• Band / Artist : The Weepies – mySpace
• Genre : Pop / Rock / Acoustic
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Werkshop
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9.5 out of 10

There’s a few albums I’ve been eagerly awaiting and this most definitely is one of them. Building on the success of their previous release, Say I Am You, Hideaway, feels much more of a joint album. Whilst Hideaway, had some amazing tracks, there was very much a feeling that many of the tracks were either Steve Tannen’s or Deb Talan’s. Admittedly much of this stems from who had lead vocals, and I have to admit, I was totally smitten by Deb’s voice. However on this album, the vocals, whilst still featuring either Deb or Steve prominently, manage to sound much more of a collaborative effort. It’s hard to think of the previous album, as anything inferior, but there is a lushness and warmth in this album, that the previous one lacks, but only in hindsight.

“Can’t Go Back Now”, the track that opens the album, quite frankly sends shivers up my spine. While the sound is typical Weepies, there’s something more, that’s hard to quantify, other than an feeling of a band that has really found it’s feet. “Orbiting”, while having very much a Deb Talan sound, still manages to feel a band effort. At every turn, on every track, I feel myself comparing, probably unfairly all tracks to the previous album, which in my mind is one of the top 10 albums ever on Indie Launchpad, but this is not like comparing apples to apples, they’re two albums, by the same artists, at two very different stages of their developmental life. The title track “Hideaway”, has that quirky feel and harmonies that send my brain into apoplexy, especially when listen with headphones. That tone and those vocals are just a sheer joy.

So that’s the first three tracks and I can feel this review very rapidly heading to meet Tolstoy’s War and Peace in sheer size. Yes musically the tracks are superb, but there’s also quite a mix of diversity. The guitar on “Little Bird”, is really familiar, but I’m sure on a track much more melancholic than this. Then in contrast to that, “Antarctica” has a sound that feels very light with a 70’s hint, but with a Weepies twist. It was only when listening to “How You Survived the War” that an artist suddenly sprang to mind and one that I’m surprised hasn’t surfaced before, the Carpenters. Few vocalist in my mind, have managed to sound so wondrous vocally and it’s something the Weepies manage, without sounding like they’re breaking a sweat.

Even as the album draws to an end, the strength of the songs is incredible. “Takes So Long”, reminds me of a song we used to sing as kids, and I couldn’t help but smile when I first heard it, in fact a smile seems to break, whenever this track comes on. I think for me, the most surprising track on this album, is the one that closes things out, “All This Beauty”, which is an amazingly strong song, which could easily have opened the album. 14 tracks that are an absolute joy to listen to.

Conclusion : Just sheer magic. I have to admit, while previously having a strong affinity for Deb’s vocals, I’m now enjoying Steve’s much more than before. If you liked the previous Weepies album, buying this is pretty much a no brainier. If you are new to the Weepies, this is an amazing album to add to your collection, especially if you like the mellower side of pop. Although I’ve marked this as a 9.5, it’s very much a 10 out of 10, in theory anyway. I just have to leave room for improvement… if that were possible.