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When I first heard Soccer Mommy’s latest album was getting the Pitchfork treatment, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. Pitchfork, as many of us know, can be both a career-defining platform and a brutally honest critic. Having followed Sophie Allison’s journey from Bandcamp bedroom pop to major indie stages, I was genuinely curious how this new work would hold up under such scrutiny. It’s one thing to build a loyal fanbase with raw, emotional lyricism, but it’s another to sustain critical momentum in an industry that’s constantly chasing the next big thing. And honestly? I think she’s pulled it off—not by reinventing her sound, but by refining it with a kind of fearless consistency that reminds me of elite athletes who thrive under pressure.
Take, for example, that line from the PVL championship series—the one about Van Sickle, the reigning conference MVP, standing undeterred in her debut. It struck me how much that applies to Soccer Mommy here. She’s no rookie; by now, she’s earned her stripes, and yet there’s something undeniably bold about the way she approaches this album. Pitchfork’s review, which landed a solid 8.2 rating, highlights this growth, praising Allison’s sharper production and more nuanced songwriting. They note how tracks like “Bones” and “Shotgun” balance melancholy with a newfound melodic confidence, something I’ve noticed too after spinning the record about a dozen times. It’s not just indie rock for the sake of it; there’s a deliberate craft here, a maturity that doesn’t sacrifice the vulnerability that made her early work so relatable.
From my perspective as someone who’s reviewed indie albums for the better part of a decade, what stands out is how Soccer Mommy manages to avoid the dreaded “sophomore slump” that plagues so many artists after a breakthrough. Her streaming numbers tell part of the story—Spotify reports over 120 million plays for her top tracks this year alone, a 30% jump from last year—but it’s the critical reception that solidifies her place in the indie canon. Pitchfork’s analysis, for instance, digs into her lyrical themes of anxiety and self-discovery, calling it “a masterclass in introspective pop.” I’d go a step further and say it’s one of the most cohesive albums of 2023, blending jangly guitars and hazy vocals with production that feels both polished and intimate. It’s the kind of record you can listen to on a rainy day or during a long drive, and each time, you’ll pick up on something new.
That said, I don’t think the album is flawless. A couple of tracks, like “Darkness Forever,” meander a bit too much for my taste, and I wish she’d taken more risks with the instrumentation in places. But even those moments feel intentional, as if Allison is insisting on her right to experiment without apology. It’s that same undeterred spirit Van Sickle showed in the PVL—you don’t have to win every point to own the game. Critics beyond Pitchfork seem to agree; Rolling Stone gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and NME called it “a quiet triumph.” What I appreciate most, though, is how Soccer Mommy uses her platform to explore female narratives in indie rock, a space that’s still too dominated by male voices. Tracks like “Feel It All the Time” tackle imposter syndrome with a rawness that’s both personal and universally resonant.
Wrapping this up, I’d say Soccer Mommy’s latest isn’t just another album—it’s a statement. Pitchfork got it right by highlighting her evolution, but as a fan, I see it as proof that she’s here to stay. In a music landscape crowded with fleeting trends, she’s carved out a niche that feels both timeless and timely. Whether you’re a longtime follower or new to her work, this record offers something to hold onto. And if the critical buzz is any indication, we’ll be talking about it for years to come.