Emmy The Great - Second Love


Emmy The Great
Second Love
2016
Spotify

Summery, shimmering and easy are alll apt ways at describing the third album from Emmy The Great, Second Love. Her first album written when she was just 24 evoked her age, her infatuations and her need to get an entire point, often going way to far in depth, across. First Love felt young as it should have, but the singer and journalist has done quite a bit since that time and her life has changed in just as many ways. Second Love is a re-definition, a way for her to retake her artistic soul for herself. Second Love is not really about romance, even though sometimes it may masquerade as such, it's more about finding someone of something that certain feeling of discovery that only comes with experience. The music here is just as complex as the ideas. The synths shine and shimmer over very well produced tracks but the focus is clearly on the indie here. The songs are meant to feel a bit small so that they are approachable rather than keep you at a distance. On "Algorithm" the story all comes down to a formula driving one person towards another even though the heart may pull in some other direction. "Hyperlink" follows suit being a tale about the electronic borders we put up between each other and exactly what can break those walls down.

There really is a great deal to like about this record, however there are times where it gets to convoluted for it's own good. At times her writing can feel more like sentences in a paragraph rather than lyrics. She can tend to go on and on and not bringing everything together. This shows a real talent for conveying ideas, but in writing lyrics that same structure doesn't work as well. There is also a lot to dig in to with this record which means the first time through there is quite a bit you are probably going to miss. However these songs don't really have that appeal to make you come back again and again to really get in to it. The album decidedly takes a turn for the more mundane in the later third. Unfortunately nothing comes in with a strong amount of power to carry the album all the way through. There is no doubt that Emmy The Great does have something special, but there is an edge missing or something else to really bring this album to the next level. Second Love is Emmy's rebirth, and a chance to redefine her sound and self. For that this record is worth our ears.

7.1 out of 10

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