Review Summary: on the edge of something free
There is a beauty to Emily Scott Robinson’s music that feels simultaneously authentic and difficult to concretise. It finds itself at a crossroads of many factors, like a Venn diagram with two crucial words to be found in its center: human emotion. And yet, the country musician’s songs cannot and should not be reduced as such without elaborating, as the separate, convoluted circles are very much worth disentangling.
In order to understand the brand new
American Siren, it should be understood that Emily Scott Robinson is a storyteller at heart. Her first full length, 2019’s
Traveling Mercies, felt like a slideshow of sorts, clicking through stories of American life from times of Kodachrome to PowerPoint. Each song formed a tiny chapter; a look into lives both familiar and unfamiliar. Touching upon stories of love, loss, abuse and freedom from unnamed small towns across the USA, its highs and lows contrasted on a highly unique record.
American Siren does not feel as much like a slideshow as it connotes a collection of photos, loosely glued into an old photo book. It thrives off its cohesion and newfound sense of familiarity, trading Shoshone-hitwomen for tales of midlife crises and, most importantly, hope. Moreover, Robinson manages to convey a palpable connection with her characters through the aforementioned human emotion: while each story may comprise a unique experience, the true heart of the album can be found in the highly recognisable feelings such experiences provoke.
‘Hometown Hero’,
American Siren’s heartbreaking centerpiece, focuses on death and grief through the celebration of a lost life. Opening with the lyrics “
You should be with us now / You should be here”, the song is a beautiful testament to Robinson’s excellent songwriting as each subsequent word manages to be more touching than the one before. Her attention to detail allows the song to paint an intricate picture through its descriptions of human connections, sounds and everyday objects. As such, its very core is not dissimilar to that of the more lighthearted tracks such as ‘Things You Learn the Hard Way’ and ‘Lost Woman’s Prayer’. The former transforms descriptions of mundane practices into a loveable tale of wisdom, whereas the latter outlines a long friendship between two women making their way through life in modern-day America. The record explores the good and bad parts of change, with stories spanning minutes, weeks or decades proving no issue to Robinson’s pen.
With its many highly memorable stories, the songs on
American Siren don’t
need hooks. In spite of this, the album boasts many, many catchy melodies, adding an extra layer to its excellence. ‘Cheap Seats’, the designated pop-country banger, is an absolutely delightful celebration of hope and ambition. It’s a straightforwardly structured detour from the record’s organically slow pace, but the song’s cheeky wordplay and non-braggadocious swagger is more than enough to make up for this. Moreover, it exemplifies Robinson’s agility and love for immersing herself in that which she sings about
: she is persistently embracing twangy acoustic guitars, organs and any other instruments necessary to enhance the atmosphere. Closing cut ‘Old North State’ oozes Country-capital-C-vibes with its banjos, violins and gorgeous harmonies. It’s a wonderful reminder that the singer-songwriter truly cares about her craft, prioritising authenticity over marketability.
Yet, the album’s very best song can be found in the sparse ‘Let ‘Em Burn’. Solely guided by a wistful piano melody, Robinson’s delicate voice details the exhaustion of a white-picket-fence-accomplished yet unsatisfied mother. It’s not a sad story; if anything, it’s an empowering statement of hope and potential. The opening lines of its chorus feel like
American Siren’s defining statement: “
I’m on the edge of something wild / I’m on the edge of something free / On the edge of something reckless”. ‘Let ‘Em Burn’ is a dual reminder that, in spite of facades, not everything is as perfect as it seems, and most importantly, that here is hope for anyone who may feel stuck. It highlights the positive potential of change, acknowledging that light may be behind any corner.
American Siren is a deeply touching record that solidifies Emily Scott Robinson as one of the best country artists of the 21st century. Its songs and stories are often gloomy, yet never hopeless. Even in its detailing of the most negative and devastating of changes, life is always at the forefront for the musician and her characters. Whether this life persists through faith, love, or hope does not matter: human emotion is what connects it and us all.
