Hideaway - The Weepies

Wow. That's what I have to say. After downloading this album for a friend, I decided to give it a listen. I was completely blown away. When someone mentions alt-folk, I generally think of fairly chill, Sufjan Stevens-esque music. While I do love Sufjan Stevens, his music can only be taken in small doses. The Weepies, however, combine elements of "pop" music without straying too far into the "pop" realm. They have several down-tempo songs that are reminiscent of Sufjan, but many of the tracks have an extremely upbeat feel to them.
Attempting to follow up their biggest success to date (2006's "Say I Am You), Deb Talen and Steve Tannen had some work to do. However, I can say without a doubt, they more than surpassed their previous album. Songs such as "Old Coyote", "How You Survived the War" (One of my personal favorites), and "Can't Go Back Now" offer quiet moments of reflection, while "Not Dead Yet", "Antarctica", and the title track, among others, are just more songs that bring a smile to your face. With fairly simple instrumentation (Acoustic Guitars, Drums, Bass), The Weepies have succeeded in creating another indie masterpiece that will be remembered for years.
Maybe it is because they are now married and have a child. Or maybe it is because they have just grown a little older. Whatever the reason, The Weepies' latest foray into the recording world seems much more mature than their previous effort. However, they do not forget to remind us that, once in a while, life is fun, so enjoy it.

9.5 out of 10