Soccer Mommy: Sometimes, Forever Track by Track Review

Soccer Mommy is the project of American songwriter Sophie Allison, who has become an indie success with two highly acclaimed records in her career already. She has made a name for herself as a songwriter who is unafraid to pen deeply personal lyrics and her skill as a guitarist has resulted in some absolutely beautiful tracks.

Now she has released her third album Sometimes, Forever which has been produced by Oneohtrix Point Never and has marked a progression in her sound. We thought we'd go through it track by track.

 

Bones

The bones in this song refer to the remains of a faded relationship, picking apart the differences from then to now. The narrative is wrapped up in a sound that feels warm, it's like being wrapped up in the pages of somebody's diary. The production by Oneohtrix Point Never is absolutely spot on. The texture of the guitar riffs is so clean.

 

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With U

A flourish of electronica signals the start of this song. It brings forward floral and delicate imagery. That is a key change to Soccer Mommy's sound now that Oneohtrix Point Never is on production, those little touches that really breathe life into a song. This song finds her completely enamoured to the point that she's using celestial metaphors.

The warmth that she feels towards this person is translated so easily onto the listener. 

 

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Unholy Affliction

The distortion on this track feels like a shadow coming to life, stalking Allison throughout. The really sparse drumming adds a lot to the somewhat creepy atmosphere and the guitars hark back to 90s grunge at times. It genuinely feels as though you might need an exorcism after listening to this one. 

 

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Shotgun

The lead single from the album that launched the new era of Soccer Mommy. The chorus is an absolute treat, the lyrics "so whenever you want me I'll be around, I'm a bullet in a shotgun waiting to sound" are pillowed beautifully by such rich synth textures. There's an unnerving edge to the guitar riffs that still give off a slightly uncertain vibe.

It's a song that is instantly chantable and it is sure to be a live show hit. It's the kind of desire where you just melt into someone shown throughout this song.

 

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Newdemo

A more acoustic number, that later becomes more distorted as whispers of synth in the background eventually bleed through into the forefront. You can become completely engrossed in this one. This album has had some of Soccer Mommy's best world-building yet.

 

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Darkness Forever

Where there is light on the album, there is equally darkness too. Each moment seems to have a flipside, where Allison has to face her darker thoughts head-on. Darkness Forever feels like you've been trapped at the bottom of a pit where it is pitch black all around you. There's a cautionary tale of artists being killed by their insides, perhaps this is where we're trapped. 

A truly haunting song.

 

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Don't Ask Me

Suddenly we're greeted by bombastic blares of the guitar. She describes having a lack of fire in her veins, and not being able to feel a thing. Yet she's neither sinking or drowning, a complicated state between happiness but not completely succumbing to it. She gets closer to being herself by the end of the track, perhaps it is the turning of a corner. "It always comes back in time, I don't know why".

 

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Fire In The Driveway

There seems to be a realisation here, that she needs to get rid of someone in her life but isn't sure how to approach doing that. "I'm better off without you but I can't seem to say it to your face". 

 

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Following Eyes

It starts like a horror film, with Allison following light on a dark night. It feels like fog could form around her at any moment. Unsettling feelings creep in before she stumbles upon a horror. It keeps you on your toes the entire time, the lyrics making you want to know more and more.

Perhaps this is one to be added to the Halloween playlist. A completely engrossing song. 

 

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Feel It All The Time

This has been an incredibly consistent record to date, buoyed by an ever-changing atmosphere and phenomenal guitar playing. More of a straight-up indie rocker, it's what Soccer Mommy excels in, a combination of enthralling vocal lines and lyrics punctuated perfectly by the guitar. 

There's a great tragedy in this song as Allison describes the weariness she feels despite only being in her early twenties. It's incredibly sad when someone feels as though they can't even imagine making it to an older age. So many people feel like this and in knowing that we're not alone it gives us something to hold on to but equally lays bare the mental health crisis right now.

 

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Still

The cleanest possible tone of acoustic guitar rings out. "I don't know how to feel things small" she admits. Alisson is directly confronting her overthinking and the ways in which her feelings can be so intense. She's thinking about how to fix herself, relationships are temporary plasters. Whilst her self-perception is as conflicted as ever, at least she's still made it through.

 

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In summary, Soccer Mommy's new album Sometimes, Forever is a fantastic step forward for the indie songwriter. Having Oneohtrix Point Never on production has pushed her tracks into new realms with subtle electronic elements or by being able to craft worlds within 4 minutes. Those darker songs feel incredibly palpable, they really do add a dimension of fear. Sophie Allison confronts her fears here, but she doesn't win, she's still on a long path to feeling some sense of comfort in the world. This will be an important listen for people navigating similar feelings.

 

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