• Reviews

• All
• Music
• DVDs
• Live
• Cinema
• TV
• Books
• Comic Books
• Video Games

Dec 31, 2024 Web Exclusive By Marina Malin

The Softies (duo of Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia) are nestled in the comfort of best friendship and the unapologetic honesty it nurtures. Formed in 1994, drawing inspiration from the late ’90s punk scene, The Bed I Made is their first album in 24 years. Naturally, one would expect the duo to bestow newfound wisdom that overwhelms their maturing years; instead, they pick up where they left off, exploring sentimental treasures in their reliable melancholic twee-pop-meets-slowcore sound.

The record replicates the phases of a love story that is slipping through your fingers, and catches the listener where they deem fits. Despite The Softies aging over two decades, album opener “Go Back in Time” reemphasizes the mellow sound we know and love. The opener drifts into the emptiness of longing for a past love while introducing the cyclical simple chord progressions that will evoke sentimentality throughout the record. “Just Someone” is a trance of the impermanence of another, tapping into nostalgia with heavenly backing vocals and soft guitar work. “Sigh, Sigh, Sigh” embodies the juvenile rawness of twee pop, switching lead vocals to a deeper monotone that rejects emotions in hopes that sarcasm will drown out their longing sorrow. “California Highway 99” sees The Softies’ rich imagery at its peak.

“I Said What I Said” finds a desperation for anyone to become someone: “As soon as I had a place to go / I went / There’s gotta be more to love.” The track adorns the tendency to avoid all flags, potholes, and floods down the path to find home; in this case, home is the form of another. “Tiny Flame” catches fire, subtly picking up the tempo to obsess over the love you can’t shake out of your head, finding hope, as the guitar work does too, in their potential. “Headphones” is a short and sweet one-minute ballad expressing the simple intensity of their love.

For better or worse, the somber imagery and introspective narration paired with minimalistic, at times jangly, guitar leads and simple vocals make up the recycled material that The Softies’ entire discography is made from. The Bed I Made’s runtime lingers longer than desired with unnecessary tracks that resemble the next. The record is noticeably composed of tracks that utilize the same formula with little variation, enabling each song to blend together.
While The Bed I Made is just another body of work about unrequited love from The Softies, the record harnesses in their mastery of a twee sound and concept, and this writer is a sucker for it. The Bed I Made is simply endearing and timeless, and it can be argued that it’s more than what meets the eye: considering a grander context, the record reminds us of the power in the platonic romance of two best friends confessing sentimental feelings and lived truths under the home they’ve created; like a fort made out of soft-toned mattress sheets and fuzzy body pillows. In this case, home is in the hand and voice of the other, making music as creative reflection and emotional release for the duo. The Bed I Made is made in and for the vulnerable space between two big-hearted best friends who let love and emotions run deep. (www.thesofties.bandcamp.com/music)

Author rating: 7/10