Be Good is the new LP. Emily has not been a musician for very long. If you have seen her perform within these last few years she was still growing into her identity as a musician, still learning her stage presence right in front of you. Which is fascinating because her music sounds so old and thoughtful as if they took a long time to write, to capture. And I always assumed her to be a polished, seasoned musician. Her songs don't sound like music from someone thats barely figuring out how to play her instruments, to be blunt. And now she can whip out a clarinet and play Chris Isaac. She was at ease and so was having fun. I'm almost inspired to walk on Lake Michigan, but just to be safe I will stick to writing this. She is young but her music sounds old wise and thoughtful....older than me. I find that fascinating 'cause I know I have cassette tapes older than her.
I'm not sure by now if I heard Cups In The Sink on stage. I think I did. I guess I'm not so focused on what she says but in how she says "let me go". Its the clearest thing that comes out and you become so invested into it that you will make sense of all that is said before, and once again its the how that gets your attention. She says it through a haze that is minimally produced but sounds loud and massive on stage. The drone fills the room. It makes a difference. Cross Record genuinely awakens a curiosity, gentile with what it discovers.
Dirt Nap,...it ain't sweet like a lot of them are to me. Wait!! That's a good thing....it makes me feel like I was invited to witness some exotic ritual. It provokes wonder without appearing to be in wonder. This one is unexpected for me. Its amazing because it doesn't have the usual sweet introspection. This one I would expect out of Fielded. Yeah....the one that looks like she's preaching, .....Lindsey! What I mean is what you think you see are parameters, and then .......surprise. Cross Record goes eludes those parameters. And being a fan, you follow that. No escaping Emily's clear voice. It's direct, and still mysterious. And then you see her play live and its the same songs and they fill the room. And they don't negate how they sound on CD, vinyl. I don't find myself preferring one way over the other.
I noticed how the room at Township just gravitated to the front when CR started. The crowd was big and seemingly familiar with her as only a bunch of friends can make you feel. I don't know how many actually were but it sure felt that way. I can't say this enough, I'm so grateful she just gave me Be Good that I almost collapsed.....fuck, that would freak people out, me passed out in front of the merch table. Its far more generous when the artist is still in genuine need of selling as much product as possible. Less money for her, and so it is especially noteworthy this generosity. Now that she more solidly identifies herself as a musician, singer/songwriter, the creative floodgates are open and more work I believe will emerge from this massive artist.
Zig
