The Weepies - Be My Thrill (2010)

One of my resolutions next year will be to actually write a damn review once in a while, especially for albums that seriously knock my socks off. Then I realized that Quickcrit's year end list would be a great place to start. Normally, I'd be inclined to post a spoiler alert about the following review, but it's no secret that I love The Weepies. That's right, they're my number one this year. I loved this album so much that it was almost a lie to single out only one song as my favorite.

Be My Thrill is a lot more upbeat than their last album and in my opinion, is their best to date. It's unapologetically filled with infectious sunshine and love in "I Was Made for Sunny Days" and "Add My Effort" -- no doubt influenced by parenthood and their two sons. Their optimism, however, is balanced with a little reality in "Please Speak Well of Me" and "You're So Hard to Please". I can't help but wonder if "Be My Thrill" was written in the throes of infant or toddler-hood:

Be my thrill / My little white pill / My unpaid bill / The one who will
Be my love / My little gray dove / My push and my shove / My heaven above
And we tumble down like Jack & Jill
And I miss all of the joy you kill
But I love you still
Be my thrill

I laughed aloud the first time I really listened to the lyrics with a cranky, but fantastic three-month-old wiggling in my lap. I'm bummed that we missed The Weepies when they came to Portland in October, but Awmercy and I were quite occupied with our own little thrill. Let's hope baby Miles likes indie pop as much as his mama, because The Weepies will be a staple in our living room, his nursery, and the car.

The Weepies - Hideaway (2008)

Over the past 4 months, Hideawy has quickly become one of my favorites. Not just a favorite, but a go-to set of songs for when I'm happy, or sleepy, or cranky, or just need to let my brain relax. Suffice to say, if Hideaway were a cassette tape, it would be popping and clicking on its way to a quick death. I love it that much.

I guess I'd categorize The Weepies as folk-pop with songs that catch you like a 3-foot meat hook. At first, you hear the sweet vocals and harmonies of Deb Talan and Steve Tannen that make you feel like a cute little square-headed sperm whale swimming under the stars (seriously, they're that good). Only after really listening to the album a few times did the melancholy lyrics break through, revealing a matter-of-fact undercurrent of life lessons - sometimes things suck, but you gotta put your best foot forward.

Among my favories, "Old Coyote," "Hideaway," and "Orbiting," and "All This Beauty."

Brasilliant's "Make it Through the Summer" Short List

5. My totally cute Ipod Shuffle. It has been an inspiration for me to get my lazy butt out of bed and actually exercise. In a time of insane stress and utter hatred for going to work, endorphins are my friends.

4. The Ark. I don't care if they were on the top of my 2007 favorites list, the Ark still rocks my world. Big-time. Ola Salo (who loves men, women, AND palindromes) still makes me squeal as he belts out glam-pop to fuel my morning runs. Oh and, Cranewife, he's a Swede.

3. Noise-cancelling headphones. I'm in the process of finishing a giant project at work and these lovelies have enabled me to live in harmony with my coworkers. You could even say they prevented 3 deaths by choking.

2. Sandrine - Dark Fades into Light (2008). I love the whole album and have listened to it repeatedly since it was purchased in April. I have been a total slacker at writing music reviews, but this one definitely warrants some attention.

1. The Weepies - Hideaway (2008). Along with Sandrine, the Weepies rise to the top of my "most listened" list for 2008. Not only am I in love with Hideaway, but also their two previous albums, Say I Am You, and Happiness. When played back to back, they provide hours of pure joy. Some day I'll get around to reviewing them as well.