SOCCER MOMMY レコード& CD

Review: It's hard to pin-point what's done it - but it appears that 2024 has been a big year for Americana and its influence on mainstream indie rock with the likes of Wednesday, MJ Lenderman and Mitski among those to explore its characteristics. Soccer Mommy burst onto the scene nearly ten years ago with an indie and grunge-inspired look and sound, but with this fourth album, she is embracing more organic instrumentation and putting the spotlight on her voice and songwriting. It's a bold but brilliant move that proves spending time living in Nashville is bearing fruits. And her voice - reminiscent of her contemporaries Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail - is suited to the moments of cleaner backing instrumentals. That said, the rock DNA still stands tall, as evidenced by the grunge-tinged single 'Driver', so it's more of an alteration than a sea change. The song structures themselves are also something to be proud of. For instance, the key change on 'Abigail' is a Beatles-esque beauty. With Soccer Mommy crafting songs this good, it's likely that she'll be around for decades to come and album number four is still the early years.

Review: Sophie Allison returns to the release schedule to follow up her 2018 debut, "Clean", with an album that asks us to consider what is meant by words such as resilience, the nature of finding redemption for oneself and the importance of refocusing as an act of catharsis. It's also packed with the kind of catchy songs that make you want to hit repeat. Musically it's less fraught school run, and more lackadaisical light-footed indie rock that oozes a reflective cool. Timeless stuff, you might say, which calls to mind the likes of Sheryl Crow and other songwriting titans that managed to pluck subtle details of country, blues and pop to create something that's powerful but delicate without being twee. Songs about love that aren't gushing Hallmark romance, tracks about life that avoid the cliches while still ringing true for all in earshot.