Music Review: The Weepies’ Hideaway

Posted on 23 May 2008 by Jessica Fritsche

Hideaway is the follow-up to The Weepies' critically acclaimed 2006 album Say I Am You.  You know it was critically acclaimed because you could barely throw a rock without hitting a TV showing a mainstream drama featuring a track from the album.  But seriously, they were slapping The Weepies all over Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl because Say I Am You is a great CD full of melty, minimalist indie-folk tunes about falling in love and being in love.  

Hideaway is another charming release from husband and wife duo Steven Tannen and Deb Talan.  That may sound patronizing, but it's not how I mean it. The album plays to their strengths--tight songwriting, beautifully layered harmonies, and the kind of sweet, introspective lyrics that tug at your heartstrings.  What they do is not groundbreaking, but it is infinitely satisfying.  I am a sucker for a well-written song that inspires me to feel something, and The Weepies do not let me down.

Hideaway, like the rest of The Weepies' catalog, is the kind of album that makes it hard for me to choose a favorite.  The first stand-out track, "Wish I Could Forget," has a catchy hook and upbeat feel--it's a song I find myself humming for hours after I listen to it.  The opening track "Can't Go Back Now" may be my favorite, however, setting the lilting, unique vocal harmonies and wistful lyrics against delicate acoustic guitars and a sparse arrangement.  “Antarctica” is another favorite of mine, featuring well-crafted, melancholy lyrics and soaring vocals.  

“How You Survived the War” is perhaps the most reminiscent of the stand-out tracks from Say I Am You—the vocals are incredibly tight, almost melted together so you cannot tell where Talan's voice ends and Tannen's voice begins. I really like the way The Weepies record their vocals as a whole. The lead vocals are usually double-tracked and meticulously layered with the harmonies, which can create a lovely effect reminiscent of Brian Wilson's vocals on Pet Sounds.

Say I Am You continues to be my favorite effort from The Weepies thus far, but I applaud the latest addition to their discography. If you're looking for a solid, enjoyable album, look no further than Hideaway.

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