The Weepies

Be My Thrill (Nettwerk)

By Kim Newman
Published: September 2nd, 2010 | 1:00pm

The Weepies consist of Deb Talan and Steve Tannen, a pair of singer-songwriters (and a married couple), who have a laidback folk sound laced with a sweet pop sensibility—all of which can be heard on their latest release. Be My Thrill in one word? Pleasant. The 14 tracks are simple and uncomplicated, featuring natural instrumentation and layers of gentle harmonies. Considering the bountiful commercial use that the Weepies songs have seen throughout their career (according to the press release, their music has been featured in over 100 film and TV placements from Sex and the City to Grey’s Anatomy), such easy on the ears sounds make for ideal background music.

Considering where their songs have set the scene, it isn’t much of a surprise to find that the prevailing theme on Be My Thrill is love, and this is a duo that is not afraid to share what is in their hearts. Love songs like “Add My Effort” and lead single “I Was Made for Sunny Days” (which features the refrain “I was made for sunny days / And I was made for you”) manage to balance being sentimental without being hackneyed, while “Not a Lullaby” and “They’re in Love, Where Am I?” are earnest laments on loneliness.

For most of the disc, Talan serves as lead vocalist with Tannen adding harmony, except for a handful of tracks where the pair switches it up. It’s a formulaic pattern that’s rarely broken except for the acoustic “rocker” “How Do You Get High.” Fortunately for the Weepies sticking to the tried and true works and while Be My Thrill may not be thrilling, it sure is pretty.

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The Weepies official Web site

The Weepies MySpace page

Nettwerk Records