we’re “thriving” after listening to diet cig’s latest album
By Amy Tang
Based in New York, American indie rock duo Diet Cig consists of lead singer and guitarist Alex Luciano and drummer Noah Bowman. Together, the electric pair welcomed their sophomore album, Do You Wonder About Me? on May 1 and it feels more personal than ever.
With a run time of 24 minutes, Do You Wonder About Me? is an album that describes the unstable path of growing up, revealing the tragedy and heartbreak that often comes along with entering the stages of young adulthood. The range of emotions present throughout Luciano’s vocals are unmatched, and in addition to their honest and highly-relatable lyrics, this record makes a compelling piece for anyone who has gone through or is currently entering their 20s.
Kicking off the record with bangin’ opening track, “Thriving,” listeners get a taste for the album’s tone through Luciano’s fiery message to her ex. “Did you think that you could bring me down?” she sings as the steady rhythm of the guitar bounces off her every word. And, as if the message wasn’t already clear enough, the song’s refrain, “I’m thriving, thanks for asking,” makes for the perfect cherry on top.
Then, staying consistent with the theme, “Who Are You” is just as relentless and candid as the previous track. Despite it being another upbeat tune, Luciano wants nothing to do with this apology, retorting back with, “Who are you to say “I’m sorry”, when we both know you’d do it all over again?” It’s an irresistibly catchy song that listeners can’t help but clap along to. It hits close to home.
Notably, one of the stand-out tracks from the album, “Night Terrors” — appropriately titled so — channels Luciano’s personal experience in dealing with her own night terrors and the sleepless nights that accompany the horror.
“Priority Mail” and “Makeout Interlude” bring out the more mellow side of things, both drawing from slower tempos and soft progressions. But with both tracks running just around the one minute mark, it almost feels like they’ve been cut off a little too soon. In total contrast is the headbangin’ “Flash Flood,” in which listeners are blasted with fast-paced guitar strokes, aggressive noise, and rough vocals.
Similarly, “Broken Body” takes the same route, showcasing the duo’s pop-punk origins as seen in their earlier releases Over Easy EP (2015) and Swear I’m Good At This (2017). Between the angsty riffs and striking performance on the drums by Bowman, this track explores the dreadful fear of not being good enough and being driven by insecurities. With lines like “I can’t remember the last time I felt good inside my head” and “Why can’t I be on my own team? I wanna scream,” this song takes personal to another level; it’s almost as if Luciano is reading off the pages of her own diary.
Lastly, “Night Terrors (Reprise)” brings the album to a close. The atmospheric track is entirely synth-based and riddled with soothing melodies, ushering in the calm after experiencing the wave of emotional turmoil and grunge rock sounds about freeing oneself from unapologetic ex-lovers, finding personal growth, and dealing with self-doubt.
Overall, Do You Wonder About Me? makes for a great addition to the pair’s dynamic and growing presence in the indie-rock scene. From start to finish, it’s evident that their collaborative efforts in songwriting and production have paid off, resulting in a truly charismatic record.