The Softies - Softies (CD)

All Music Guide

The first word that pops up when listening to the self-titled, eight-song Softies EP-the first for the duo of Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia--is 'sweet.' It sounds sweet, feels sweet, and, on songs such as the opener "Snow Like This" and "Half As Much," is entirely, sweetly affecting, the kind of music you could snuggle up to or use to brighten a gloomy, rainy day, this despite the fact that the album, itself, is wholly about approaching or being or feeling in the dumps, being disappointed, losing love or wanting to be in love or missing someone. It is the sound of the void buried deep in your insides that is difficult to put your finger on, a sort of misery-loves-company companion. The Softies is fully stripped down until only a couple strummed electric guitars remain, but it is not a folk album. The EP is straight melancholy pop taken to its most bare-boned plaintiveness; for all its sadness, though, the music is never sullen, never anything less than luscious and childlike, and, if th...e word can possibly apply to such minimalistic music, it has a lushness that makes it cushiony and plush, softens, as it turns out, the lyrical blows. Melberg and Sbragia's harmonies float wistfully through the music like a couple of twee reminiscences. It is music of change, the sort of sound that could accompany autumn or perfectly illuminate a sense of nostalgic yearning. It makes you want to again grab ahold of something that you never actually had. - Stanton Swihart, All Music Guide Read more Less