AWmusic

My friends and I had been waiting for an album release since discovering her several years back, but between that, she had released a bunch of EPs and singles. So, it comes to no surprise that I really liked this album. In fact, I think already being familiar with most of the tunes made it more of an intimate record for fans to finally “bring it all together.” And to make it even better, I also received an acoustic bonus CD of her playing a few tracks live in London, which I will also be reviewing in this post.

I’ve always liked Emmy The Great for her lyrical quirkiness and her happy folk music, where she often brings in a lot of influences that are even obvious in her lyrics. Her weapon of choice works well: humour, pop cultural references, and whimsical storytelling about life, death, and all in between. One of the songs that I’ve never heard before is “24,” probably stylistically the most different in that it is a more mellower, depressing track about being a year older and a year less in love. Even though it’s quite different from what I was used to, I really liked this track.

Emmy also has a great voice: it is pure and sweet, perfect for the music. Although it would be wrong to associate her voice to an angel, which is opposite of what she tries to convey, I think. Although she uses Christian terms in several songs, I think it is a nod to the likes of Leonard Cohen, where “Hallelujah” wasn’t exactly meant to praise the Lord himself. That’s what I found throughout the whole album: she makes lots of pop culture references, even if it is out of context. It’s what makes it quirky in itself, I suppose. For example, in “M.I.A.”: I always liked this singer/I remember how you were the one who told me that her name/Was either Mia/Or M.I.A.”.

The lyrics in itself are pretty blatant and bold, which are really just the real human emotions and thoughts we all have but aren’t gutsy enough to verbally convey. Emmy seems to take the fall for the rest of us, but I respect her writing–actually, I commend it. In an ironic way, her lyrics are probably considered quirky because she comes out with what we want but are afraid to say. Like in the title track: “I would forget that I’d piss on a grave and the words as they came to my tongue were Hallelujah.” Well, maybe it’s better if we’d keep our mouths closed for that one.

The bonus CD, where she plays live at 12 Bar, London, is a nice accompaniment to the album. She plays about five of the songs found on the album, and even includes a cover version of The Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” which gained massive popularity over the Internet when she had put it up on her MySpace. I always like live albums because it’s not always played the same exact way as studio albums, as Emmy also demonstrates with her band. I’m always a fan of minimalistic music, and that’s what this live CD has to offer when it’s just her, her guitar, and a sweet violin playing along.

All in all, really good album and the ratings from NME and Drowned in Sound are well-deserved. It’s a fantastic album, even if it was long-awaited (which is probably a smart move, anyway). Now I wonder how long her next album will take…I just kid. I’d wait with all my heart for Emmy The Great.

First Love:
Emmy The Great – 24
Emmy The Great – First Love
Emmy The Great – City Song

Acoustic Bonus CD – Live at 12 Bar, London:
Emmy The Great – M.I.A.

1. “Absentee”
2. “24″
3. “We Almost Had A Baby”
4. “The Easter Parade”
5. “Dylan”
6. “On The Museum Island”
7. “War”
8. “First Love”
9. “MIA”
10. “The Easter Parade 2″
11. “Bad Things Coming, We Are Safe”
12. “Everything Reminds Me Of You”
13. “City Song”

I personally have heard 4 of these tracks and now refusing to listen to anything until the actual release date. A lot of these songs have been out for awhile but it’s likely they are going to updated and what not so I’ll refrain.

Do I need to repeat myself on Emmy The Great? I’ve discussed it all, she has a great voice and it really fun with her lyrics (she’s massively popular despite the lack of a major release). Plus with her new found fame, you’ll find her more on the “indie hot lists”. 2009 is going to be a good year for Emmy The Great.

Here’s the video for the first single First Love:

The MIA track is an older version and will likely be updated.
MIA by Emmy the Great
Canopies and Grapes by Emmy the Great.

After the jump the video for We Almost Had A Baby
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The track Seattle, is a little odd because it’s British singers singing about America (hence the title Seattle). It’s not the catchiest tune like I would expect it to be. It has a small little bass line and Emmy The Great ultimately takes control of the song with her strong voice.

The video itself isn’t original as it features Emma’s faces changing. I think while the song isn’t the stronger it has really sucked us indie-loving guys into posting about the BPA when we likely wouldn’t have.

Seattle by The Brighton Port Authority f/ Emmy The Great

Video after the jump.
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There are probably 50 or so bands I’d like to see and while it feels dumb to list them in between the middle of the festival, a lot of blogs have taken a backburner and the promotional companies all seem to be quiet (times like these I miss the spamming).

Here the bands I’ve would’ve liked to see:
Simian Mobile Disco, Lightspeed Champion, White Williams, Okkervil River, Division Day, Shearwater, Peter Moren, A Place To Bury Strangers, Kate Tucker & The Sons of Sweden, Die! Die! Die!, Jens Lekman, Islands, J. Tillman, Emmy The Great, Evangelicals, Black Mountain, Holy Fuck, Vampire Weekend, Shapes Have Fangs, Fleet Foxes, Blitzen Trapper, Handsome Furs, Crystal Castles, Headlights, Shout Out Louds, The Raveonettes, Why?, Los Campesinos! and more I’d be iffy about.

Here’s my playlist:

Crimewave by Crystal Castles
Hearts of Iron by The Handsome Furs
Two Step Forwards by Emmy The Great
Innocent Son by The Fleet Foxes
Unless It Kicks by Okkervil River
Stormy High by Black Mountain
Streams of Whiskey by The Shout Out Louds feat. The Essex Green
That Great Love Sound by The Raveonettes
The Pulse by Holy Fuck
Country Caravan by Blitzen Trapper
2007, The Year Punk Rock Broke (My Heart) by Los Campesinos!

There aren’t many songs by Emmy The Great but all I’ve heard so far are great. She labeled as being part of the anti-folk scene so the only person who comes to mind is Regina Spektor (whom I also love). I’m not sure I would compare her to Regina Spektor which is hard to live up with but what I really enjoyed are her lyrics making references like S Club 7 breaking up or singing songs that would rather seem childish yet charming. Emmy has a great voice and there’s just something about her songs that gets you hooked.

She released an EP on August 20th featuring the song MIA (based on the artist M.I.A). The first song that got me entirely hooked was “My Party Is Better Then Yours”. That song seems so silly yet displays a type of brilliance on a childish subject that makes me appreciate her work.

My Party is Better Then Yours by Emmy The Great

Here is the video for the song “MIA”