Emery: While Broken Hearts Prevail

Tagged with:
Emery 

Written By:

Aidan Williamson

29th October 2008
At 02:12 GMT

22 comment(s)

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Numerous are the sights which should trigger a 'grab and run' response. Boris Johnson with the nuke button, Russell Crowe with a telephone, Naomi Campbell with another human being and lastly and perhaps the only one pertinent to Emery, emo bands with acoustic guitars.

We mean this in the times before 'emo' became a swear word, randomly attributed to bands, leaving them as long a projected lifespan within the mainstream as a man with swollen lymph nodes stroking his pet rat in 17th century London. In a time when it was a word not loaded with venom, emo described heartfelt music, generally concerned with expunging inner pain into something tangible via the occasional violent burst within a soft rock/indie shell. On their debut album "The Weak's End", Emery displayed all of these traits with aplomb.

Few will argue that over time and two further album, the Seattle quintet didn't lose their way. Slowly expunged were the intelligent intertwining of guitars, the contrasting vocals which simultaneously soothed and shattered and the dynamic band which could change direction faster than your average politician.

Should you have only fifteen minutes to spare in listening to the band's latest E.P, all of these beloved characteristics have returned. Should you enter the realm of the last three tracks on the release, your elation will quickly hit the basement level. All because of that darn acoustic guitar. See that picture above? That's where they should have ended up upon laying a single digit on the wood fashioned six string resonator-cavity based instrument.

"The Smile, The Face" works perfectly as an introduction to the rejuvenated act, to the left a distorted guitar warms up for a hardcore extravaganza, on the right, another guitar slides into a few soft rock chords. Completely disparate in melody and tone, silence soon overcomes them. Take a deep breath, your gonna need it boys. No sooner said than done, the violence beckons, placing the two vocalists within the sparring match of the decade. Stylistically akin to debut album starter "Walls", the action is soon overcome by sweeping verses which shove the screams into the distance. This time though, there is no return to its beginnings upon the culmination of the song, this time people, we have a half-time (played at half the speed as the rest of the song) finale displaying more than a small amount of genius.

Whilst there is the occasionally struggle, this return to form is effectively maintained over the initial quad of tracks, especially during the frenzied stabs of the guitars on "Edge of the World" which open fresh wounds for the once-more stellar vocals to gently rub salt into. Come "Always Depend" though, and it's clear someone in the band uttered the perilous phrase "Gee, at least there's no chance of us sucking towards the end of this E.P".

To concoct songs which insult the senses of your fans is one thing, to let loose a veiled attack upon anyone who may voice an opinion about your music is another thing entirely, one which pushes the moderately enjoyable album dangerously near 'offensively pretentious' territory.

"You were with us but you let these thoughts in your head.
We're not who we're supposed to be,
With all the symptoms of the sickness we have seen,
Are you better off leaving?

It seems a somewhat defunct move also, to criticise the detractors while simultaneously acknowledging their points and putting them - for the most part - into practice.

"Are you listening?" the band once declared questioningly. While for now, the response may be "just barely", that's still a foot in the door to bring the legions of fans who joined the mass exodus of this once revered band. Now if only they can stop insulting them, glory could be regained come their new album in 2009.

Rating:  6 / 10

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User Comments

11

Comment By:

Chan

commented 1 year ago

Obviously you don't realize that "It Always Depends" was on their very first EP before "The Weaks End" so they aren't writing it to the people who criticize their work considering it was one of their first songs written... nobody had criticized

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15

Comment By:

Aidan Williamson

commented 1 year ago

I realise that this wasn't too clear in the review (and have probably since returned and edited in some context) but the lyrics cited weren't actually from "(It) Always Depends" which was the focus of the paragraph before the discussion of the lyrics box. Being highlighted here was the fact that the reviewer (ie: yours truly) felt that this was the last song of a high standard on the album before then changing subject to the criticism of fans.

The lyrics cited are actually from the song "Do the Things (You Want)" which is definitely a brand new song. Surprised you didn't notice this fact being such a fan chan ;)

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-3

Comment By:

Chan

commented 1 year ago

Yes I did notice that but you started talking about them knocking on their fans before you even mentioned the lyrics and it was right after the "It Always Depends" song, seems like a good journalist would do a better job of making things clearer (idk by maybe mentioning which song they are talking about) and anyway if you have the cd then you would see their explanations for each song in the jacket. The song is saying that even though they appreciate the support they are calling out their scene-like attitudes. They don't want to just write "walls" over and over because they don't sell out like other bands do. Thats why I love emery, everything they do is different from album to album - they don't keep regurgitating the same old songs just to make money. But to each his own.

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8

Comment By:

cs65dos

commented 1 year ago

Ahhhh, Walls. Good old Walls. Nothing acoustic or fancy, just good, honest Walls. Those were the days...

"Are you listening, we write a thousand pages, then tore them on the floor, rah rah rah rah, something, something... windows behind doors"...

Better to keep making money and write Walls then have so little money you have to sell your electric guitar.

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20

Comment By:

w!lly

commented 1 year ago

music isn't about money bro. (cs65dos)

if emery likes the music they make then i'd say they're doing a good job.

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23

Comment By:

Jeff

commented 1 year ago

Emery is amazing. I don't care what anyone says! The acoustic stuff is amazing. Sometimes, when you're in a different mood, listening to the regular version of walls just doesn't do it. They have a couple songs I don't like, but there' only like 2...literally. And what they do with only one guitarist in the band-genius. Like they said on the special edition of I'm Only A Man, they leave that space open so they don't have a wall of guitar sound...it lets the song breathe. I can't wait for the new album. Apparently it's called In Shallow Seas We Sail or something like that...someone correct me if I'm wrong...

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21

Comment By:

Maverick

commented 11 months ago

Emery may have changed from their first album but, you could always here the essence of them in each album. I mean if they keep on making it obvious like "walls" each time around then it would just get dull and boring and I encourage the changes, WHY? well because nowadays bands copy more than a Xerox machine. Emery keep raising the bar without loosing the special sound that makes Emery . . .well . . . Emery!

Acoustic guitar adds to the emo even if there's no Scream to accompany it.

Track 5 to me is just so emotionally awesome. It takes you down memory lane even if you've never been in their lyrical situation. Almost like a soliloquy in a Shakespeare novel it captures makes you forget who you're listening to.

I rate it a 10.

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2

Comment By:

ninvagmerie

commented 10 months ago

l]Did you go to watch UP 3D already! So worth it ! So emotional but at the same time awesome humor! I loved it!

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-3

Comment By:

JaxaxockakHax

commented 10 months ago

Can you beleive that Night At the Museum beat Terminator movie? Are you serious? whats happening with America? Beverlly Hiss Chuhuhahya was a hit! Whats nex???

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20

Comment By:

cs65dos

commented 10 months ago

Erm??....

Emery guys?

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9

Comment By:

JaxaxockakHax

commented 10 months ago

Hold on a minute! Whats up with Terminatro reviews? Did you watch it? I though it was awesom?

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4

Comment By:

Crypeimippemn

commented 10 months ago

Did you Sony Rolly !??? It is not sold in US yet, is it?? I want one bad!!

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17

Comment By:

Crypeimippemn

commented 10 months ago

I just saw my friend brining SONY ROLLY from Japan! A new toy by sony! it dances to the music Nice little music robot! Cant wait to see it in USA!

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36

Comment By:

Wrirmture

commented 10 months ago

I though it would be a crappy movie at first! But it is my favorite movie now! I LAUGHT SO HARD like never before! If you going to the movies this one is so worth it to watch

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23

Comment By:

Gundeflan

commented 10 months ago

I want to listen good music. Help me please.

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42

Comment By:

Crohortiption

commented 10 months ago

4 gay guys walk into a club and ntoice there is one stool left. One gay guy suggest to plaay rock, paper, scissors and th other "man" say's "Stop all this nonsense. Lets just flip thestool ovr.e"

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33

Comment By:

Ediviopidly

commented 10 months ago

You shoul go see RAMBO 4! Halarious! I was sceptical at first but honestly it is classic right there! Awesom!

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42

Comment By:

oxydayomimb

commented 10 months ago

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work hard. Now shut up! They're about to announce the lottery. - Homer Simpson

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39

Comment By:

Weiniagence

commented 10 months ago

Cant decide wether PROPOSAL or YEAR ONE movie to watch this weekend! Cant wait to see Transformers 2~ Should be awesome

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24

Comment By:

EnvineCeria

commented 10 months ago

Need some help to decide which mvoie to go! Year one seams interseting? Did any one saw it alraedy?

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17

Comment By:

SleensE

commented 9 months ago

someone?

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7

Comment By:

emeliajines

commented 2 months ago

So Come on? Is that really the best that you can do?

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