On her newest U.S. Girls project, Meghan Remy makes her best and most polarizing record to date: a politically charged, abrasive record with chilling lyrics and danceable grooves. A killer album.
U.S. Girls is the project from Canadian-born Meghan Remy with several projects under the name, including Half Free in 2016, an album full of dark, bold, in your face dance pop that pulls from 70's and 80's pop. I haven't really listened to much of anything Remy has put out until her newest project, In a Poem Unlimited. It's an even bolder and upfront record than Half Free and is a knockout punch one track after the next. The production is insanely impressive, like the grooves and songs on this thing are killer.
When listening to the album from start to finish, you notice the big influence of disco and even 60's pop. Lead single "M.A.H." which stands for "Mad As Hell," is an excellent example of this, with a killer chorus and sharp melodies. It's quite the angry political pop anthem, lyrically similar to that of "Damn That Valley," except with more wit and detail this time around. "Rage of Plastics" noisily bops with a swinging restlessness, with a solid saxophone solo thrown in the track. I've read before that this song has surf rock tendencies, and I agree. The album has an interlude of sorts, titled "Why Must I Lose My Voice When I Have Something to Say," which has a clip from an infamous fire that has the singer left unable to express herself in a time of need. "Velvet 4 Sale" opens up the album perfectly without a doubt. It's an anxious single that's full of male violence and dominance towards women with Remy reminding the listener that she is in charge and she is the dominant one, not the violent, objectifying man. It's gratifying, lyrically and sonically, with Remy's hushed, chilled delivery. It's one of the most explosive singles on the record and of 2018. Its chorus is inescapable and the guitar playing is razor sharp. "Rosebud" is gorgeously structured with strings and a much sweeter approach sonically. Its chorus is also inescapable and the melodies are chilling and almost stops you in your tracks. "Pearly Gates" is an absolutely solid single production wise. Inspired by 90's hip hop, the single is lyrically about a man's confusion or lack of knowledge about a woman's "pearly gates" (I'll let you connect the dots here).
The album slows into a nice, calmer break with "L-Over," a ballad taking the "L" out of "lover" and Remy meaning it's "over." The washed, swaying instrumental is very satisfying to the ear. The groove on "Incidental Boogie" is killer and is probably one of the best grooves of 2018. "Poem" may be the lowest point on the record, but it's still a solid electronic, beat driven pop tune. The closer, the nearly eight minute jam "Time" is a straight up jam. The instrumentation by this band on the track is insane, with speedy drums, rapid guitar, bumpy bass, and a killer vocal performance. The sax later in the track is insane too.
So, Remy and her band really are captivating on In a Poem Unlimited. Her vocals and lyrics are polarizing and the production is extensively the best on a U.S. Girls record. It's the most accessible and appealing record she's released to date. Yes, it's another angry, politically charged record, but it's charged with groovy, danceable production that is literally inescapable in its own right. Her vocal performance is unique and intriguing enough to listen from start to finish. At 37 minutes, it's crazy to think about how much excellence Remy has put into less than 40 minutes of material. In a Poem Unlimited is by far the best U.S. Girls record, one that shows that Remy is not to be messed with.
My Rating: 9 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Velvet 4 Sale," "Rosebud," "Pearly Gates," "M.A.H."
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