almost monday Embraces the Chase in "cough drops"
Photo: Cole Ferguson
POV: The year is 2015. You just bought the Arctic Monkeys vinyl from Urban Outfitters, you have a flannel shirt tied around your waist, and an unhealthy amount of your time is spent reblogging photos of Matty Healy and Cara Delevinge on Tumblr. The black hearts you drew on your cheeks with eyeliner are smudging, your Apple headphones are glued to your ears, and you’re about to see a 3D movie just so you can pop the lenses out of the glasses.
With the sudden-but-long-anticipated return of Arctic Monkeys and the 1975, as well as all other things 2015-core, it feels like us ‘Tumblr kids’ are teenagers all over again. In almost monday’s latest release, "cough drops," the three-piece surf-rock band put an alternative and nostalgic twist on their usual oceanside sound. It’s the perfect cherry on top of the return of indie sleaze, and we are completely, entirely here for it.
In just over two-and-a-half minutes, "cough drops" teleports the listener into a basement party, intertwining desire, love, and sex into heated basslines, energetic guitar riffs, and evocative lyricism. Lead vocalist Dawson Daughtery captures the rush of adrenaline that comes with finally getting with that someone and the following-morning comedown of wanting it to happen all over again. The lyrics cut straight to the chase, as Daugherty sings, “I know myself and I don't need convincing, all I need is you in repetition, all night and every day, come on I know you feel the same.”
The pacing of "cough drops" reflects the thrill of chasing someone, starting out slow, quickly building up to the chorus, and then ultimately coming down in tidal waves of infectious hooks and head-shaking rhythms. Instrumentally, the track feels inspired by '70s rock and '90s grunge, decorating its punchy guitars and pulsating drums with saturated vocals fit for an Alex Turner tune.
In addition to the release of cough drops" is its official music video shot by Kelly Hammond and Cole Ferguson. Through grainy film, orange light leaks, and stained glass windows, we watch the band let loose in a timeless green field that feels like a David Hockney painting come to life. It’s wistful, it’s dreamy, and above all, it’s almost monday.
Watch the "cough drops" video below:
