'Em Are I
Jeffrey Lewis · 2009
44 min · 11 tracks · anti-folk
A whimsical blend of storytelling and lo-fi melodies, reflecting a unique perspective on everyday life and personal narratives.
Top tracks — play these first
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Broken Broken Broken Heart — This track highlights Lewis's knack for combining humor with heartfelt emotion, presenting a relatable exploration of heartbreak through vivid imagery.
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Slogans — Opening the album, this song cleverly critiques consumer culture with catchy hooks and whimsical lyrics, setting the tone for Lewis's playful yet poignant style.
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The Upside-Down Cross — This lengthy track showcases Lewis's storytelling prowess, weaving together themes of existential questioning with a compelling narrative structure that engages the listener.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends unique storytelling with lo-fi melodies, showcasing distinctiveness in its approach to anti-folk.
What we noticed
- Several tracks feature unconventional song structures, often shifting between different melodies and tempos within the same song.
- Lyrical themes frequently revolve around personal anecdotes and social commentary, delivered in a conversational manner.
- The production is intentionally lo-fi, with raw instrumentation that complements the whimsical storytelling.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- quirky storytelling with whimsical charm
- short bursts of reflective humor
- playful melodies for casual listening
- light-hearted narratives about daily life
Maybe skip if you
- prefer serious, heavy themes
- want polished, high-production sound
Where this album fits
- Career context
- When 'Em Are I' was released in 2009, Jeffrey Lewis was establishing himself within the anti-folk scene, following his critically acclaimed album 'City & Eastern Songs'. This record marked his continued evolution as an artist, showcasing his distinctive blend of comic book-inspired lyrics and folk-inflected melodies.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Daniel Johnston· The Mountain Goats· Fionn Regan
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Slogans 2:32
- 2 Roll Bus Roll 4:52
- 3 If Life Exists 4:07
- 4 Broken Broken Broken Heart 3:42
- 5 Whistle Past the Graveyard 2:28
- 6 To Be Objectified 3:44
- 7 The Upside-Down Cross 8:01
- 8 Bugs and Flowers 4:13
- 9 Good Old Pig Gone to Avalon 2:42
- 10 It's Not Impossible 3:03
- 11 Mini Theme: Moocher From the Future 5:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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