The Weepies "Say I Am You" (Nettwerk)
By Tim Den
Wednesday. Mar 29, 1:09 AM
Delectable male/female folk whispers.

I first heard singer/songwriter Deb Talan’s music through a mix a good friend made me. Even tucked halfway down the playlist, “The Darkest Season”’s dignified reflection / lament resonated deep within me. Here was a voice that not only contained melodic expertise 10,000 leagues deep, but gave the usually limp-wristed genre a backbone with lyrics alone (without sacrificing any tenderness, either). How was she only a local Boston talent?

Apparently she didn’t remain local for long. Paired up with singer/songwriter Steve Tannen, the duo formed The Weepies four years ago after secretly admiring each other from afar and then playing a show together. After self-releasing a debut record, the band signed with major label Nettwerk for Say I Am You. Good for them! About time real talent got some recognition. The album is exactly what you would expect from two fine craftsmen such as Talan and Tannen: soothing acoustics, playful turn-of-phrase lyrics, and of course ingenious hooks. Talan especially has a gift to shower standard chord progressions with dastardly melodic twists, darting effortlessly between unexpected notes to string together wonderful, whimsical refrains. Every time the guitar strums something predictable – and you think you’ve semi-guessed the upcoming vocal line – she blindsides you with pure originality. Opener “Take it From Me” is a perfect example: if you’re not impressed the very first moment you hear the hook, then you are a fool.

Not to mention Talan possesses a voice that’s half of the magic. Somewhere between the calmest psychiatrist to ever sooth your wounded heart and the cute, shy girl next door you’ve had a crush on your entire life, she coos without whining; emotes without yearning. Her tonality is like a sip of lemonade in the summertime, in that its clarity, bittersweetness, and refreshing quality cleanses and replenishes both body and mind. Combine all these attributes, and every sound out of her mouth is like a soft hand caressing your ears, tingling your spine, and holding your heart.

That’s not to say Tannen doesn’t hold his own: in fact, “World Spins Madly On” – one of his lead vocal tracks – recently conquered iTunes folk charts. It’s just that, in comparison to Talan’s uniqueness, he’s bound to shine not as bright. But it’s not a competition here: Say I Am You, its title representative of both the duo’s seamless collaboration and perhaps a possible romantic relationship, brings together two fantastic songwriters and gets them to write 13 incredible songs. And in the end, it’s not about how loud the guitars are or what fashion is being sported this week: it’s about the music. The Weepies make beautiful, affective music: you need to hear it.
www.theweepies.com
www.nettwerk.com

Click here to buy this album on iTunes!

Click here to download the iTunes jukebox application for Macintosh or Windows!

Tim Den

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