Album Review: U.S. Girls - Half Free
By Eli Shively, Contributor
[4AD; 2015]
Rating: 3.5/5
Key Tracks: “Damn That Valley,” “Woman’s Work”
Upon signing to a bigger label for the first time, most artists are overly concerned with image and how they come across to their new, wider audience. However, if her 4AD debut Half Free is any indication, it’s safe to say that Meghan Remy couldn’t care less about how she presents herself. Better known under the stage name U.S. Girls, Remy makes it clear on her most recent full-length that it’ll take quite a bit more than a big indie label to keep her from doing whatever the hell she wants.
This is far from a bad thing--Half Free is experimental in the most accessible of ways, equal parts creepy and danceable. A track like “Damn That Valley” may have the listener tapping their foot almost immediately, while the dark, twisting “Woman’s Work” could entrance those with even the shortest of attention spans. Swirling synths and grooving ‘80s drum samples tie it all together, setting the stage for Remy’s dynamic, powerful voice to take the lead.
Possibly the most enticing part of the record is how it seems to ooze confidence. Remy sings with the self-assurance of someone who has complete faith in what they’re doing, and rightfully so--with Half Free, she’s created something that reflects the independence and vision that comes with making music on one’s own, with the poise of an experienced artist who knows exactly what she wants to achieve. Let’s hope she keeps that attitude.
