Customer Reviews

Remember That I Love You

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kimya Dawson's second album for K Records continues the legacy displayed to such great effect on its critically acclaimed predecessor, Hidden Vagenda. Two of its songs were previously released on a self-titled EP with Matty Pop Chart. With some of the most engaging and genuinely emotional songwriting available, Remember That I Love You is the kind of album that you listen to with a group of friends, or with people who will soon become your friends. When you listen to it alone, it will simply remind you that you, indeed, are loved.

"Tire Swing" begins Remember That I Love You with the kind of light-hearted reminiscence at which Dawson excels. She has an amazing ability to assemble a string of seemingly stream-of-consciousness phrases into a memorable narrative with a catchy hook. Lines like "I never met a Tobey that I didn't like" (one of them, Matt Tobey -- Matty Pop Chart himself -- appears on several songs) simply cannot be found on any other artist's albums. Paul Baribeau's sparse supporting vocals lend something special.

"Loose Lips" is a ditty full of terrific (often rude) rat-a-tat wordplay (you can occasionally hear Dawson gasp a breath) with a fun protestational chorus, "We won't stop until somebody calls the cops, and even then, we'll start again, and just pretend that nothing ever happened," the title of the album, and a good deal of politics. "I Like Giants" was inspired by a conversation with Genevieve Elverum (Woelv), and its narrative style includes a good portion of that talk, along with Dawson's response to it. Lines like "I am just a speck of dust inside a giant's eye" and "I like giants, especially girl giants," accompanied by Matt Tobey on ukulele and Erin Tobey on bells, result in a fairy-tale sound that could be its own nursery rhyme.

"France" is "mostly about what a good friend, musician, and dancer [David-Ivar Herman D?ne] is" and is based on his song "Sheer Wonder." It is a sweet reminiscence with a beautiful mandolin underline (again from Jake Kelly) and YouTube has a film of Kimya and David duetting on the original. Some parts of the melody are a little out of her range, but the genuine feeling comes through.

Darker themes rear their heads on Remember That I Love You, as well, but always in a form that makes them a little less scary. Some of the lyrics, like in "Better Weather," are really obscure on the surface, but they still manage to get their meaning across through the feeling. "My Mom" is an amazing melange of nightmares, Kimya's ill mother, and Sesame Street. Her initial frantic delivery softens later for effect, showing that it's not just the words and music that matter here, but how they're heard. (Similarly, Jake Kelly's violin provides a nice accompaniment to Dawson's gravelly singing on "Caving In.")

"The Competition" was written in response to a request by Esopus Magazine for songs about imaginary friends. Dawson's inspiration was a description sent in to the magazine by Mia Gomez ("Type A at the age of 5!") and the song first appeared on the CD enclosed with the Spring 2005 issue. The description was merely a springboard for her own ideas, though, and if you read the linked description (also called "The Competition"), you'll see how different the voices in Dawson's head are from Gomez's. "I Miss You" is thirty-seven seconds of longing. The shortest song by far, it practically requires a second listen, just to make sure you heard what you thought you heard.

M.J. Geier and Kimya wrote "12/26" in response to the 2004 tsunami disaster and, among other things, they compare it to America's own date-related tragedy. It's pretty intense lyrically ("everyone she's ever loved is gone, gone, gone"), though the Matt Tobey's ukulele lightens things up a bit, but only as far as making the subject a more tolerable listen. If the music were droning, the emotions would be unbearable.

Luckily, this is followed by "My Rollercoaster," an ode to touring, and the happiest, most upbeat song on Remember That I Love You, reminding us that actually "[gets] paid for being Kimya Dawson." Also included are several songs that Dawson lists as her favorite sing-alongs (like Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again," Metallica's "One," and Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life") and the album ends with a big mixed chorus of "Life is a highway and I'm gonna ride it, and everyday's a winding road, yeah! My rollercoaster's got the biggest ups and downs. As long as it keep goin' round, it's unbelievable."

And, then, just when you're about to join in on the chorus yourself, the album is over, just like that, with no closing other than a final guitar strum. It seems short, anyway, at only thirty-five minutes, but the abrupt ending makes it moreso. Luckily, it's easy to start over from the beginning and enjoy Kimya Dawson's particular brand of folk-rock (and the art by Jeffrey Lewis) once again, as she states repeatedly to each and every listener, "Remember That I Love You."

I've discovered Kimya Dawson only a few months back, having heard "Caving In" and "I Like Giants" on a local station. I confess to being baffled at first by her sing-song delivery and her overly earnest themes, but I'm always on the lookout for someone with a different approach to music and her songs certainly catch the ear. After a few more chance encounters, I picked up the album and was quickly won over by her enthusiam and unique sound. The songs on 'Remember That I Love You' may at first remind you of the dorky girl you went to church camp with who played campfire guitar; but it would be misleading to say the charm of this album is only its unassuming sound. After a number of listens I have found myself filled with considerable admiration for Kimya's arrangements, in their colorfullness and spareness. They are perfect little origami songs with everything in place in just the right proportion. Folksy and idiosyncratic, but quite fun and sometimes quite moving (the song "12/26" is an example). I can think of a number of rather more famous bands who could benefit from listening to this album and dissecting what Kimya has done here. Who knows where her ideas come from, but she's on to something. No question about it.

Highly original.

I can assume that I am one of many that hadn't heard of Kimya Dawson until Juno, and "Remember That I Love You" features most of the songs she contributed to the soundtrack. I expected that these songs would all be the standouts, and though Loose Lips is possibly still the best song on the album with a catchy-as-hell chorus and cheery tune, the whole album is strong start to finish.

I'm usually one to go for punk, hardcore, metal and the like, but the fact that this is acoustic and more pop than the Moldy Peaches wasn't a factor - I enjoyed especially "My Mom", "Underground" and "I Like Giants", as well as Tire Swing, Loose Lips and the full version of My Rollercoaster, which even features a little Metallica reference.

This isn't music that I'd typically listen to, but I loved it. Definitely worth the purchase.

This cd will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. Highly original, nobody that I know sings the way that she does. A must have CD if you are looking for originality!

This is the best Kimya Dawson CD ever. Her self esteem is up and she is singing about political issues too, she still has the myriad references to dead babies, which is why I love her so, you just can't get that anywhere else! Great CD, and even if she did record it in her closet or basement it sounds like way better quality than the Moldy Peaches CD (which on one of the tracks has the phone ringing in the background). MUST HERE THIS CD, some songs are available to preview on her website so check it out if you want to hear the awesomeness for yourself!!!!

Perfect music for adolescent girls, with the added benefit that their moms (I'm 30) will love it too.
Kimya is a solid, talented voice for girls.

Kimya Dawson produces such amazing lyrics and music! Since hearing her music in the film 'Juno,' I've been hooked. Bashed by Barbara Walters as "I don't know what they see . . ." because of her non-glitz style, she
may be THE poet of today.

Heard her songs in the Juno film, watch it if you haven't, and he songs and style kind of stood out. I found myself watching the film and wanting more of her songs to come on. Bought this CD and one other. I was soo pleased. If I would of heard something like this 20 years ago I'd be on the road right now, but only if I could've brought my wonderful wife along. Buy this CD if you like clever heart felt songs. Keep it up Kimya.

I have been into Kimya since her going solo from the Moldy peaches and i have to admit that she has gotten me through some serious times. "I'm trying to feel brave cause when I'm brave other people feel brave....." Any fan of Juno should seriously consider collecting every Kimya album, to support her and independent music and Panda and the pursuit of truth as it rages everyday.....

It's a good CD that I reccomend if you enjoyed the music you heard from her on the Juno soundtrack.

However, for 15 dollars you'd think they wouldn't completely F you in the A on the packaging. All you get is a simple cardboard sleeve which offers absolutely zero protection for your 15 dollar investment in this band. Way to skimp. I'd understand this if the CD cost 6-10 dollars - but being as this is one of the most expensive CD's I've purchased in a long time you'd expect some sort of decent treatment for the physical product.