Emmy Wildwood
Mean Love
Reviewed by: Rebecca Robinson
Warning: Do not listen to this album for the first time with headphones. Many people prefer the total immersion and access to the subtle nuances of the music that headphones provide, but this album has a few sudden techno and high pitched surprises, most notably towards the end of “Mean Love”, which are nasty when not prepared and may cause bleeding ears.
That being said, Emmy Wildwood’s newest album draws listeners deep into each song with a great combination of complex lyrics and dynamic vocals. Only four songs long, the album hints at the range of styles Emmy Wildwood is capable of and serves as more of a tease of her potential than a showcase for her talents. There is a slight disconnect between the peppy, up beat music and the more somber lyrics in several places throughout each song. At first listen, this divergence is jarring and confusing, leaving the listener to question what the songs are evoking; should we be sad? Should we be dancing? Are we triumphant because we are overcoming our sadness to dance anyway?
Mean Love does improve with repeated plays and is definitely worth a second and third play. It will be interesting to follow Emmy Wildwood as her career evolves, and hopefully her next album is much longer.
Rating: 
