Top Albums of 2023: U.S. Girls - Bless This Mess
- Sam Santana
- Dec 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Meghan Remy is the creative mastermind behind the musical project U.S. Girls. Remy’s music tends to lie within the experimental art pop genres, evoking a wide range of sounds and influences in her music. Whether creating funky pop tunes, stark emotional ballads, or abstract synth-pop, Remy easily adapts to the various sounds she incorporates and gives her distinctive spin on the genres.
Bless This Mess is Remy's eighth studio album under the moniker U.S. Girls. The album showcases Remy's impressive creativity and talent, blending various genres, ear-catching melodies, and sharp songwriting to create a unique sound. The album pays homage to the fusion of electro-funk, dance, and R&B of the 1980s. The influences range from Prince to Sheena Easton, as well as others during the era. The result is a fun, playful, and danceable record incorporating a retro sound while standing on its own.
The songs:
The opening track, “Only Daedalus” has a groovy beat with bouncing synths and electric keys, providing an excellent introduction to the throwback sound throughout the album. The lyrics of the song explore the concepts of restriction and manipulation.
“The labyrinth that you made for me
You know I'm not impressed at all
You're good with your hands
But where is your soul?
You can chain whatever you want to the wall
Yet Icarus will fall
That boy will always fall.”
If you are familiar with Greek mythology, you may pick up on more of the ties to Daedalus than I can. But from what I can decipher, Remy uses the character of Daedalus and his creation of the Labyrinth as a metaphor for individuals who pursue authority and influence but will ultimately meet with failure in the end, just like Daedalus did with the loss of his son Icarus. Even if that isn’t the case, the driving beat and ear-catching chorus will get you singing along.
“Screen Face” is a sweet, charming song about the disconnect and desperation of a couple whose only way of connecting is through their phones. It is a light-hearted tune that taps into the difficulties and awkwardness couples face dating online. Given some of the lyrics, it seems that this couple’s romance blossomed during the height of the pandemic when we were restricted to our homes.
“Your phone is dying
And I'm dying too
I'm dying to touch you
I'm dying to be in the same room
"No it's right, but it's not my fault
You're the one who waited so long to call
You could've hit me up before the world flipped
Maybe right now wouldn't simulating it.”
The song has a nostalgic feel with light percussion and gentle electric keys that remind me of the upbeat music found in video games from Humongous Entertainment, like Putt-Putt or Fatty Bear. Does anyone remember those games? Anyone? No? Alright, moving on.
"So Typically Now" is an 80s disco-house banger with a drumbeat and bouncing synth that gives the track tons of swagger. The song will make you feel like strutting down the city sidewalks like Tony Monero while Remy critiques capitalism and consumerism.
“Traitors with loans, they run this show
So you sold off your condo
You're shutting it down, they're drawing it out
You always get what you want though
You're under duress, I'm freaking out
Yeah, I'm changing my passwords
Gotta sell all my best to buy more, not less
See you someday in Heaven.”
"Bless This Mess" serves as the emotional centerpiece of the album. The minimal production captures the 80s power ballad sound while giving it a timeless feel. Remy's lyrics celebrate the beauty and inspiration found in the messiness of our daily lives, accompanied by an emotional piano progression. During the chorus, Remy offers inspiration, drawing from a conversation with God.
“You don't need no map when every road ends
I heard from God and she said
"I bless this mess
Goddamn, you're doing your best
I bless this mess
I see you doing your best."
The chorus effect of the piano beautifully complements the retro sound. The placement of this track in the album allows the listeners to slow down and reflect before getting to the most thrilling and electrifying track on the album.
The song "Tux (Your Body Fills Me, Boo)" is easily my favorite on the album. It takes all the elements of the album, disco, R&B, house, and puts them on full display. Do yourself a favor: put on some headphones, close your eyes, listen, and absorb all the grooves and sounds the track offers. This track has everything from an energetic bass and funky guitar strumming to an electrifying synth solo. However, it's the perspective from which it's written that makes the song truly unique. The song is written from the view of a rarely worn tuxedo, who now spends its days stowed away in a plastic bag hung with its owner’s less expensive, casual clothes.
“Oh, I'm lonely, suffocating in this plastic bag
It's been so long since I felt my man
I wish he would put me on and wear me out
'Cause I don't know how long I can hang around.”
The song sees this tuxedo proclaiming the attraction and sophistication it has brought to its owner, only now becoming a discarded costume, no longer valued. However, it finds its agency and confidence, realizing its true worth and that it should not be kept hidden away from the world.
“I was your passport to so many rooms
Your mask of pure exclusivity
Now you treat me like a long gone novelty
A costume, is that how you see me?”
While the song is playful, the lyrics hold a deeper meaning. It highlights how couples can often take their partners for granted and how the initial excitement and joy can fade away slowly over time. We all tend to display the romance and excitement in a new relationship, but as time passes, that spark can fade away, leaving the relationship stagnant.
Closing Thoughts
If you enjoy the expansive sounds of the 80s and fusions of funk, disco, and R&B, I’m sure you'll find something on the album that resonates with you. If you're already familiar with the album or U.S. Girls' previous work, feel free to share your favorite tracks or how Bless This Mess ranks with Remy's discography.
Favorite Tracks:
“Tux (Your Body Fills Me, Boo)”
“Bless This Mess”
“Only Daedalus”
“So Typically Now”
“R.I.P. Roy G. Biv”
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