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10.) Edge of the World
This song comes in strong with singer/bass player Devin Shelton and guitar riff that sets the pace for how the song is going to go. Vocals from Josh Head come in and complement Shelton perfectly through out the whole song. In the middle of the song the band strips down the song just to Head screaming a few strums of the guitar and their drummer Dave Powell playing a simple beat that you can't help but get nod your head to while listening. The song then takes a calmer turn and before coming back hard before it ends with overlay of lyrics from both Shelton and Head.
9.) The Cheval Glass
Wow. This song is one of the heaviest songs that the band has written if not the heaviest. It is the first song on their album We Do What We Want and it sets the pace for the album with a punch in the face. I admit it took me way to long to hear this song but once I did it became one of my favorites in a heartbeat. This song really shows the range that Emery can do musically bringing in brutal breakdowns with soft yet powerful singing from lead singer Toby Morell. As soon as you recover from the face punch in the beginning of the song, Emery comes back with brutal right hook of a breakdown to end the song.
8.) The Party Song
The title of this song pretty much sets the stage for this song. It is a really fun song to listen and belt out singing a the top of your lungs. It comes from their album I Am Only A Man which as a whole was not very welcomed, but there are some solid songs on it with The Party Song leading the way. The chorus is one of those that gets you in an upbeat mood to dance and sing it out. They do a great job of alternating singing between Shelton and Morell and shows just how dynamic they are and how well the complement each other in the band. It is on the more "poppy" side of the spectrum for the band and just a fun song to listen to.
7.) So Cold I Could See My Breathe
The first track of their album call The Question comes in the number 7 spot for me and it goes on a roller coaster of a ride. With probably the most recognizable guitar intro guitarist Matt Carter has ever written starting off the song, then Morell coming in with his angelic voice, back to a face paced chorus takes you on a fun ride. The verses have a very chill vibe with the bridge bringing back up the energy. Every time I have seen the band play they have played this song and it is always a crowd favorite. The last time I saw Emery play, Morell forget the lyrics to this song and provided a big laugh for everyone in the crowd. Great song from beginning to end.
6.) The Ponytail Parades
The post about this song is dedicated to my middle school girlfriend who broke my heart. This is a break up song down to its core and hits you right in the feels from beginning to end. You can almost feel the hurt in Morell's voice has he sings the lyrics. The lyrics mixed with the instrumentals make for a gut wrenching emotional response and complement each other incredibly well. It's a mellow song and the band does a great job at bringing out and communicating the pain of a break up. The acoustic version of the song is beautifully done and almost rivals the original version, because breakup songs sound better done acoustically. This song will always hold a place in the heart of 13 year old Adam.
5.) Can't Stop The Killer
Emery does a good balance of writing songs that are written to communicate a story or to communicate how their personal feelings. This song really highlights how good of story telling they can be with a three and a half minute song. The title says what the song is about so I will let you listen to it so you can get lost in the story with no spoilers. The song a little different from most Emery songs with a little techno stuff in it that adds to the eerie feeling for the song. Shelton takes the lead for the vocals and is the driving force for the song and story as a whole.
4.) The Less You Say
The Less You Say comes from their album titled You Were Never Alone. What is unique about this album from all the other albums they have put out is that every song is based from the Bible. This song is about a conversation that *might* have taken place between Peter and Jesus before he goes to the cross. The chorus is Peter pleading and telling Jesus the you need to leave not knowing why Jesus needs to go to the cross. This conversation is not recorded in the Bible but I can't help but think that Jesus had many conversations like this leading up to his death. Lyrically it's great and the music combined with it makes it a thought provoking and powerful song.
3.) Studying Politics
This song is without a doubt the most popular song of their album The Question. It is an energetic song that starts slow with the full band coming in with the start of the chorus. This song does a great job of showing how musically talented the band really is. The song ebbs and flows and really helps with the structure of the song and makes it one you sing a long while in the car. I saw them play this song in a small intimate acoustic show here in Dallas and a fan in the crowd was arguing with the band about the meaning of the song. The guy was saying the song is about sales and marketing and would not accept that it was not about that at all. He looked really dumb. Give the song a listen and decipher for yourself.
2.) Walls
Walls is the biggest hit that Emery has put out. It was the first song that I ever heard from Emery and I was instantly hooked as soon I heard Morell screaming the opening line (which is where this post gets its name). Every time I hear this song I just get so AMPED and when they play it live everyone goes absolutely bananas. This song has my favorite lyric from the band with, "These knuckles break before they bleed" which just adds to the feeling this songs bring out in me. The song starts with a kick in the face and ends with a kick in face. As the band has said, "Walls will be played at our funerals."
1.) The Butchers Mouth
When I first heard this song it instantly became my favorite Emery song. The song comes in with an epic guitar riff and the shredding does not stop. The chorus comes in with high notes laid over screaming then back to shredding for the second verse. The song ends with a breakdown and an angelic like choir song part right back into chugs of the guitar. I saw them perform this song for the first time earlier this year and I absolutely lost it. Seeing a band you really like perform your favorite song by them is a great experience to have. It also brings in elements of the songs listed before it and gives people a good idea of the overall sound of Emery.
There are so many great songs that Emery have in their catalog and it was so difficult to pick 10 as my favorites I went back and fourth many times and added and subtracted songs to the list before I landed with these. Give them a listen and let me know what you think!
