U.S. Women
Scratch It
4AD
Jul 02, 2025
Internet Unique
Name it dance ground liberation. That’s the mantra U.S. Women (aka Meg Remy) will instantly imprint in your mind, after wooing you to groove with lyrics like “This choreography is just for me” on “Like James Stated.” This retro sounding earwormy opening observe on new LP Scratch It makes slicing a rug sound like a name to motion not solely due to Remy’s lyrics, but additionally the classic Memphis soul and sepia tinged rock tones of her crack backing band: guitarist Dillon Watson, keyboardists Jo Schornikow and Tina Norwood, drummer Domo Donoho, bassist Jack Lawrence, and harmonica participant Charlie McCoy.
McCoy is an particularly effective addition. Having labored with everybody from Elvis, to Bob Dylan, to Roy Orbison, and George Jones, the Nashville session establishment breathes each atmospheric and lyrical notes onto these songs together with his harp. Take again finish observe “Pay Streak,” on which McCoy’s harmonica drifts in hauntingly. Remy counters with expansively poetic lyricism, particularly strains like “earth leans into its pirouette” in an at instances communicate sing-y supply, as if constructing on Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde feats with McCoy.
Remy additionally reveals shocking vocal vary throughout these 9 tracks. On nearer “No Fruit,” Watson’s guitar instantly gnashes into the observe, like an apex predator that simply bared its tooth. This prompts Remy to sing so forcefully you may hear her take audible breaths between strains, as if ranting and snarling. Earlier, on the “Home of the Rising Solar” evoking “The Clearing,” she strikes an elusive overlap between chanting and crooning. McCoy makes the vivid vignettes she doles out on line after line soar, every harmonica be aware like a gust lifting the plot to dizzying new narrative heights.
Centerpiece observe “Bookends” clocks in at almost 12 minutes. That’s an abrupt distinction to the opposite Scratch It songs which are largely lower than 1 / 4 of that size, to not point out the album being solely 9 songs in complete. Remy sings mini refrains as in the event that they had been dirges throughout this expansive tune. One in regards to the burial of feminine characters is very chilling. The dramatic temper is furthered by Schornikow and Norwood, who push their keys to the brink with an prolonged jam that harkens again to The Doorways’ deepest, darkest, and most apocalyptic unhealthy journeys. The tune’s musical, vocal, and lyrical breadth additionally keep it up the custom of Dylan’s “Hurricane” and different all-time story songs.
And whereas Scratch It lives as much as its aged influences, Remy provides these 9 tracks an simple immediacy, each along with her singing and lyricism—that are eerily left of subject—alongside along with her spot-on style in backing musicians and homage-motifs. All that helps this new U.S. Women album sound prefer it’s haunting the golden oldies that impressed your favourite modern artists. (www.yousgirls.com)
Creator ranking: 8/10
