Sugary indie pop with a hint of dance
Bless This Mess is flashy, sweet and direct. The songs on this project are consistent with each other, mostly ranging in dynamics and mood. They are fast paced, catchy and aesthetically pleasing. Bless This Mess is a trendy piece, possessing a shiny studio gloss apparent on many modern indie tracks. This production style goes hand in hand with the album’s arrangement and songwriting. The sound selection is refreshingly retro, with 909-style drums and keyboard sounds similar to the Yamaha DX-7. Meghan Remy’s vocals sit effortlessly within these stylistic choices, creating a smooth soundscape for the listener.
“So Typically Now” is a particularly vibrant song on the album. It sticks out, has an addictive groove and overall contributes to a feel-good mood that is present in most pop music. The lyrics are powerful, yet simple, allowing for an easy retention of themes. “So Typically Now” possesses a dancey four on the floor beat complimented by a multitude of booming vocal parts. The backup singers add a certain glow to the mix, echoing Remy’s lines.
“Only Daedalus” is another clever, poppy song as well as the opener to the album, referencing the mythological Ancient Greek inventor Daedalus in its title and lyrics. The meaning of this song is objective, but a lot of themes on it–as well as the rest of the album–could definitely pertain to the recent birth of Remy’s twins. This experience blatantly ties to the album cover yet is subtly scattered throughout the songs. While this experience is heavily conveyed through pop and dance music, U.S. Girl explores a variety of motifs including ballad style piano, traditional rock and an almost Roy Ayers Ubiquity style keyboard/rest of arrangement that is prominent on “R.I.P. Roy G. Biv.”
It’s hard for Bless This Mess to get old considering the way the songs move. There’s something for everyone on this project, yet every track is glued together with the same trademark stamp honed through the band’s seven-album legacy. This sense of cohesiveness really shines on “St. James Way,” another powerful song on the project, this time taking the form of a massive stadium anthem, moving slowly with lots of time to breathe in between parts. Overall, Bless This Mess is an impressive, fun and detailed album. It’s hard to get bored, especially when listening to it for the first time, and certain powerful moments ensure more replays in the future.
Leave a Comment