underway to join the ranks with the top young artists in today’s pop genre. The band is currently on tour through March of 2025, where they’ll be playing in several cities in the U.S. and Europe.
