Their third release in two years, What You Say and What You Mean is the newest project by DIY alt-rockers Remember Karen. The Oakland-based quartet specialize in melodic tracks that mystify with their cryptic, abstract lyrics (“your ghost always sits in a suburban chair / traces of the not-yet in a parking lot”), yet stay far, far away from the cringe-worthy realm of fake depth. The best part is, they don’t take themselves too seriously, either. They aren’t afraid of rhyming “modesto” with “unimpressed-o” in “Afternoon Waking Life” (streaming below)—a move made even more successful by the whirlwind chorus that follows it. Their music nods at the early work of indie rock legends Death Cab, working in a similar stripped-down style to their debut LP Something About Airplanes. However, that is not to say it is derivative. This is not a recreation of something that already exists, but rather, a revival—one that we’re excited to see unfold. Remember Karen will be playing their record release show at 924 Gilman on November 12th at 6 pm. – Lilly Milman, photograph by Kevin Steen
Until then, you can exclusively stream the entire record below. The album will be available on Remember Karen’s Bandcamp page starting on November 10th.