Album Review: Diet Cig – Do You Wonder About Me?

The art of growing (up)

Diet Cig are well known for their live shows, with Do You Ever Wonder About Me? they took time off from touring and to create their new album. Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman formed Diet Cig in 2014 and their pop-rock/punk sound is still as energetic and catchy as ever. In their official bio, Luciano describes their writing process: “We spent a lot of time after the first record growing as people, being humans outside of tour for a little bit, and trying to shed the imposter syndrome.” Their sound sometimes has elements of Man Overboard and other pop-punk bands but with female vocals, which is more than refreshing and necessary. If People know one thing about pop-punk/rock, then it’s the theme of growing up. With 24 minutes and a total of 10 tracks, the album is rather short but to the point. The album can capture the anxiety and excitement around evolving as a human being. Just because someone is legally an adult, doesn’t mean they aren’t growing anymore.

With their first track “Thriving,” the band explores the whole process behind thriving. The sense of thriving is nice and all, but sometimes it’s better when people around you also notice it. The chorus stands out and probably will stick in the audience’s head for a while. “I’m thriving, thanks for asking.”

“Who Are You” captures the audience right from the beginning with clapping sounds that are so easy to repeat, it’s hard not to clap along to it. The song is a great track to send to someone’s ex, especially when they keep on popping up in life. The lyrics are honest but yet so interesting; they will motivate the audience to google some lines and their meaning like, “my moon is in Cancer.” This song is an excellent example of catchy songs that can be interesting and also somehow informative.

“Night Terrors” represents how growing up doesn’t mean leaving all of your old self behind, some things will just stick around, even when you fight them. “Priority Mail” is a short and soft track. Softer than what Diet Cig usually does, but still beautiful and a great little break from the rest of a very energetic album. “Broken Body” brings the audience right back into hard and fast sounds. The song is probably one that some of the audience can easily relate to, that idea of being your own worst enemy and worst critic. The song shows that sometimes even after immense self-growth, self-doubt is still very present and can get a hold of someone easily. After this track, the audience gets another break with a short “Makeup Interlude.” Lucianos voice sounds so sensitive; it’s beautiful.

Like a flash flood, the sound of “Flash Flood” comes over the listener right after the interlude. It’s fast and powerful, and it’s over before many can acknowledge it. Yet, it’s so important to pay attention to it, as it’s a short but intense self-assuring anthem that has the power to comfort listeners. “Worth the Wait” is the perfect lovesong for everyone who hates everyone else except this one particular person. The song perfectly summarizes all the emotions that go along with being in love.

Like most of the album, “Stare into the Sun” just captures the feeling of real self-reflection. It might not be justified, yet the feeling is there, and it won’t just fade away any time soon. The last track on the album, “Night Terrors (Reprise)” is slower and darker than any other song on the album. The mechanical vocals that continue through the song give the track a robotic flair that feels almost out of place, yet works somehow nicely, especially as the final song.

Diet Cig masterfully managed to summarize growing up in Do You Wonder About Me? The album proves that life is never easy and even after improving your life, there still will be insecurity and hardships. Diet Cig might have done a lot of growing, but they have an exciting future ahead of them.