Emery

Rub Some Dirt On It

With their ninth record, Rub Some Dirt On It, Emery strikes a grim contrast between their upbeat sonic realm and lyrics that tug on the heartstrings. Bringing their darkest moments to life, the themes display a raw and vulnerable side to the band that is thoroughly explored from track to track. Unafraid to confront the bleakest subject matter, this record addresses issues spanning from abuse from a church leader, familial strife, a car accident, and many more. In their latest release, Emery is wholly authentic in their approach and not hesitant to tell a somber story with unadorned honesty, as is evident in lyrics like, “God must have turned His back on a person like me.”

A listening journey littered with breakneck twists and turns, the opening tracks seemingly set the tempo for the record with high-energy distortion, only to transition into “Wizard,” a song that shifts between spoken word voicemail sections and driving vocals over acoustic strumming. Later in the track, a ballad erupts and allows the strings to do the singing, a prevalent phenomenon in this record. Echoed in the following “I Don’t Know You At All,” everything builds musically as the titular line is repeated, creating room for the vocals to act as an instrument and the instruments to act as the lead.

The emotional climax of the record, “Stranger,” is an ominous penultimate track. The introduction of the horn section is reminiscent of funeral “Taps,” creating a haunting atmosphere that illustrates the inner turmoil following the trauma faced by the vocalist. The soundscape constructed is wide open and larger than life, while still feeling up close and personal. Ending with the line, “We’re not the victims now,” “Stranger” builds into a menacingly hopeful anthem for the downtrodden.

Immediately following is “Lovely Lady,” a lively improv session. The positioning of the two tracks should be jarring, yet it cleverly works. Showing what Emery is all about, this record ends with an eerie and emotional song, quickly followed by a fun and light-hearted jam.

Musically, this record feels like the perfect soundtrack to a summer road trip. The title Rub Some Dirt On It is an empowering message of how to approach the hardships life throws at you: keep your chin up, take it in stride, and let it make you stronger for what is to come. As hopeless and sorrowful as this album may seem at times, there is an underlying hope that suffering is formative, rather than definitive.