Say I Am You

The Weepies, Deb Talan and Steve Tannen

Released on 12/20/05 by Nettwerk Music Group
Main artists: The Weepies Deb Talan Steve Tannen
Genre: Pop

Available in

16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

The Weepies (Steve Tannen and Deb Talan) have never pretended to be anything that they're not, which is, briefly, sentimental, melodic folk-pop, with harmonious vocals and gently picked guitars. They accept this, they relish in it, they did it well on Happiness, and they continue to do so on their 13-track major-label debut. Being that the title of the record, Say I Am You, is a quote from 13th century writer Jelaluddin Rumi, known for his intense spiritual and passionate poems, it is not a surprise that the album is all about love. Sometimes the love is hidden or lost ("World Spins Madly On," for example), sometimes it's false, but mainly it's a love that has been gratefully found and cherished. And for the most part, the Weepies manage to discuss and explore this without falling into the trappings of typically saccharine infatuated musings. "Take It from Me," the album's opener, has Talan trying, vainly, to find metaphors for her incomparable beloved ("a favorite pair of shoes?" or "a window the sun shines through?" she wonders), and the rest of the album pretty much follows suit. The songs are simple and pretty and generally uplifting, basking in the glow of being happily smitten, but not blind to the misfortunes of others in the world. The tracks on which Tannen sings the lead vocals are actually the most pessimistic of them all (the David Gray-like "Love Doesn't Last Too Long," for instance) or at least the most ambiguous, and provide more of a cynical, or perhaps just sad, perspective on the theme. Tannen's voice is nice, but it's nowhere near as charming as that of his counterparts: he's much better suited to the role of backup harmony, and probably because of this he sings lead on only about one-third of the album. Talan's voice, instead, is a pleasant reminder of the chick-folk/rock stars of the '90s, but she adds her own sweet innocence that fits perfectly with the love songs, the twinkling guitar, the literate wordplay, the scalar melodies. Say I Am You is not groundbreaking music, but the Weepies know what they're doing, and they know how they feel, and they're not afraid to sing about it.

© Marisa Brown /TiVo

More info

Say I Am You

The Weepies

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From $10.83/month

Take It From Me