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#37
U.S. Girls | In a Poem Unlimited
4AD
According to Liz Itkowski: “In a Poem Unlimited, the sixth studio album from U.S. Girls is unrelenting, taking a critical eye to sexism, capitalism, and the inherent violence spawned by both. On the indie pop project from Meg Remy, the dance floor is littered with the bodies of anyone complicit.
Musically, the album is filled with surprises. It’s full of strong pop singles, stylistically ranging from flirty dance to electroclash punk. But, as with all U.S. Girls albums to date, it’s not simply an easy listen. Her clear-eyed evaluations of an unkind world obsessed with power are full of violence and vitriol. “Incidental Boogie,” exemplifies the tension perfectly—gyrating rock, breathless vocals, and an unflinching portrait of domestic abuse.
On an album of top 40 melodies and dance jams, the format is accessible, but the thesis is more cerebral. The anger and activism are in her words, and she is taking no prisoners. And as Howard Beale shouts in Network, when he beseeches his audience to get “mad as hell”—“Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!””
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