Empire! Empire! (I was a Lonely Estate)
When the Sea Became a Giant
Independent (2007)
The key word that comes to mind when listening to When the Sea Became a Giant is light. Everything is light. The vocal delivery is a deep reminder of the roots of emo, where a different kind of melancholy built its empire (no pun intended, I lied, yes it was). The guitars let off an air of innocent intensity. The bass a resonating backdrop to a story never told. It's been heard before, but never so well. Empire! Empire! (I was a Lonely Estate) is an interesting collection of what seems to be a close family making music together. And we all know close families together making music makes a good time. Empire! Empire!, however, seem to try to touch upon something deeper, something more root-ful (yes I made up that word). The basic mechanics of emo are all displayed here. For example, the first song "Our Love has Made Us Pariahs" demonstrates many conjunctive moments between light but full band explosions and guitar matrimony. The guitars delve into clean, but in their own way very lyrical, engrossing leads. All which create a vacuum strong enough for the bass to fulfill. What is most gripping about this release is that … Read more
Iron and Wine
The Shepherd's Dog
Sub Pop (2007)
I should never set expectations when it comes to music. When was the last time an album was exactly as … Read more
Dusty Rhodes and The River Band
First You Live
Side One Dummy (2007)
With an Americana backbone, Dusty Rhodes and The River Band play a type of rock similar to CCR, The Nitty … Read more
