Adam Green makes me feel like a girl with a grade-school crush. If I were twelve, I’d call him a hottie. His deep voice makes me weak in the knees and his words are like candy. He’s the kind of guy who (at least on his cover) isn’t traditionally handsome, but as a performer he’s got that mysterious “it” that makes me really sit down and listen.

While he is best known for pairing with Kimya Dawson as part of The Moldy Peaches, he has in the past few years also pursued a solo career. The New York City “anti-folk” singer-songwriter has perfected the art of weaving sex, pop culture, politics and irreverence into tight two-minute packages. Green is every bit the artist, but seems refreshingly devoid of arrogance. He obviously is aware of his talented but unlike the hoity-toity self-important modern crop pseudo-talented singer-songwriters(?) I actually appreciate nearly every moment of his music.

I seriously doubt Green intended to make a giddy school-girl out of this calloused music reviewer—but that’s precisely what he did with his Gemstones album. It is Green’s third release and proceeded by 2002’s Garfield and 2003’s Friends of Mine. Stripped of the yawn-worthy string arrangements of his prior release, Gemstones makes the songs the highlight of the recording.

Green is a good lyricist—his imagery is appealing although obviously not for all tastes. He talks about sex, drugs, drinking, and a host of other non-PC topics. I find this lack of apparent boundaries to be most fascinating—who wants to be bombarded by a bunch of unrealistic and flowery love talk anyway? He is candid in his words. The fact that Green manages to rhyme Carolina and vagina is most remarkable. However, I can easily see that listeners are either going to love him or hate him.

Me? Well, aside from all giddiness I do like his music. I see his descriptions and ideas as something like a ramped up, no-holds-barred version of Ben Folds. Folds is incredibly talented and occasionally steps over the bounds of decency, but Green ignores all boundaries as I like his rebellion and I enjoy his succinct two-minute musical snapshots. It’s unbelievable that anybody could tire of something in that short period of time. While the arrangements remind me of Folks, his rich, lovely voice is actually more reminiscent of Leonard Cohen as filtered through Rufus Wainwright.

Gemstones is immediately attractive. The title track is modest and kicky and puts Green’s voice and his cheeky lyrics in the limelight. It’s as if he tosses together a whole bunch of words he likes and makes them rhyme prettily. Sometimes the songs are profound, but mostly they are just silly. In the case of Gemstones and most other songs this makes me happy. Green makes me smile.

Outside of the title-track, I also really on keen on Over the Sunrise, Carolina, Emily, Who’s Your Boyfriend, Bible Club and Chubby Princesss. In particular, Emily is fabulous with the girlfriend-swapping, sexuality, and glee. It all works so wonderfully—I can’t imagine a more adorable song. Acoustic guitars, organs, and Green’s jarringly “classic” voice would appeal to everybody if not for the lyrics. This is clearly his intention. Make people like the music and then make them actually listen. Those fans left will indeed be true. Gemstones is best taken in on the whole. It’s the kind of album that leaves me smiling on the inside. Each is a tiny snippet of pure folk-pop gold and the overall album is positively scrumptious.

Green’s voice and lyrics are the centerpiece on this, his best album to date. The only real problem is with the anti-Bush anthem Choke on a Cock. I completely get his sentiments (and even agree) but it seems forced especially in the intention. Since the other tracks are so very “out there” it stands out oddly and uncomfortably. I enjoy Green most when he doesn’t try quite so hard to have a message (though I’m positive his vehemence was natural).

The words Green tosses around may make little sense but they do create an overall picture. I like them just fine and am willing to bet others will be similarly impressed. Here are a few brief samples of his peculiar lyricism:

From Over the Sunrise:
Walked into a coffee shop
In time to grab a soda pop
Before the dog exploded on the curbside
Yesterday my hair was gray
I turned and faced the other way
Back behind the mirror where the kids play

From Emily:
Everybody come around the window shop,
I guess they’ve never seen the moves I got,
I wanna be with what the people see,
I wanna dance with Emily.

From Bible Club:
She's my baby, she's my love
Pixie Queen of Bible Club
Seen her round the fountain sipping cokes
Crafting brand new Polish jokes

If in your world, weird is good then I can’t recommend Gemstones enough. It’s entertaining and weird and wonderful all at the same time but certainly not for everybody.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Track Listing:
01. Gemstones
02. Down on the Street
03. He’s the Brat
04. Over the Sunrise
05. Crackhouse Blues
06. Before My Bedtime
07. Carolina
08. Emily
09. Who’s Your Boyfriend
10. Country Road
11. Choke on a Ciock
12. Bible Club
13. Chubby Princess
14. Losing on a Tuesday
15. Teddy Boys

Recommended: Yes