Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie’s side project, The Almost, return with their sophomore album, Monster Monster. Although this is The Almost’s second album, it’s, in reality, their first, as Gillespie played all the instruments on the band’s debut, Southern Weather. Monster Monster as a direct result, feels more like a band than Southern Weather did and even makes you kind of wonder why Gillespie is still doing Underoath when his “side” band is superior in so many ways.
While I suppose you’d classify Monster Monster as a big ole slab of Modern Rock, it’s the band’s ability to tap into different styles without getting their whole self wet that makes this album so interesting. The band’s as catchy as they come on songs like the radio-friendly anthem “Hands” and the mid-tempo and slightly angst ridden “Books & Books” but can turn it around, recapture the melody and really rock out on songs like the title track and “Get Through.” It’s the subtle moments that bring balance to it all though, creating an intentional album and not a simple string of singles. The piano hooked “Souls on Ten” and the bluesy “Summer Summer” are prime examples of this. The highlight though is the album’s closing moment, an introspective, semi-acoustic track titled simply “Monster.”
Monster Monster firmly establishes The Almost as one of rock’s most vital acts. The energy and enthusiasm that spring from this album are inspirational and heartfelt, as all good rock and roll should unquestionably be. Fans of Southern Weather will certainly enjoy this, but those who didn’t like the band’s debut should also check it out but The Almost are a slightly different beast on this one.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
