Allison Weiss – Remember When
Review by Nick Yacovazzi
Power-pop singer, Allison Weiss, may be one of the best-kept secrets on the No Sleep Records roster. Releasing her debut LP, Say What You Mean, this past year, Allison Weiss has captured the essence of artists like Tegan & Sara and Jenny Owen Youngs, through indie-rock riffing and girl power vocals. While gaining notoriety on tours with Max Bemis (Say Anything), Candy Hearts, and even finding a spot on Vans Warped Tour 2014, Weiss has done everything but slow down.
Recently, Weiss introduced her newest recording, Remember When EP, which was released July 22nd. Weiss’s newest recording is a quaint, yet strongly written five-track EP that delivers original power-pop songs mixed with Weiss’s developed singer/songwriter style.
Starting with the album title track “Remember When,” Weiss throws us a major curveball. Transitioning away from the singer/songwriter style from her previous records, Weiss gives us a taste of her exploration into her power-pop territory. With warm synths and heavy production, Weiss’s new EP gives rise to new-wave girl-pop.
This new coloring to Weiss’s sound, allows her to experiment with instruments, vocal styles, and artist influences. One thing that stays true to her sound however, is lyrical content, a strong talent of Allison Weiss. Backed by a warm fusion of synthesizers and acoustic guitars, Weiss delivers tracks filled with nostalgia and hindsight. On tracks “Giving Up,” and “The Fall,” Weiss explores the struggles of expectations versus reality, and what you perceive may not always be.
Weiss solidifies her exploration into power-pop with a wonderful cover of Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend.” Mixing Weiss’s talents as a singer and guitarist, she delivers a powerful, yet somber tribute.
The EP closes out with its final song “Take You Back,” which is a summation of everything brought forth on “Remember When.” Blending acoustic guitars with layered vocals, Weiss proves that she is not only a gifted songwriter, but also a gifted artist who is slowly making a name for herself and is not afraid to explore different sounds.
I have followed Allison Weiss since her release of “Was Right All Along,” and I was quite surprised at the direction of this EP. The album will leave listeners wondering how Allison Weiss will continue to develop her identity in her music. Remember When flirts with both power-pop, and singer/songwriter tendencies, and I hope Ms. Weiss continues to develop herself within both of these genres.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended Tracks: “The Fall” and “Call Your Girlfriend”
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