Cabana Wear – ‘Cabana Wear’

When I saw the advance for Cabana Wear’s self-titled debut album come across, I was immediately intrigued by the “sure to please fans of the melodic corners of 90’s alternative” description. That sounded like something right up my alley, and wow, I was not wrong.

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Cabana Wear is a relatively new band, but when you’re listening to them you wouldn’t guess that. They have a very nostalgic, familiar feel to them, comparable to Weezer. What’s funny is, I listened to the album before I read the full biography of the band. I later discovered they are described as having a Rivers Cuomo-esque sound to them, which is exactly the vibe I got. It’s the kind of music you picture yourself listening to while sitting around a bonfire with your friends in the summertime.

The first single off the album is “Bother You.” It’s a quick, two minute song that immediately hooks you with its incredibly catchy sound. It left me wanting more, so much so that I ended up playing it on repeat a few times.

According to their biography, the members of Cabana Wear have been friends for over a decade, and I feel you can actually hear that in their music. They sound like they have a lot of fun making music together, and comes across as effortless in their songs.

One of my favorite songs off the album is “Tommy.” It has such a vintage 90’s vibe and it’s ridiculously catchy. It sounds like something I would’ve listened to on my discman back in ’98 and something I will continue to listen to in the future. Their music seems quite timeless, in fact.

Another favorite of mine, “Summer,” has the same familiar sound to it as the rest of the album but with a hint of pop punk mixed in. And lets be honest, you can’t go wrong with a little pop punk.

The album ends with “Where I am,” which immediately hooked me from the opening notes. It is a powerful and moving closer displaying an early Jimmy Eat World sound, which to me is the epitome of perfection. I played this song more than any other on the album because I couldn’t get enough of it.

I really enjoyed listening to Cabana Wear’s debut self-titled album. I would love to watch them live, perhaps at an outdoor amphitheater, under the stars surrounded by friends. I can’t get enough of this album and am patiently waiting to add it to my summertime playlist.

Catch Cabana Wear on tour starting March 22 with Sleep In.

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