Will Joseph Cook - Sweet Dreamer

Will Joseph Cook’s debut record Sweet Dreamer is as fresh and bright as the citrus fruit that graces its cover. An infectious fusion of indie rock and boppy surf pop, the 13-track album presents a sharp, tangy, and all-round nutritious inflection of modern pop music. Opening tracks Biggest Fan, Sweet Dreamer, Treat Me Like A Lover, Plastic, and Beach - I Wanna Make You Mine remain the album’s standouts, with a dip in memorability as the album progresses. The latter half of the album retains the danceability of the previous tracks with its upbeat percussion and glassy guitar, yet falls short of the catchiness the first half of the album boasts. With steel drums (Plastic), electronic beats (Treat Me Like A Lover), and folk-tinged acoustic guitar (Biggest Fan), Will Joseph Cook attempts to explore influences from outside genres but fails to produce something that maintains the energy and catchiness of the first half of the record throughout. While not particularly adventurous in style or topic, Sweet Dreamer is an enjoyably simple journey through the remnants of noughties indie rock and modern pop music, offering sugary injections of smooth tunes and summer vibes.