Review: Emery "I'm Only a Man"

Emery has always been a weird band in the sense that they are a rigid mix of a bunch of different styles. The vocals are heavily influenced by punk, and the guitars are a mix of metal and...rockabilly of sorts. They're airy, yet heavy. It's quite a mix, and that's what made them unique in a world of regurgitated guitars and vocals about their girlfriends getting a new man.

Well, as I said before, Emery has always been a rhyming rock band, with condescending lyrics like that of a yard gnome reaching back at his would be captors. Strange analogy I know, but it fits (don't question it, I'm a scientist.) Anyway, these boys have taken a risky step. The scene today is so full of over compressed, as loud as possible albums. Nothing is raw anymore, and nothing has emotion anymore (as far as the music is concerned.) You might be able to pick up a brand new album, and feel the raw emotion, but until now, that was one of the only albums as of late with actual fidelity and emotion built into not just the vocals, but the music itself. Emery is changing that. On first listen to the cd, you will notice that the vocals are less effected, they sound raw as if someone recorded them in a "real place" like a basement or a room instead of an over saturated studio. Some might not be used to this, but it WILL grow on you, because hearing someone in the raw is very very intriguing(once again, science). Instead of hearing a random voice with several effects and auto tune over it, this time it feels like the vocals are coming straight from somebody in the room with you, something I applaud these days.

The guitars on this album are plainly....wacky. They has such a dynamic range, as well as also sounding like they are real. They change so much throughout the song, from rigid, sharp riffs and then to wet, soft arpeggios. It is truly a roller coaster ride. If you're not a fan of diversity, odds are this album will throw you for a loop (roller coaster...loop...)and you probably won't like it very much. However, if you have a short attention span, like I do, you'll love it because with every song, and every next track click, it'll be something new, and even when you think you have the song pinned down, they throw something ELSE in. It's truly unique.

Alright, here's the thing drummers. I know you. You're the ones who are always hitting things all the time, and trying to be as loud as you can always. Emery applauds your style with their own. These drums are LOUD. These drums are DIRTY. These drums SPEAK. You can hear the cymbals, crashing through the mix, you can hear the deepest lows and shrillest highs imaginable. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The rawness of this album is spectacular. They've made it so you feel at home when you listen. You feel like they're in front of you, or in the same room with you when you listen. They are your new best friends. As for the beats and technicality of the drums, it's pretty good. The drums vary as much as the guitars do, so it's always a surprise again. Just like on the last albums, there are some funky beats, and there are some heavy beats, but suffice it to say both are done perfectly. They draw attention, but not so much that it takes away from the song.

Well, I will have to say, yet again that the bass is there, and it does it's job, but never really gets the chance to shine. I know that bassists out there are reading my posts and getting miffed at me, but I can't report on what isn't outstanding. The bass is good, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't stand out. Also, Suffice it to say the songs wouldn't be as good without the bass, but I didn't scream to the heavens when I heard it.

This is altogether a REAL album. The dynamics are there, the feeling is there, and it hits pretty hard. Everything blends together really well, and nothing is overproduced. Emery's "I'm only a man" lives up to it's name. In a world of overproduced albums, Emery takes a step back and let's you know that they too, are people, and not just auto tuned voices