Indie and Lo-Fi music reviews

I think I would venture to say this is my favourite Kimya album (although they are all good and have their place) and perhaps one of my favourite lo-fi, anti-folk albums ever. Kimya has a brilliant way of making you feel like bouncing and crying at the same time. Her melodies are generally light, and often on this album the lyrics are quite heavy.

Will You Be Me? is a fabulous song that drifts you away into a sort of fantasy/lullaby world (this song in fact is probably what pushed the album to the top for me). The Beer is catchy but haunting and disturbing while being somewhat amusing. Who else could pull of throwing in a reference to the Mad Max movies?

I was lucky enough to see Kimya live in a small grungy club when I was in the UK, and she is brilliant. At that time I only knew her more recent stuff, and even her songs that I didn't know had captivated me. She has a magnetic personality and an unmatched talent for portraying how life is both desperate and amusing at the same time. Her work is very personal and somewhat confessional (like Plath's poetry, perhaps), but it is still very relatable and accessible.

Give Kimya a listen. Often it takes a few listens for the genius to come out, but I think you'll find it's worth the effort. If, however, you like a more polished sound, perhaps try her later album the Hidden Vagenda, which is a bit more produced.

I am severely in love with this album. It is vital that you are aware of the beauty and creativity of this artist. To begin with, the lyrics are clever and original. Clever and original may even be understatements. They're humorous, but at the same time saddening and beautiful. It's as if I could have written these songs, except that I'm not talented and eloquent and I can't play guitar.
In a world of digitally enhanced voices and repeated dull power chords considered acceptable guitar lines, Dawson's voice and music is refreshingly girlish and raw. It makes me smile to hear someone with perhaps not the most conventionally perfect voice, but one that is impressive and different on its own level.
I think it's possibly that I enjoy solo Kimya Dawson even MORE than The Moldy Peaches, which is quite a bold statement for me.
If you don't buy this album, you are depriving yourself.

This is a great, surreal and soulful album. All of the songs hold up. On "For Katie", Kimya gives a shout out to Jeffrey Lewis, another great contemporary New York songwriter who you should check out.

I'm not sure why this is ranked 169,xxx, it should be up in the 167's or 166's. The Richard Young do a very good job of what they do, which is kind of a mystery, but if you like bands on the Jagjaguwar label, you will like this. I play this CD a lot, and I can't really sing along, but it keeps me good company.