littleasianwoman
review: 05.09.01- Emergency at Jackpot Records
This band takes you to another planet. My friend James and I first saw them at Reed College with The Starve during Reed's really scary Renaissance Fair, so naturally, I thought that the effect of being transplanted to a foreign world was caused by Reedies surrounding me with their punk/hippie-progeny-of-yuppie-angst. If you know Reedies, you'll know what I'm talking about.
But this is about Emergency. Their music is strangely wry. The lyrics are curious in their observation of social, political, and personal thought. The songs are twisted wrecks of strong bass, stubbornly intelligent guitar and a catchy beat coming from SOMEWHERE. The vocals, mostly speaking-pitch mixed with shouts and calls, are defiant and strong in its message. Amazingly, the singer avoids even the slightest self-martyrdom. He wants you to think about the subjects of the songs, but I honestly don't think he minds if you don't remember HIM. It is a refreshing frontman approach.
Emergency manage to be genuinely interesting, unique, odd, smart in a well-read kind of way, sarcastic AND fun at the same time. What a feat. They're amazing, but don't tell them that. Tell them what you think of Marxism while sharing your Strawberry Crush soda instead. Don't forget to buy their album too. It's at Jackpot Records.