“I wonder when the vision shifted.”
Blending catchiness, relatability, and the right amount of heaviness, Seattle-based Dead Lakes have crafted a strong identity for themselves. Having established this sound on their debut EP, New Language, the quartet comes out of the pandemic with their debut full-length, Daydreamer.
With a car parked on the desert on its cover, the album signals towards a journey. At least, that is Dead Lakes’ goal. Tackling many different themes, the band leans into their self-described “heavy boy band” sound to create this album’s concept.
Right off the bat, opening tracks “strange juice” and “tongue planet” demonstrate the band’s clear pop influences. Keeping true to the cover art, the former uses driving metaphors to paint a picture of heartbreak. Production by Sam Guaiana leaves the soundscape feeling lush and vibrant, a perfect soundtrack for late night drives. “tongue planet” latter presents straightforward and relatable lyrics about the weariness of living through the pandemic, and the record as a whole touches upon personal struggles, tackling themes like mental health, heartache, and moving on from the past. At its core, Daydreamer‘s message is one of switching lanes for a better life, as difficult as embracing change may be.
Vocalist Sumner Peterson displays a range of different vocal styles from many influences, from RnB-type singing to hip-hop styled flows on tracks like “onyx drive”. The track also features vocals from drummer Chon Adams on the opener, providing an interesting contrast which prevents their style from becoming stale. The vocals, no matter the style derived from, have a unified goal of creating infectious and accessible hooks, something that Peterson has a knack for. The album is definitely vocal-driven, and the presence of a strong lead vocalist helps to further this direction.
Special mention must go to “stamina”, a track that draws evident parallels with “171 xo” by friends of the band, Thousand Below. This comparison is by no means a bad thing, as both tracks are effective earworms, with a bouncy flow to the hook that is easy to vibe to. That is, in essence, what Dead Lakes and Daydreamer offer up: snappy and tuneful, vocally-driven music backed by a sprinkling of crunch.
Examining the band’s sound as a whole, it is strikingly reminiscent of many pop rock bands and boy bands of the 2010s. Peterson’s higher pitched cadences capture that essence, and it creates for something that feels familiar yet intriguing when contrasted with the heavier, post-hardcore oriented instrumentals. While the vocals don’t stray much from this, I find that the consistency is a plus to the album. Too often, heavier vocals moments get shoehorned into accessible tracks in an attempt to earn them credit, but they end up sticking out awkwardly. Here, I certainly appreciate that Dead Lakes chose to keep true to a sound that they identified with, making for an album that feels honest and somewhat intimate despite being built upon a recognisably marketable foundation.
Instrumentally, the tracks are surprisingly nuanced, with softer production elements breaking up the organic instruments helping to change up the pace of the album. The electronics help to create an overlaying atmosphere that contribute to a fuller sound. “quicksand” is a standout related to this, using post rock textures and the previously mentioned RnB vocal chops to create a dreamy, ambience filled track. This quality extends to following track and album closer, “deceiver”.
The biggest strength of Daydreamer lies in its consistency. This isn’t an album with many explosive moments or peaks, but rather one that stays on route smoothly. To some, this may be a detriment, but I find value in its driven simplicity. While it may cruise down familiar roads, it knows how to bring interesting sights into the journey where needed, and it knows what its destination is. While there are many subtle nuances to its instrumentals, this is an album best enjoyed in a casual context, and it is possibly one that could be a gateway to people exploring heavier genres.
7.5/10
daydreamer releases March 31st via SharpTone Records, and you can pre-order it here.