Sadness is a difficult emotion to consider. But Sophie Allison (aka Soccer Mommy) is doing just that with her fourth album. From embracing the slow destruction of time (“Changes”) to feeling trapped in the past (“Thinking of You”), each track on Evergreen is hauntingly beautiful. . Sophie has always been an acclaimed songwriter, but here she harnesses the power of her talent with songs like “I Don’t Want to Be Disappointed/By Another Perfect Memory” (“Evergreen”) and “And I Don’t Have a Memory.” I can feel it getting dirty/By the way, I’ve changed” (“Dreaming of Falling”). With producer Ben H. Allen III (Animal Collective, The Deer Hunter, Belle & Sebastian) on board, “Evergreen” has the shoegaze of 2020’s “Color Theory” and “Sometimes Forever” (2022). ), and instead boasts a breathtaking sound. The acoustic guitar, flute, and string arrangement perfectly matches her lyrics. The drum swell in the chorus of “Driver” gives the song a playful edge, and the flute and string “M” outro is one of the album’s best and most chilling moments. Elsewhere, “Abigail” is a dreamy, kick-your-legs-in-the-air love song that gets even better when you realize it’s about Stardew Valley’s purple-haired Abigail. Similarly, “Salt in Wound” combines mournful lyrics with a rock-inspired riff to create a deceptively upbeat earworm. Like grief, “Evergreen” has its ups and downs, but ultimately it makes you feel less alone and makes you feel okay.
