listen to U.S. Girls' new album on 4AD, 'Half Free'

by Andrew Sacher

Meg Remy’s new U.S. GIrls album and first for 4AD, Half Free, is out today. You’ve already heard “Damn That Valley,” “Woman’s Work” and “Window Shades”. which Bill awesomely described like this:

You don’t even need to know the lyrics to get what’s going on, heartbreak runs electric through her powerhouse vocal performance. With equally sweeping production, built around a sample of Gloria Ann Taylor’s disco cut “Love is a Hurting Thing,” it comes off kind off like The Crystals being produced by Massive Attack.

The whole album is great, and each song is very much its own beast. Some of it’s really minimal, like album opener “Sororal Feelings” and the hazy “Navy & Cream,” but other songs like lead single “Damn That Valley” are genuinely danceable. My personal favorite song is also the one that sounds least like the rest of the album, “Sed Knife,” which has Meg putting her unique twist on anthemic ’70s rock. But the most overwhelming track has to be album closer “Woman’s Work.” No matter what mode she’s in, it’s Meg’s voice that really makes all of these songs next level.

It’s the kind of album you should hear start to finish, and you can do that below via Spotify/Rdio. If you like what you hear, pick up a copy from 4AD.

U.S. Girls just played a short set at NYC’s Manderley Bar at McKittrick Hotel this week (here’s a pic), and she’ll begin a proper tour later this month. The tour includes two more NYC shows in November at Alphaville and Mercury Lounge.

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