Max McNown – Night Diving (The Cost of Growing Up)

Review

Max McNown’s “Night Diving (The Cost of Growing Up)” feels like leafing through the well-worn pages of a coming-of-age novel—each track a chapter steeped in confession and clarity. His voice carries the ache and wisdom of youth, threading stories of remorse, renewal, and longing through the stripped-down pop-folk sound he’s come to own. The title track feels like staring into a quiet lake at midnight, while “It’s Not Your Fault” reads almost like a letter of forgiveness you never knew you needed to send. There’s a gentle honesty here, reminiscent of singers like Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan, but with a touch more vulnerability, like journal entries set to a campfire rhythm.

Then comes “Roses and Wolves,” McNown’s tender duet with Hailey Whitters—a waltz through the twilight of a love slipping away. It’s a collision of grit and grace, a reminder that growing up often means learning when to let go. The album as a whole hums with the restless energy of self-discovery, its acoustic edges polished just enough to let the storytelling shine. Listening to it feels a bit like reading Steinbeck under soft lamplight: bittersweet, soulful, and quietly human. - Josh