eee gee Delivers an Indie Pop Triumph in the Kaleidoscopic 'SHE-REX'
Photo: Niklas Adrian Vindelev
eee gee’s newest album, SHE-REX, is a colorful indication of her expansive artistic vision, arriving as an indie-pop triumph finished with a subtle disco shimmer.
The title track welcomes listeners to the world of SHE-REX with a haunting acoustic guitar. eee gee wanders through harmonies laden with ethereal reverb, creating a lofty soundscape. Although the arrangement remains sparse and folky, the vocals invoke moments of R&B with percussive, punctuated melodies.
“School Reunion” picks up into a wistful groove with a retro '80s feel. A synth bass plunges forward with an unrelenting pulse, and string hits add a cinematic flair to the track. It’s an inherently nostalgic song, and coupled with the narrative lyrics that look back at faded high school sparks.
With a bit of Mac Demarco in the wavy guitar chords, “Ghost House” nods to indie-surf-rock ease. eee gee’s rich low tones stand out in this track, and it also doesn't hurt that it features some of my favorite lyrics from the album in “Now you mentioned me to your mom on speakerphone / she says, ‘Oh, I’m so glad you’re seeing someone!’ / and I’m like, ‘Did he just use me like a buildup in a song?’ / it never gets to where it could’ve gone…”
“(search:) how to break up with a friend” introduces us to a softer side of eee gee, with a lilting piano taking center stage. There’s a jazzier silkiness to the vocal as they cascade through vibrant harmonies that buzz over key lyrics in signature eee gee fashion. A paired duo in my eyes, “promise to pick up the phone” croons about the fear of never talking to a past love again, while “new years ex” details the aftermath of watching your relationship get erased through deleted Facebook posts and stolen sweatshirts that are starting to lose their meaning.
“did you ever love someone” is an anthem of bittersweet acceptance, acting as a sort of “end of Act 1” for the album, leading us into “how to heal a friend,” which features an infectiously catchy melody that adds brightness to the otherwise downcast narrative.
The final three songs are a seamless trifecta of eee gee’s artistry. “Perfect 10” is like a modern Fleetwood Mac hit, with disco beats and bell-like synths that set the '70s mood for the cover of The Bee Gees’ “More Than A Woman” that follows. The cover perfectly captures eee gee’s disco-kissed indie pop sound, as she bends the song to a sultry pace. Finally, “space anxiety” closes out the album, both melancholy and romantically hopeful in its introspection, much like the rest of SHE-REX.
Listen to SHE-REX below:
