Remembering is a mixed-blessing. Even in our happiest memories there is an inherent sense of loss - a longing for a moment buried in time, unable to be relived. In that respect, Annabella’s Say Goodnight is like a stack of faded photographs. Each track has the fragile beauty and melancholy of an old picture: a snapshot of a sunset, a day at the beach, or a lost love. On this, their third album, Georgetown’s Annabella has reached a new peak and delivered an album as smart as it is emotional, as playful as it is haunting, and as beautiful as it is tragic.
Most listeners will draw a quick comparison to artists like Mates of State, Mazzy Star, and The Sundays - observations that are generally appropriate. The band blends the best elements of their influences, without simply recycling them: the pop sensibility of Mates of State, the darkness of Mazzy Star, and the melodic, indie sheen of the Sundays. Though the core of the band is still husband and wife team Tim and Terri Dittmar, with the addition of Joshua Zarbo (formerly of Spoon) and Andy Bracht (formerly of Bo Bud Greene), Annabella have stepped effortlessly into full-band territory - a departure from the minimalism of 2005’s Songs of Goodbye.
The album’s ethereal opener, “Sun Is King,” is the perfect introduction to this new aesthetic. Terri Dittmar’s piano, once the focus of the band, is now sparse and buried alongside strings and arpeggiated guitar - a treatment that allows the lead vocals sit center stage. “Rogue Waves”, the album’s second track, is more up beat and melodic; it is a perfectly crafted pop song with a chorus that is sure to stick with the listener.
“Bring You Back To Me” and “Peach Tree”, the album’s two strongest tracks, are clearly at opposite ends of the band’s aesthetic range. “Bring You Back To Me” is Annabella at their best: romantic, expressive, and heart-wrenching. The song is about James Kim, the Oregon father whose death grabbed headlines in late 2006. Kim froze to death after venturing for help for his family, who were stranded by a snowstorm on their vacation. The song is more stripped down than most, with vocals and pianos at the center, and the other instruments used only as accents. The treatment not only makes the song stand out from the rest of the record, but also gives it an intimate feel. “Peach Tree” has more of a Kindercore playfulness but is no weaker for it; it is a nugget of irresistible sugar pop, infused with the same subtle melancholy and nostalgia as the rest of the record.
Say Goodnight is undoubtedly a step forward for Annabella. The duo may have moved in a “full-band” direction with this record, but still knows when to keep things simple, and hasn’t lost sight of what matters most: the songwriting. While this new direction is admittedly darker, it still feels authentic, never contrived or calculated. Melancholy, melodic, and catchy - Say Goodnight is the rare album that sticks in your head, while it stabs at your heart.
Austinsound.net by Franklin Morris
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