Emery ...In Shallow Seas We Sail |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Cutthroat Collapse
2. Curbside Goodbye
3. Inside Our Skin
4. Churches and Serial Killers
5. Butcher's Mouth
6. In Shallow Seas We Sail
7. The Poor and the Prevalent
8. The Smile, The Face
9. A Sin To Hold On To
10. Piggy Bank Lies
11. Edge of the World
12. Dear Death Part 1
13. Dear Death Part 2
| Ranking: #144 for 2009 | |
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On 236 Lists
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| Summary: Emery's best LP could be post-hardcore's finest ever! The album of 2009. |
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep". Scott Adams.
It is fair to state that Emery's 2007 release 'I'm Only A Man' ruffled a few feathers. Looking to tap into any kind of popularity, it was a wild mix of everything from mainstream rock to immature electronica-infused pop. It hit a few targets simply because it aimed at so many. Yet, when it missed, it was way off the mark due to factors such as lazy songwriting, simplified musicianship and an over-abundance of gimmicks. Predictably, greater success did not follow and the quintet returned to their signature sound on promising 2008 EP 'While Broken Hearts Prevail'. Seven months later, Emery release their fourth LP '...In Shallow Seas We Sail'. One of the stories of 2009, it not only improves on all of the band's prior collaborations, it is - in this reviewer's opinion - the album of the year!
"A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it is committing another mistake". Confucius.
Frantic opener 'Cutthroat Collapse' acts as a statement of intent. Beginning with barely decipherable screams, it soon transforms in trademark fashion with Toby Morrell & Devin Shelton's dueling clean vocals taking center stage. Equally as important, Shelton & Matt Carter provide energetic guitar work which is simultaneously intricate and melodic, meaning the track works on multiple levels. While only 'The Smile, The Face' and 'Piggy Bank Lies' approach the hardcore heaviness of the opener, the album is in no way poorer for it. Morrell has clearly come out of the 'I'm Only A Man' experiment a better vocalist. Look no further than his smooth and dreamy contributions to the catchy 'Churches and Serial Killers' & optimistic 'A Sin To Hold On To', which make one wonder why he has not been called up by many a pop act to contribute a verse or two.
"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing". John Powell.
While many claim this to be a "return to form", '...In Shallow Seas We Sail' is in fact more than that. It may recall the signature sound and themes of 'The Weak's End' & 'The Question', however Emery are now a much more mature and polished outfit. Where the band did not quite have the experience to realize the full potential of the more ambitious tracks on those earlier releases, they craft each song here with a strong attention to detail. Components such as subtle synths, value-adding keys or a strings arrangement could quite possibly pass you by until each individual piece is explored further. This results in absolutely no filler, with even the non-highlight cuts containing passages that are certain to make them growers. Amongst the songs themselves, there is also hardly a filler moment, since no track outstays its welcome.
"Mistakes, obviously, show us what needs improving. Without mistakes, how would we know what we had to work on?" Peter McWilliams.
With what is undoubtedly the best album of their career, Emery have arguably delivered one of the finest post-hardcore releases ever! The depth and consistency apparent here is extremely impressive, and there is a replay factor apparent which is a genuine surprise. Accessibility is high with each track containing multiple hooks, yet there is a raw & passionate feel which is deftly conveyed to the LP's benefit. On the back of '...In Shallow Seas We Sail', all those feathers which were ruffled by 'I'm Only A Man' were well and truly worth it. Whether it was the band self-inflicting a kick up their own backside or simply learning from mistakes, all is now forgiven. Simply put; '...In Shallow Seas We Sail' is the album of 2009.
"Mistakes are stepping stones to success".
Recommended Tracks: All of them.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
"I don't care if you're going to torture me, I still say that all of them are recommended tracks. Haha... Ooh, that tickles... Stop it... No more coochie coochie. Please don't make me pick... Haha... Stop it. Ahhhh, no... Don't you dare make me listen to Metro Station. Ok, stop... I'll tell you... No 'Shake It'... Please, anything but 'Shake It'... Ok, ok, I submit".
Recommended Tracks: A Sin To Hold On To, The Smile The Face, Churches and Serial Killers, Cutthroat Collapse & Piggy Bank Lies.
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Always liked this band but I never thought they'd get an album with so much praise.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Ehh. The title track is easily one of the best on here, yet you forgot to mention it as reccomended ;-)
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
StatikAndroid, I guess consistency/no filler was part of their problem. It's rectified here.
musicaddiction101, I love the title track. It was a contender for reco track #5 & I just couldn't find anywhere to sneak it into the review proper.
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Confucius said a lot of things...
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
yeah man!
Digging: Porter Robinson - Spitfire Digging: Porter Robinson - Spitfire | | |
and we all learn't this from school goddammit daveyboy you are enforcing our brains to implode from your superfluous quotes.
| | | Album Rating: 4
This is a really really good review, for a really really good album!
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Oh shi... a Davey Boy review. I must be dreaming.
Digging: fun. - Some Nights | | | Album Rating: 3.5
No Butchers Mouth for recommended?
| | | Album Rating: 1
dis looks bad.
Digging: - | | | Album Rating: 4
Awwww qwe3 lol
| | | Album Rating: 1
maybe i'll give it a shot. as i was telling some random today you never know your music taste. or something. it was too long ago i forgot.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Not spamming but its actually funny you wrote a review in this style (i.e. quotation relating to point, paragraph explaining point etc.) now as I had originally intended my Will Smith review to be like this.
| | | Album Rating: 4
No qwe3 I meant the cat!
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excited to hear this. always had a soft spot for the band.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Yeah qwe I thought it would kinda suck but turns out Davey was right about something.
oh and post-hardcore's best ever...lol?
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oh and post-hardcore's best ever...lol?
i lolled. a great review though, Davey. this album is pretty good
Digging: Between the Buried and Me - Colors
| | | Album Rating: 1
oh right, yah well mine died awhile ago and i guess i miss it more than i thought. so i'm compensating with a kitty avatar hooray.
i guess i'll try this. good review as always davey
| | | Album Rating: 1
but if this is better than RoC or IoS or WaT i will be surprised
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