Review Summary: With The Question, Emery seemed to embrace more of a poppier sound, while maintaining the edginess that drew in their original fan base.
We’ve all heard the saying
sophomore slump at least a few times. For those of you who don’t know what it means, let me enlighten you. In terms of music releases, it means that a bands second (or sophomore) release is worst then the first. Quite an obvious sentiment I know, but if you didn’t know what I was talking about, this entire intro would be for naught. So with this new found knowledge, you should be able to infer that an artist is under immense pressure to make a good second album. This isn’t their first release so they are expected to be more mature, and polished then their first release. Some bands buckle under the pressure, while others pull it off rather spectacularly. Emery’s
The Question definitely fits into the latter. Emery’s first release
The Weaks End showcased a band full of talent and emotion. With the smash hit, and fan favorite,
Walls hanging over their heads, many believed that Emery could not repeat the success that they had experienced with
The Weaks End. Well with
The Question the critics were silenced. Emery had managed to encompass every thing that was positive about their first release, but at the same time adding new dynamics to their music. Not to mention that the production is really top notch by Aaron Sprinkle (Zao, Demon Hunter, Mae).
Band Members
Toby Morrell: Vocals
Devin Shelton: Vocals/Guitar
Dave Powell: Drums
Joel Green: Bass
Matt Carter: Guitar
If anybody actually bothered to buy the physical copy of this cd, they would find that all of the songs on
The Question are tied together by a simple theme. All you have to do is put “the question” in front of any of the song titles. The question that you use is
Where Were You When I Was…. (I.e.
Where were you when I was…
Playing With Fire?) I know that it is sort of gimmicky, but it helps link together songs that you otherwise wouldn’t make a connection to each other.
The album starts off with
So Cold I Can See My Breath. A great song that really shows the progress that Emery has made in only a years time. Most noticeable is the overall “tightness” that the band seems to demonstrate, song to song. The tempo changes found throughout So Cold I Can See My Breath are done so nonchalantly that you’d think Emery has been doing them for years and years. The sing/scream contrast is found in just about every song, and in just about every song it is done well. While at times Josh Head’s screeching might seem a little grating, it is a major improvement from The Weaks End.
With
The Question Emery seemed to embrace more of a poppier sound, while still maintaining the edginess that drew in their original fan base. Take for example
Listening To Freddie Mercury. This song has an overabundance of keys and poppy melodies, but it all fits and sounds truly amazing. Lyrically Listening To Freddie Mercury is basically about how Christians shouldn’t just shove their religion down non-believers throats and be patient. The song ends with the instruments playing airily, and ironically considering the lyrics that are being sung beautifully over top of them.
It’s all the same thing, we’re all the same people. With sinning hearts that make us equal. Here’s my hand not words said desperately. It’s not our job to make anyone believe.
The album ends with one of the better closers that I’ve heard in a while.
In A Win, Win Situation is a slow song, that quietly builds and builds until the ending. This song is semi-acoustic, which helps Devin Shelton voice convey all of the emotion and hurt of long distance relationships. The song seemingly ends with the line
I’d take it all back, to start over again, showing the regret of the “man” in the song. But after a couple of minutes of silence, we hear just a piano and two voices, one Toby’s and one of a women.
And I’ll stay here, you’ll be gone another year. And the plans I made are falling on deaf ears. And I’m beside myself, now that you’re gone. This seems to show the regret of the “women.”
So Emery embraced what little shortcomings that were present on
The Weaks End and crafted an album that many believe, even to this day, is their strongest release. The intertwining guitars are there, along with the amazing vocal work and solid all around drumming.
The Question really showed the potential that Emery had, even if it took them longer to realize it then many people would have thought.
