# Clean (Soccer Mommy album)

Clean is the debut studio album by American indie rock singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy. It was released on March 2, 2018 through Fat Possum Records.
The album's title is derived from the closing track of Taylor Swift's 2014 studio album 1989.

## Composition and lyrics

Categorized as an indie pop album, Clean is also said to contain elements of grunge, power pop and pop-punk. The tracks are characterized as having a "sinuous, lived-in feel." The album alternates between "cheeky," uptempo tracks and softer tracks that "blossom into fluttering, luscious finales." The album's closing track "Wildflowers" has been called "hypnotizing." The album's guitar work incorporates arpeggiated chord progressions and distortion. The album's lyrical content is said to be more mature than those on Collection. Characterized as a "melancholy interspersed with anger," the album's lyrics explore themes such as infatuation, betrayal, acceptance, insecurity, emotional validation, power dynamics, and idealization/devaluation. Jenn Pelly of Pitchfork said, "This soft music is not precious. It’s gnarly and intense, like the heart itself."

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Aggregate scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.6/10 |
| Metacritic | 78/100 |
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| DIY | |
| Exclaim! | 8/10 |
| The Independent | |
| Mojo | |
| NME | |
| Pitchfork | 8.4/10 |
| Q | |
| Uncut | 7/10 |
| Vice (Expert Witness) | A− |
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from music critics, Clean received an average score of 78, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Thomas Smith of NME praised the album's production and Allison's lyrics, calling Clean "a dazzling and devastating triumph." Chris Gee of Exclaim! wrote, "Allison is promptly hitting her stride and clearly gaining confidence and showing it with strands of snarkiness and angst mixed within her delicate, vulnerable songs." DIY magazine wrote, "In typical Soccer Mommy fashion, there’s little flashy footwork to be found here; only expertly-shaped understated songs that give more with every listen. Stepping beyond the groundwork of her debut collection, and sounding all the more confident for it, Sophie Allison shoots, and she scores."
Critics made note of the heightened sense of maturity present in the album's lyrics compared to those on Collection. Paste wrote, "Allison is young, her slight 20 years evident not only in her youthful voice, but her talk of missed calls from mom, parked cars, and hanging around after school. But Allison does it all in an honest, uncomplicated, and well-crafted way that Clean is anything but juvenile." The Independent wrote, "Clean isn’t just about the teenage experience; [it] encapsulates emotions and situations that are as versatile as her sound. Whether you’re reminiscing about late-night make out sessions in high school or surrounded by plenty of “cool” girls in your city, Soccer Mommy’s introspection is something that defies age."

### Accolades

Accolades for Clean :
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank |
| Paste | US | The 50 Best Albums of 2018 | 4 |
| Pitchfork | US | The 50 Best Albums of 2018 | 27 |
| Rolling Stone | US | The 50 Best Albums of 2018 | 16 |
| Noisey | US | The 100 Best Albums of 2018 | 45 |
| Billboard | US | 50 Best Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks | 40 |
| Stereogum | US | The 50 Best Albums of 2018 | 7 |
| Uproxx | US | The 50 Best Albums of 2018 | 14 |
| The Ringer | US | The Best Albums of 2018 | 3 |
| The New York Times (Jon Caramanica list) | US | The 28 Best Albums of 2018 | 1 |
| The New York Times (Jon Pareles list) | US | The 28 Best Albums of 2018 | 8 |
| Nashville Scene | US | Top Local Albums Critics' Poll | 5 |
| Newsweek | US | The Best Albums 2018 | 7 |
| The Seattle Times | US | The 10 Best Pop Albums of 2018 | 8 |
| Esquire | US | The 20 Best Albums of 2018 | 12 |
| The New Zealand Herald | New Zealand | TimeOut's Best of 2018: Top 20 albums | 13 |
| Exclaim! | Canada | Top 20 Pop & Rock Albums: Best of 2018 | 17 |
| BrooklynVegan | US | Top 50 Albums of 2018 | 21 |
| The Line of Best Fit | UK | The Best Albums of 2018 | 30 |
| NME | UK | Albums of the Year 2018 | 39 |
| The A.V. Club | US | The Best Indie and Rock Albums of 2018 | N/A |
| Los Angeles Times | US | Best Albums of 2018 | N/A |

## Track listing

All tracks are written by Sophie Allison

## Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Clean liner notes.
* Sophie Allison – guitar; vocals; bass
* Julian Powell – lead guitar
* Nick Brown – drums
* Gabe Wax – piano; synthesizer; mellotron; bass; guitar; drum programming; percussion
* Roger Kleinman – piano; synth
* Ali Chant – mixing
* Sami Alam – front cover photo