Emery - ...In Shallow Seas We Sail
Rating
RIYL
A Thorn For Every HeartThe Classic Crime
Bedlight for Blueeyes
Dead Poetic
Release Date
06/06/2009
Label
Tooth And NailTracklist
1. Cutthroat Collapse2. 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
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Emery is a special type of group. These South Carolina natives have helped pioneer two of the trendiest rock tools of today: duel vocals and amplified, electronic keyboards. Their abrasive, over-the-top sound seems to be their most beloved quality aside from the ability to make soft and sincere music. But despite all the useful tools Emery has to build with, creatively they’ve managed to make mediocre songs on albums that would have sounded better without the unintentional filler. Both albums following their debut, The Question and I’m Only a Man served more as fuel for the (someday) Greatest Hits fire than albums made to top their first release, The Weak's End. On ...In Shallow Seas We Sail, Emery switches up their recording strategy by writing the record in one shot instead of gradually creating songs while being on tour.
Just a warning to the non-Emery fans out there, the group's style of musical dramatics isn’t any different on this album than their previous efforts. They’ve improved their writing ability, though, but that in itself won't be able to convert you into a fan. For those who are interested, not only do Emery's lyrics make more sense this time out, but the words flow a lot better with the melodies in the songs. This made the record move much easier from beginning to end.
Emery seemed to have been very selective in compiling the tracks for this album. They created a different track list three different times; two occasions being after the label announced the album details. Also, selecting "The Smile, The Face" and "Edge of the World" from their EP, While Broken Hearts Prevail to be on …In Shallow Seas We Sail was another strategic move since those two tracks were the most outstanding and upbeat songs off the EP and a major request at many of their shows. With While Broken Hearts Prevail and …In Shallow Seas We Sail seemingly interconnected, it looks as if Emery was interested in testing the waters before setting sail to their new album.
The common theme for this group, which they have managed to mold better this time around, is the musical mobility in their instruments. The harder they play, the less melodic they get, and vice versa (less abrasive, more melodic). Emery found places throughout their album to stop-and-go where they would build up the speed and intensity, but then in the same song they would slow it down a bit to add more melody. An example could be found in the way the music constantly rises and falls in “Churches and Serial Killers” until the finale where the guitars explode. Also in “Butcher's Mouth,” there is a delicate melody cleverly decorated in the verses that fights against the chorus' power chord aggression. Ultimately, the chorus wins just when it seems it's lost after the end of the bridge. Emery definitely knew what they were doing on most of these tracks.
The best way to understand …In Shallow Seas We Sail, like any album, is to listen to it if you’re into this sort of style. It’s complex, clever, appealing, but most importantly, it’s a solid Emery release. On this album, every song has its significance. …In Shallow Seas We Sail should be taken very well by Emery fans, The Weak's End-era and beyond.
--Jose Terrero
Comments
San Jose, CA
Good album.
last.fm/user/thetsaiguy
Spokane, Washington
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
California
im always so torn on this band. some of their songs are good, some are seriously lacking. i may check this album out just need more convincing.
Minnesota
Meh. Weak's End will probably always be their best album in my eyes. This is ok.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Oklahoma
I guess I should pick this up. The Weak's End was the album that really initiated me into the music scene. I'll always have a soft spot for these guys.
New York
I'm glad these guys made an improvement. I really believe that this album should've been their sophmore album. I would've waited all these years for it. lol
Cold Showers for Stereology
http://coldshowersforstereology.blogspot.com/
Baltimore, MD
Way better than I'm Only A Man...loving the aggressive parts, certainly reminiscent of Walls and The Ponytail Parades
one of the few bands I still enjoy listening to and following from my days of screamo, 5 or so years ago
Last.fm | RateYourMusic | 8tracks
Coopersburg, PA
Exactly how I feel. I really like some songs, and others bore me so I can't make it through a whole album. They were sweet live though when I saw them a few years ago.
Spokane, Washington
this is basically what i said in my invisible comment above.
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
New York
Haha, it's all telepathy.
Cold Showers for Stereology
http://coldshowersforstereology.blogspot.com/
Drummondville, Quebec
I'm very surprise by how good this album actually is! I thought that, after their last record, I was done with this band... but the new album is just awesome! Right in between The Weak's End and The Secret.
At first, I only loved the first 6 or 7 songs and thought the rest was pretty bad, but now I really enjoy the album as a whole. Such a nice surprise! Like someone said earlier, the screaming is really good on this record.