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Emery

The Question (2005)
Tooth & Nail Records

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Contributed by: CherryColaRain
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on November 4th 2005

The Question. Yes, Emery's 2005 effort is surely questionable. While it is a step up from their 2003 realease, The Weak's End, now that Emery has put more power into their songs and improved their lyric-writing abilities greatly since then, the record remains questionable now that it's drowning along with the many other bands who entered this crowded genre of music just a bit too late. You can either place bands in the "total clichéd screaming here and there" part of the genre, or form the opinion the band has actually released a solid effort that carries what emo was meant to do. And that, as the name implies, is to carry emotion. Now, very few bands of this era can do what the pioneers of emo did: Fill the songs with emotions and to actually leave a gasped face on the listener (on my personal opinion, Alexisonfire manages to do this very well). The Question is almost there, but not quite there yet.

The album's opening track, "So Cold You Can See My Breath," starts off as a fast track to get the listener interested, and it does this very well; even the screams at some points in the song seem very well-placed. This is a great way to start off the CD, though the lyrics aren't the strongest of the record. However, unlike their past effort, the energy stays throughout most of the album. Emery's screamer forces his screams a lot more on this album, and yeah, screaming is the biggest of all emo clichés, but Emery, like very few bands, now knows where to place them to give the final kick. "Returning the Smile You Had from The Start" has the most screams of the entire album, yet it's the most powerful song on the album without sounding forced or fake; it has guitars going up and down and it even has an upbeat acoustic outro which does not sound out of place. "Studying Politics" manages to trance listeners right from the start into an almost anxious or exasperated state of mind, although in the end it goes into a weird techno beat which leaves you thinking "what the fuck was that?" But the rest of the song makes up for it.

As said before, they aren't the most clever lot when it comes to their lyrical content, but it's not mediocre enough to make you think "this is just some other cheesy emo CD that belongs in the Victory records Roster." The vocals on all the songs have a predominant beauty to them, which is hard to find these days, and unlike the last record, they manage to keep them interesting along with their instruments on most of the songs.

Really, Emery are a very talented bunch, and this big step up from The Weak's End very well proves it. The Question remains an emo CD nonetheless, and most people will detest it, but quite frankly, It's one of the best CDs to be put out in this genre and definitely proves the genre still has its charm that seems lost with other bands trying too hard to bring tears to people's eyes.

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krid1987 (July 20, 2007)

if you want screamo with talent here is your band...Lets hope the next cd can live up to this!

treos (July 22, 2006)

Average cd, worse review score is for the cd

Anonymous (June 10, 2006)

I really just got intot his band ebcause of my friend. He made me listen to their song 'listening to freddy mercury'. I love it now. Really good stuff.

Anonymous (March 26, 2006)

i know i used to have this cd by the cover,
but i can't freakin remember wha the hell they
sound like........its pissin me off

Anonymous (March 16, 2006)

THis band is alsome so you people that are Christains like me u'll love them there my favorite band right now i saw them 3 times now at the Chemlion there freakin alsome on stage. So check them out

Anonymous (January 31, 2006)

I LOVE this cd! It is one of the best cds i have ever listened to! My favorite songs are the weakest, In an win, win situation and In a Lose, lose situation. I dont know why punk news gave it such a bad review This band had a distinct sound and is NOT "questionable". The on thing i dont like though and do agree with is all the screaming. If they cut some of that out ( a lot of it) this cd would reach its full potential. Tooth and Nail surley continues to deliver.

Anonymous (November 13, 2005)

i freaking cant live wothout this band and anyone who is putting this band down doesnt know good music.. and i got to agree slamming someones religion is pretty ****ed up... learn to appreciate others peabrain

Anonymous (November 10, 2005)

emery is fucking awesome.
but i hate jesus loving hippie screamo.
i'm torn.

Anonymous (November 7, 2005)

Anyone that uses "Jesusxcore" as a negative connotation needs to have their head checked. There is nothing wrong with being a Christian and writing rock music. Every artist in the world has their certain set of beliefs when writing, so Christians should have just as much of a right. Slamming one's faith just sounds so ignorant to me.

Jim_Neighbors (November 7, 2005)

does anyone else hear thursday when they listen to emery? seriously, the vocals sound just like geoff. anyways, this band is ok.

Anonymous (November 7, 2005)

This band should have stayed broken up or whatever.

Thanks for ruining music, Emery!

Anonymous (November 6, 2005)

Definitly a step up from their last release. This cd is really really good, and the band manages to deliver some really catchy stuff without sounding cheesy or boring. What can I say, awesome stuff.

Anonymous (November 5, 2005)

this sucks ass

maverick (November 5, 2005)

I don't have it at home with me, but I remember loving the opening track, the single and track 7, I think (with the sudden "Over The Rainbow"-esque breakdown with bells and shit).

-Scott

Anonymous (November 5, 2005)

This album has about 3-4 really, really killer songs, the rest are meh-to-good. Tons better than their first album, however.

-Scott

Which songs do you think are best?

johntravoltron (November 5, 2005)

I was kinda surprised that this was a pretty good CD considering that it's a "screamo" record.

I kinda find it strange that the opening song has like 3-4 verses, too.

maverick (November 5, 2005)

This album has about 3-4 really, really killer songs, the rest are meh-to-good. Tons better than their first album, however.

-Scott

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

That scream on the Bronx cd is great. An album that just continues to grow on me...

How can an 'emo' scream anyway? They are far too frail...

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

boring

colin (November 4, 2005)

That sentence seems poorly structured. Of course you can put more emotion into an album than you can in a song. Albums are longer and contain many songs. So even if the individual songs have less emotion, they add up collectively.

you're right, i was drunk and switched the two accidentally.

either way, emery can still eat a dick.

xjesusxtrendxcorex

stricken (November 4, 2005)

meh

davebrave4 (November 4, 2005)

Screaming wasn't really an emo cliche until recently.

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

I hate this band's name. It makes me want to punch someone.

-Chinatown

benz (November 4, 2005)

That Bronx song does have a really good scream. Also, Refused's, "Can I scream!?" intro to New Noise is really awesome.

but yeah, this band is pretty bland. got a decent voice though.

-benz

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

"the get up kids put more emotion into 'four minute mile' than these clowns could put into a single song with all the screaming their little lungs could muster."

Thank you. It's so odd how "emo" bands are bands that scream. Not to sound like an ass or anything, but it was nice when a song built up to a scream and gave you that feeling that the singer was so overwhelmed he had to scream. Hmm...I wish I could word that better, hopefully it's understandable.

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

JesusxCore!

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

One of the worst reviews I've ever read. I could write better than this in middle school.

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

horrific review

moneenerd (November 4, 2005)

You down wit' G-O-D?
YEAH YOU KNOW ME!

-Emery

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

bores tha shit outta me

Anonymous (November 4, 2005)

I like screams. Is that bad?

My favorite scream is the one at the beginning of "Heart Attack American" by The Bronx. Boy, what a great scream.

etwiels88 (November 4, 2005)

The keyboard player can't scream for shit. But the guitarist really has a great voice on him. As does the main vocalist, but not as intense as the said guitarist.

colin (November 4, 2005)

i think "even the screams at some points in the song seem very well-placed" describes most of this genre well.

really, bands these days seem to get less and less a clue as to what intensity means. the get up kids put more emotion into 'four minute mile' than these clowns could put into a single song with all the screaming their little lungs could muster. screaming is not emotional. music, when properly crafted by people who obviously give a rats ass about it, is emotional by default. you don't need to scream to prove your point, and quite often, it defeats the purpose.

sure, there are plenty of bands that i listen to that scream to excess, but this whole popcore scream and sing shit has got to stop. the scream has become just another power chord, which can be used to hook a listener. when you're not responsible for the elements of your 'art', you should be held accoutnable for them. so fuck this shit.