Review Summary: Emery is back with more music, sure to make you smile...
The year 2007 was the conceived date for the highly-anticipated release of Emery's third full length album, "I'm Only a Man". Fans both rejoiced, and rejected the album, because of it's different sound which either made listeners dance out of joy, or die out of boredom. I personally loved "I'm Only a Man", but the only thing I did not like about it was their first radio hit single off of the album "The Party Song". Now with the release of their EP "While Broken Hearts Prevail", they are sure to gain, and lose more fans.
The first think you will notice (well, I hope it is the first thing you notice) is the artwork. It shows a vast ocean, a row-boat with a girl in the background, and a dude drowning in the ocean, with a bored, or a sleepy look on his face. I really liked how the artwork looked, despite it's simplicity. It seems to capture the emotion of the record without making you feel like a pirate while listening. Open up the case, and voila! There lies in all it's splender, the blue compact disc, and a pretty neat picture of the band drowning. But the main point I am talking about the album's interior packaging is because when you open up the booklet, it has some sort of a "behind the scenes" type look on every song. They explain the lyrics, and the musica part, and how each song came to be.
Now let's get on to the music, shall we?
Upon first arrival of pushing the play button on your cd player, you will be greeted with guitar notes that don't fit with the song at all. Then you hear Devin inhale, and start yelling harmoniously with Josh Head's trademark scream. "The Smile, The Face" sounds very similar to I'M ONLY A MAN's "Rock 'n' Rule", except with a catchier chorus. The screaming sounds the same as it did in their previous work, but the singing is definately an improvement. Devin yells most of the time, and Toby sings with a very smooth, yet aggressive tone.
Their second track "Edge of the World" has had bad reviews, but I find it a very underrated rocking song. Sure, it sounds cheesy with the vocals at the end, but it seems very catchy. There's a certain vibe with the song, as well as the entire album itself. Take for instance "Say the Things (You Want)" and "Do the Things (You Want)". The former has a Number One Gun/Further Seems Forever/Ivoryline type feel to it, while "Do the Things" has a mysterious acoustic feel to it. Yet, there is something that ties these two together, despite the fact that the lyrics are nearly the same.
"Thoughlife" is a blast from the past, showing what they sounded like prior to their Tooth and Nail Records days. The keyboard intro gets very annoying as it is used about three times in the song. But the song is from their first EP, so you have to give them some grace, right? Right.
Lyrically, they seem to focus on failed relationships, and moving on through your life because of them. You will hear nothing about God, or religious beliefs on this EP, despite the fact that they call themselves a Christian band. The only thing I would find offensive in the lyrics, is a sexual reference, but nothing sinful. Just lines like "You wanted me for when you wanted me/and the rest was just a waste of your time...I thought you loved me but you don't". Granted, it is minor, but some might find it offensive, and hypocritical for a Christian band.
So once again, pick up this EP. It is probably some of the best stuff I have heard come out of Emery, and I cannot wait for their new stuff. "In Shallow Seas We Sail" is due this late Summer/early Fall, so their EP should quench your thirst until then. Only $7.00, so "GIT-R-DONE"!!!!!
