U.S. Girls albums

2012

Gem – 72%

2015

Half Free – 94%

            Meg Remy completely re-does her sound and style with a commentary on women's place in modern society on the often-overlooked record Half Free and it is a wonder to behold. Whether talking about self-esteem, military wives, or mental stability, the subject matter is always gripping and quite often a mix of dance music and haunting keyboards. Songs such as the depressing pathos created in her best song yet "Navy and Cream", the shuffle with a political message "Damn That Valley", and operatic angles of "New Age Thriller" survive more on atmosphere and special effects than music, making the album quite the cinematic experience. Remy’s music is lo-fi and intimate, much like the female pioneers in the 1990’s such as Edith Frost and Lida Husik.

            Her skill with crafting meaningful pop music- much like similar but more famous acts like Lady Gaga, St. Vincent or Yeah Yeah Yeah's- is in the way she makes each track its own sort of saga and can come up with great rock songs in the process. “Sororal Feelings” sets up a mood and then dares to dwell in it long enough to explore it; something a much lesser artist would not have the patience to do. “Sed Knife” is a hard rock version of all this, but still continues the tale of a housewife that wants to break free, that in order to truly become your own person in this world you have to lash out at everything until you carve your own path. Even a brief skit like “Telephone Play” has a point beyond being any kind of filler, as every aspect of this album is a statement of some sort, albeit in a very entertaining way. Though she rose to further fame and mass acceptance on In A Poem Unlimited (2018), Half Free remains Remy’s masterpiece and it is a rebirth of her creative soul.

Best Songs: Navy and Cream, Sed Knife, New Age Thriller

2018

In a Poem Unlimited - 85%

Remy achieves her biggest success yet with her 3rd album of the decade, and I couldn’t be happier about the results. She has managed to maintain her sense of humor while also making social commentary about being a woman in this modern age (the hilarious “Incidental Boogie”), and made it all seem very easy. Whether is she insisting on too much saxophone on “Rage of Politics”, creeping everyone out with the sleek and spooky “Rosebud”, or relaxing and having fun on the 1990’s throwbacks “Pearly Gates” (with DJ turntable scratches) and “M.A.H.”, the album is a hoot and a half. The gorgeous opening track “Velvet for Sale” is a great example of ‘delicacy’ in rock music, if the song was a psychical object it would be a pineapple upside down cake. This is an album that is perfect for the era of 2018, and many people should take from her example of keeping albums shorter at about 37 minutes. Fans of this record I cannot recommend her earlier work enough, especially 2015’s Half Free which is an even more compact and profound artistic statement.

Best Songs: Rosebud, Pearly Gates, Velvet for Sale