Allison Weiss – Remember When

Georgia native Allison Weiss’ inched closer to the indie spotlight with the release of her No Sleep Records debut, Say What You Mean, and now edges that much nearer with her follow-up EP, Remember When.  Weiss offers up a confident five-song summation of her catchiest endeavors, balancing fun and wisdom with her playful and unassuming presence.

While Weiss might not yet be a household name, newcomers will learn that this girl has the charisma of popstar and the charming tunefulness held paramount by today’s indie scene.  Think mid-career Tegan & Sara but with more bubblegum and sparkles.  Look no further than “The Fall” for a shining example of Weiss at her best.  Weiss opens with the soft vocal grace of a whisper and slowly builds her catchy tale of youthful nativity to a tasteful poppy peak.  The sparingly dabbed guitar dots the twinkling soundscape like an artist’s brush dabbing stars in a night sky.  Above all, the these subtle pop sensibilities come to define standouts like “Remember When” and “Giving Up,” in turn bestowing the EP with a sense of refreshing engagement.  

When taken in contrast with Weiss’ dampened acoustic offerings, like album closer “Take You Back” or “Call Your Girlfriend (Robyn Cover),” the application exemplifies the meticulous planning behind each song element.  In particular she takes control of the latter, which sounds far removed from its electropop origin, and more like a very personal glimpse into one of life’s most vulnerable moments. Her knack for capturing the moment of love and heartbreak make each song rich in emotional literacy.

Alison Weiss’ strength as a singer/songwriter shines through in five strong takes of memorable indie pop.  She’s the type of artist that’s just so easy to root for and the type that in an ideal world would replace the superficial drivel staining mainstream pop radio.  Weiss is one of indie pop’s outstanding talents and deserves every ounce of recognition she has earned, and then some.