In Review: The Dip - "Sticking With It"

Following a pair of self-released albums and a steadily growing profile, The Dip's third album finds them signed to revered imprint Dualtone, also home of The Lumineers, who have garnered a bit of popularity themselves. Don't be expecting downtrodden Americana or sombre indie stylings from The Dip, though, as Sticking With It finds the seven-member group firmly entrenched in soul, classic R&B and blues.

From pillar to post, Sticking With It is full of these throwbacks, from the supersized Black Keys lead track Paddle To the Stars (and its B-side opening counterpart Crickets), the reverb-soaked Motown rocker Sleep On It, the smooth, groovy and huge sounding When You Lose Someone and Real Contender, the smoky and sullen crooners Anyway and Eye to Eye, the sunny and bright Vacation and Apollonia, the dramatic, cinematic balladry of instrumental Yellowfinger and the funky, jammy closer Forget About It.

Never a dull moment throughout, Sticking With It is one of the most pleasant distractions from the uncertainty and anxiety of everyday life in 2022 (aside from Crickets, which addresses some of our troubles but could honestly be referencing any point in human history), a temporary window into simpler times of generations ago; although it's debatable whether or not things were better or worse back then, there's considerably less debate over the quality of music in the days of AM radio, and Sticking With It was born and raised in those vibes. It sounds like the kind of life-affirming, celebratory racket that we could all use a bit of right about now.

March 4, 2022 • Dualtone

Highlights Paddle To the Stars • When You Lose Someone • Real Contender

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