Too Pop For the Punk Kids : The Summer Set's "Stories For Monday" Album Review

Numerous times band members, Brain Dales, Josh Montgomery, Jess Bowen, John Gomez and Stephen Gomez, have stated that this album was not supposed to happen. Their 2013 album, Legendary, was said to be their last and The Summer Set was “unofficially” officially broken up. However, the band surprised millions of fans, as they announced the release of their fourth-coming album titled, Stories for Monday.

Stories for Monday has the same musical vibe that fans have come to know and love but, there is something extra with this album that makes The Summer Set sound completely different. The lyrics are phenomenal and take you back to that nostalgic event or memory you hope you’ll never forget.

Starting the album off is their first single, Figure Me Out. This song is, in my opinion, the anthem of the album. The message is loud and clear; you may not know where you fit in, in the world and it may be frustrating and the self-doubt may ring loud and clear, but one day, you’ll find the place where you belong.

Next song is titled, The Night Is Young. The song’s message of staying strong and never giving up, no matter how far down you are, really helps tie into the first song’s message. Third on the track list is Missin’ You, and was the third single off the album. Unlike most break-up songs, this one gives listeners the feeling of wanting to break out into a dance and literally just celebrate. This song is the song you would listen to when you are finally in the “I don’t give a fuck anymore” place after the break up, where you finally realize that you are free; you no longer miss the person or want them back in your life. It’s a song about moving forward with life.

Jean Jacket, the second single, begins soft and slow, but quickly builds to an 80’s teen romance feel. This song definitely makes you want to own a jean jacket and just dance along like there isn’t a care in the world.

Within seconds of the beat starting in the track called All My Friends, you are going to want to clap along and sway to the beat. Friends are a big part of our life and we tend to make a lot of important choices in our life based on their opinion. This song is about agreeing with them but doing what makes us happy and being with who makes us happy, despite how crazy they can be.

Change Your Mind is another song with that same 80’s inspired vibe, but again is completely different. Just like every song thus far, this one just makes the listeners want to dance and bob your head along to that infectious beat.

All Downhill From Here is about your plans going south but states that you need to smile and despite the fact that it may not be where you want to be, you will feel fine and as you reach the end of the other side, everything will be okay.

This tune, All In, is about doing whatever we want in the moment. It doesn’t matter where we are all going, we are all in, doing what we love and being around the people that make us the happiest. This song is definitely one that will make you want to sing loud for all to hear.

An 80’s feel is very noticeable during the first few seconds into the song, Wonder Years. The song stays quite soft compared to the others on the album but still makes the same impact to all the listeners.

When The Party Ends (Can’t Hardly Wait For It), is for sure one of the most romantic songs The Summer Set has written on any of their past albums. It may be romantic but it is also about closing the door on this chapter in your life, to leave this party and continue onto another. When listening to the final song, Wasted, you may get a déjà vu sensation from past song, Legendary, off their 2013 album.

While listening to “Stories For Monday”, The Summer Set really drew from the past and it definitely sounds like a great way to celebrate an amazing 9 years as a band.

The Summer Set is hitting the road this spring for a 26-date tour, and joining them for the US leg will be Handsome Ghost, Royal Teeth, and Call Me Karizma.

The Summer Set will also be doing an 8 date international tour in the United Kingdom with friends in The Lafontaines and Sykes.

This summer they will also be making an appearance at the 2016 Warped Tour for the last 11 dates. For tickets and more info, head over to their website: http://thesummersetband.com/tour/. Be sure you grab your tickets quickly, as venues are beginning to sell out. You are definitely not going to want to miss these shows.