Review Summary: Sifting through the candy aisle
Despite my best efforts to analyze her music, at the end of the day I really just want to share a Coca-Cola with Sophie Allison. The carefree and often 90s-influenced songs under her Soccer Mommy moniker come with a tender relatability that’s hard to shun. And while her music has undoubtedly struck some nerves in the past, her best moments have always been tied to specific songs – her entire albums often struggling to mimic the same unwavering confidence and spark that makes her a special artist. I rarely feel the need to revisit
Clean or
Color Theory in their entirety; usually I’ll jam fire cuts like “Scorpio Rising” and “Circle the Drain”, then call it a day. Her fourth LP,
Sometimes, Forever is a different story. While it certainly has its notable highlights, it’s the most hypnotizing album she’s put out from front to back.
Held together by its insanely sturdy bookends, finding a favorite moment on
Sometimes, Forever is like sifting through the candy aisle as a kid: a hard decision but you know you’re leaving satisfied. Sophie Allison’s finally managed to spread her most mesmerizing moments evenly throughout an album. Not only does she deliver banger after banger, but there are also generous bursts of creativity that give some much-needed depth to her sound. “Don’t Ask Me” is a headfirst dive into shoegaze territory – the incredibly compact and magnetic guitars carrying just as much weight as Allison’s performance. The same can be said for “Bones”, which flaunts the album’s floatiest vibes before exploding into a loud mess of clashing sounds during its final stretch. It’s a powerhouse of an opening track that proves how the smallest refinements can work wonders for Soccer Mommy’s lasting appeal.
Sometimes, Forever will also have listener’s returning due to an overall stronger sense of atmosphere. Escaping her typical boundaries, “Unholy Affliction” is a glitch-heavy curveball that flirts with a dreary gothic mood – sure to be a certified Dewinged jam. Then of course there’s the psychedelic guitar bends of “Feel It All The Time” or the shrouded synths of “newdemo.” Moments like this prove Allison has a more shape-shifting voice than she often reveals. It also doesn’t hurt that
Sometimes, Forever has perhaps the most glowing production of any Soccer Mommy album; everything sounds incredibly smooth and dynamic throughout.
The phenomenal closing track escapes the album’s warmer confines as Allison makes the type of confessions we often keep buried: “I don’t know how to feel things small, it’s a tidal wave or nothing at all/I can’t believe in heaven now, it’s been hell on earth for a second.” It’s a heartbreaking conclusion and perhaps the most vulnerable Soccer Mommy has ever sounded. It’s also one of the most minimalistic tracks, rarely relying on more than the soft pluck of a guitar. The weighty lyrics hint the 90s-loving voice of Soccer Mommy has more demons in her closet than she lets on – she’s merely cracking the door open. For her next album, I’m hoping that door comes flying off the hinges.
Sometimes, Forever is the most colorful album of Allison’s career, but once all her skeletons are revealed, that’s when she’ll reach her true peak. Until that moment arrives, this is the most convincing and complete package from Soccer Mommy to date.
