Sometimes, Forever

Allison began writing material for the album in the summer of 2019. The closing track "Still" was the first track that was written. The sludge metal-inspired track "Darkness Forever" was written immediately afterward.^[1]

Sometimes, Forever has been described by critics as "production focused".^[2] Sophie Allison began working with Daniel Lopatin (known by his stage name Oneohtrix Point Never) on her third studio album in late 2020,^[3] a few months after the release of her second album Color Theory.

The album was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The album's recording was completed in 2021.^[4]

Allison announced Sometimes, Forever on March 23, 2022, releasing the album's lead single "Shotgun" simultaneously. Allison proceeded to release three more singles — "Unholy Affliction", "Bones" and "Newdemo" in the lead-up to the album's release. In the run-up to the Sometimes, Forever's release, Allison sat down for interviews with outlets including Pitchfork^[3] and Rolling Stone.^[5] She also performed live on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show.^[6]

Sometimes, Forever, incorporates elements of genres such as such as shoegaze^[7] and industrial noise.^[8] The album employs the "wall-of-sound" production technique.^[9] American entertainment trade magazine Variety described the album's production and music as "maximalist".^[10] NPR stated that the album's sound was "far removed, in other words, from the lo-fi bedroom recording of Soccer Mommy's DIY origins."^[11] According to producer Daniel Lopatin: "Sophie finds magical ways to complicate her bubblegum melodies with a subtle weirdness: a twisted chord, a bent texture, some dark comedy. It’s addictive to listen to all that sweet and sour stuff she has going on, so I just tried to amplify that."^[12]

Sometimes, Forever contains some of Allison's musically heaviest tracks to date. The third track "Unholy Affliction" has been described as "ominous" and "glitchy" by NPR. According to staff writer Jewly Hight, the track "lurches from an industrial feel to thrashy, punishing drumming and, eventually, the momentary disintegration of the ensemble altogether." She also mentioned that the track employs "sludgy guitar chords."^[13] The sixth track "Darkness Forever" also contains elements of sludge, and also employs screamed vocals during its middle section.^[14]

Sometimes, Forever has been described as "darker" and "more personal" than Soccer Mommy's previous album, while retaining Allison's tradition of confessional lyricism.^[15] The tenth track "Feel It All the Time" explores the topics of ageing and freedom.^[16] The closing track "Still" explores the topics of depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation, according to Variety.^[17]

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.0/10[18]
Metacritic	84/100[19]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[20]
Clash	8/10[21]
DIY	[22]
The Guardian	[23]
The Line of Best Fit	9/10[24]
NME	[25]
Pitchfork	8.0/10[26]
Slant Magazine	[27]
Telegraph	[28]
Paste Magazine	8.5/10[29]

Close

Sometimes, Forever has a score of 84/100 on Metacritic based on 20 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim"; the highest score for any Soccer Mommy album as of 2026.

Albumism critic Jeremy Levine gave the album a perfect score, saying that "it cements Soccer Mommy as one of the most exciting voices in indie pop."^[30] Paste's Eric Bennett described it as Soccer Mommy's "most creative work to date",^[31] while The Line of Best Fit critic Tom Williams described Sometimes, Forever as "an astounding artistic accomplishment that deserves to propel Allison to the very highest ranks of the indie world."^[24] A minority of critics, however, offered more mixed reviews, with Slant Magazine's Thomas Bedenbaugh describing the album as "an ambitious but unmemorable experiment", lacking the "indelible" "lyrical themes and melodies" of her previous work.^[32] Writing for PopMatters, John Amen gave the album 7/10 and remarked, "Absent an infectious melody and accompaniment that establishes rhythmic and/or ambient contrast, her voice tends to grow monotonous and disengaging. But when the aesthetic balances are in place, as they are for much of Sometimes, Forever, then Allison glows like a moon reflecting a dying sun, one of the substantial artists of her generation."^[33]

All tracks were written by Sophie Allison and produced by Daniel Lopatin.