The Weepies

Who doesn’t love a pleasant pop melody with subtly, even romantically subversive lyrics? How can you resist a song that is so aurally pleasing that you can’t help but listen even though its not your style; a song that appears innocent (and on some levels very much is) though hints at undercurrents with greater depth and tone?

The answers to these questions surrounded The Weepies’ 2006 critical and commercial success Say I Am You, an album that exceeded anyone’s expectations. Especially The Weepies themselves: husband and wife singer/songwriter duo Deb Talan and Steve Tannen. Come on everyone knows you’ve really made it when you land a spot on Kyle XY (if you don’t remember that show it’s because you have a life and you don’t watch the Disney channel).

Hideaway, the follow-up recorded in their home with friends, makes use of the same formula that garnered success on Say I Am You: a collection of superbly written folksy pop songs filled with tumbling, infectious melodies and surprisingly profound lyrical depth. In fact, it’s almost as if the songs on Hideaway were a collection of B-sides that simply couldn’t fit on the album but were certainly too well-written to throw away.

It’s hard to pick out highlights on an album full of gems, but the first four songs serve to expertly forge the melancholic mood that pervades the rest of the album. My favorite tracks, though, are the two centerpieces “How You Survived the War” and “Not Dead Yet,” both of which exemplify the folk-pop style that the Tannens have mastered. There are a few tracks that aren’t really up to snuff, leading to lulls that should have been avoided on a record (and a genre) that already walks a fine line between piqued interest and waning boredom, but, generally speaking, Hideaway serves as an effective and appropriate successor to The Weepies’ 2006 breakout smash.

Overall: B+

Why a B+?  Much like Say I Am You, this is an album you can put on at any time. It works in the morning, late at night, during the commute, during dinner…anytime. Aside from being an all-encompassing life soundtrack, though, the real beauty lies in the fact that Deb and Steve are capable of instilling a deep literary quality into songs that Disney is happy to use. Most albums with aural qualities like Hideaway don’t stand up to repeat listens, but The Weepies have made their way into the deep end and they don’t seem to be coming back. The bottom line is this: if you like Say I Am You (and most people liked it very much), then you’ll also really enjoy Hideaway.