Emily Frembgen’s career as an entertainer began when she started taking classes at the Denver Center Theatre Company. Music came after she moved to New York at age 15. After dropping out of high school and home schooling herself, she began to write and record songs on a four-track recorder in her room.
She recorded a couple albums with the Denver indie rock band Language of Termites. Since then, she has recorded several albums and EPs on her own, including the memorably titled My Cat from Hell. She’s pretty good at coming up with memorable titles -case in point is her latest It’s Me or the Dog. It is a collection of nine songs that shows her prowess as a lyricist and as an artist who moves easily from subdued folk to dance-worthy alt-country.
The album begins with “Butterfly”, a subdued song that features just fingerpicked acoustic guitar and Frembgen’s vocals. It is similar in style and sound to “F–k Was I” by Jenny Owen Youngs.
It doesn’t take long to realize her strength as a lyricist. Her lyrics make it seem like you are getting a glimpse into her journal. “Sad Affair” contains some good examples, like when she sings, “What we shared felt pretty all right to me, but you wanted more than what I had.” Later in the song, she sings, “You could never date me, but you still think I’m cool.” The melody of this song is layered with piano and harmonica as Frembgen seeks the answer to what she could have done differently with the subject of the song. At other times, her lyrics pack a little more punch. In “Flower/Weed”, she sings, “My heart’s a flower. Your heart’s a weed growing like a disease.” it’s rare that a line so scathing can also be so poetic. The fact that she sings it in such a quiet tone makes the line hit that much harder.
She’s not just good at singing powerful lyrics. She’s also good at delivering lyrics that are unexpected. When she sings, “He held on to me in the morning”, you think she might continue with some sweet sentiment about being with a special someone. She immediately counters that with, “like he never will again”, and you can’t help but feel the punch of the lyrics.
Frembgen keeps you guessing as she moves easily from subdued folk songs like the opening “Butterfly” to more alt-country songs like “Changes”, a song whose melody draws an easy comparison to Sarah Shook and The Disarmers.
If you’re looking for a song to dance to, “Hometown” is the song for you. This one is uptempo with a rhythm that is sure to get you moving. There is an interesting contrast in this song. While the tempo is upbeat, Frembgen’s vocals remain on the quieter side by comparison.
It’s Me or the Dog by Emily Frembgen is a strong study in writing both melodies and powerful lyrics. It doesn’t hurt that those lyrics are sung in a sweet and clear voice. She has clearly put a lot of time into her craft, and it comes through in this album that will be available everywhere on September 24th.
Photo credit: Adrian Buckmaster
