the singularity of being and nothingness
Posts tagged Emery
Album Review: Emery’s “We Do What We Want”
Apr 1st
In the extremely remote chance that an album review could be “objective” (which is hideously false), I will not feign such notions: I am a devoted Emery fan, so what follows is unadulterated fanboy subjectivity. Go read something else if that offends you.
We Do What We Want has been highly anticipated for some time now. First, it was released under Tooth and Nail Records‘ sister label, Sold State Records, which is *typically* known for releasing “harder” music. This, of course, led to much speculation that this album would be Emery’s “hardest” to date (it’s not). Second, Tooth and Nail/Solid State did a really nice job via social media of promoting the album. From releasing certain tracks in advance, to putting together nice pre-order packages, to inventing fun and interactive games for fans, the March 29th, 2011 release date was hard to miss.
And like other Emery releases, it was not one to miss. WDWWW is pretty much what you would expect from Emery–pounding, in-your-face songs that rarely let up, yet are consistently underpinned by really thoughtful lyrics. The classic interplay of alternating melody and screaming is brilliantly pulled off, and the album is diverse enough to not become redundant, while maintaining enough More >
Emery’s “Jesus Gave Us Christmas”
Dec 11th
For those who don’t know, Emery ranks among my favorite bands right now. I love their in-your-face music, but also admire the thoughtfulness that they put into their lyrics, as well as the steps they’ve taken over the years to grow as a band. Over the course of their last 4 releases, the band has explored new styles, tried new things, and I think has created within their fan base an expectation for innovation.
If you’ve listened to Emery–ever–you might expect their Christmas offering for this year’s Happy Christmas compilation (by Tooth and Nail records) to be more of the same intense approach that has been a hallmark of their music (including their last Christmas single, Ho Ho Hey, a Way for Santa’s Sleigh). However, Emery’s contribution is atypical, in more ways than one.
What is most immediately apparent is the aesthetic of the music. A far cry from the scream-core for which they are most well known (and loved), this song is a stripped down acoustic set that would could be easily imagined to come from a group like Copeland. It’s simply, but tastefully arranged and composed, and I think really shows that Emery is capable of much more musically than what some More >
CD Review – Emery's "I'm Only a Man"
Oct 4th
Within the last six months, my little brother has introduced me to some seriously cool music. One of my favorite bands from this "education" is Emery, a hard-hitting "screamo" band hailing from the Tooth and Nail label. Instantaly I fell in love with their unique, emotive style and have practically memorized their first two full-length albums.
A few days ago, I heard rumors from my brother that a new album was imminently forthcoming from the band, a fact subsequently substantiated by the release of "I'm Only a Man" on Monday. Going into this album, I had high expectations and even greater anxiety. It is also nerve-wracking to go into a new album, not knowing whether or not it will engender a significant move forward for the band or an equally, but more devasting and disappointing mistake.
Undaunted, I loaded Napster at work and pressed "play" (I love Napster, BTW). I listened without pause through all the tracks, listening intently for indications of how the newest project would impress itself upon my musical conscience. After the first run-through, I admit I was a bit disappointed. To begin, this album is a lot more subdued on the "scream" part of the "screamo". While More >
