Sophie Allison, also known by her stage name Soccer Mommy, has returned with her highly anticipated fourth album, Evergreen. This introspective and tender record explores themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of the human experience. Despite delving into these heavy themes, the album manages to strike a delicate balance and capture feelings of hope and resilience.
Allison has shown remarkable growth in her songwriting since her early days. The songs on Evergreen display a remarkable blend of complexity and accessibility, holding both captivating melodies and profound emotional depth. The opening track, ‘Lost,’ sets the stage with its grand orchestral arrangement and Allison’s haunting vocals. The song effectively captures the sensation of feeling adrift and disconnected, with poignant lines such as, “Lost in a way that don’t make sense / Lost in a way that never ends.” The richly layered instrumentation and Allison’s heartfelt delivery combine to create a gripping and fully immersive listening experience.
‘M’ is a particularly poignant track, exploring the pain of missing a loved one. Allison’s raw honesty shines through in lines like, ‘I don’t mind talking to empty halls’. The song is a striking blend of sorrow and beauty, showcasing Allison’s ability to convey deep emotions through her music. This minimalist arrangement, with only Allison’s soulful vocals and a delicate piano accompaniment, creates a unique backdrop that allows her evocative lyrics to take centre stage.
Ben H. Allen III’s production also shines through, bringing out the best in Allison’s songwriting and performance. His ability to create a warm and inviting atmosphere compliments the album’s emotional depth, even the more upbeat tracks carry a sense of tranquillity that is hard to escape.
Another highlight is found in ‘Thinking Of You’, holding a steady, building rhythm, the track feels somewhat like a movie soundtrack, ready to be the backdrop of a character’s revelation, and where its tempo remains consistent, ‘Thinking Of You’ feels like its constantly unravelling, creating a sense of anticipation and intensity.
Despite the album occasionally sounding repetitive, there are subtle variations in its sound that can be noticed. The title track, ‘Evergreen,’ is particularly significant as it brings us back to the core of this record. Allison’s declaration, ‘She cannot fade, she is so evergreen,’ carries both a sense of poignancy and hope.
Sophie Allison’s Evergreen showcases her songwriting skills and vocals at their finest. While the album may not be as sonically layered as her previous work, Allison’s melodies remain as captivating as ever. Evergreen could be the record of Autumn.
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