Opheliac

Emilie Autumn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Adrenaline Records
• ASIN: B001EN46H0
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,958 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Opheliac

2. Swallow

3. Liar

4. The Art of Suicide

5. I Want My Innocence Back

6. Misery Loves Company

7. God Help Me

8. Shalott

9. Gothic Lolita

10. Dead Is The New Alive

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Dominant

2. 306

3. Thank God I'm Pretty

4. Marry Me

5. Bach: Largo for Violin

6. Poem: How To Break A Heart

7. Poem: Ghost

8. Poem: At What Point Does A Shakespeare Say

9. Interview with EA

10. Opheliac Outtakes

Editorial Reviews

Having performed on albums for Courtney Love, Billy Corgan, and Die Warzau, Emilie has finally moved to center stage with an album of devilishly dark lyrics powered by an industrial strength voice. Written in a style she calls "victoriandustrial", "Opheliac" draws upon Emilie's influences as a child prodigy classical violinist and combines them with her passion for the harsh industrial of Laibach and Front 242, the sublime melodicism of Depeche Mode, and the drama of Moi dix Mois and Visual Kei. Signature metal-style violin shredding, heartbreakingly lush strings, and menacing lyrics growled with enough intensity to make your hair stand on end. The result is a harpsichord heavy romp through Victorian asylums where screaming is allowed and girls always get revenge.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So everybody thinks that I'm a f@*%ing Suicide Girl, November 3, 2006

By 

Brett Corkins (Hutchinson, KS) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opheliac Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

Opheliac is one of those rare CDs that gets hyped without even being talked about. I live in a town where if you're not on the radio you're not known. Somehow, though, I was insanely anxious to get my hands on a copy. It took a while but all that anticipation was met gleefully with some of the most experimental and dark music I've had the pleasure of hearing in quite some time. Make no mistake, Emilie Autumn is definitely an acquired taste, but if you go in with an open mind then there's no way you won't come out satisfied.

Emilie Autumn, often referred to as the 'Anarchy Violinist', almost has duel personalities throughout the duration of Opheliac. On one hand you have the gentle, even innocent, soothing voice of a sweet girl. On the other hand you have this intense, screaming, hateful girl. When those polar opposites collide it's something to behold. Songs like the title track, Opheliac, and Liar demonstrate those two forces coming together in the most gorgeous ways possible. However, if it wasn't for the thick atmosphere in the background Emilie wouldn't be the same. Sure her lyrics are tremendous and her delivery is dead on, but that almost claustrophobic feel the beats create are amazing and help out more than I would've ever thought possible. Songs like the afforementioned Liar, I Want My Innocence Back, and God Help Me wouldn't be nearly as haunting without the often eery execution of the beats.

Opheliac opens with a nice little introduction before giving way Emilie's distorted vocals and offbeat delivery. For the most part though, it represents the rest of the record well. There's heavy industrial overtones, a lot of vocal experimentation, and an ever-present gothic feel. Swallow shows the diversity Opheliac sports from track to track. Swallow relies heavily on the chorus but the verses don't lack in the least. Liar is the first track that made my jaw hit the floor. The lyrics are extremely deep and Emilie sports an unruly scream towards the end of the song. If you're wanting to get into Emilie listen to this and try to turn away. However dark the title of The Art Of Suicide may sound, the actual song is really quite ingenius. It's almost happy sounding but the lyrics are as dark as the title would suggest.

I Want My Innocence Back is where the CD turns to a significantly darker side. It's one of the shortest songs included but it's without a doubt the most frightening. Think slasher flick crossed with an insane girl. Misery Loves Company has the opposing vocals again and it works just as great as before. God Help Me is another highlight Opheliac has to offer. The piano is prominently on display and Emilie's vocal delivery is unquestionably perfect. Shalott brings to mind vintage Tori Amos, i.e., fast verses giving way to a beautiful chorus. Gothic Lolita has lyrics that are sure to leave you thinking even after the song is over. The beat isn't great but Emilie's vocals are pretty good. Dead Is The New Alive doesn't disappoint when it comes to bringing thoughts of 80s music in it's heyday. I Know Where You Sleep sees Emilie at her most intense. She sounds truly angry thoughout the entire song and the fantastic atmosphere only helps more. Let The Record Show ends the CD on a high note. The vocals play a huge part with part dueling stylings, part sing-along, and even part scorned woman. An amazing end that couldn't have been better.

If you do decide to plop down the chunk of change Amazon is asking definitely go for the Deluxe Edition. Two tracks prove to be worth every cent, the opening Dominant, which contains no singing just awe-inspiring violin work. And Thank God I'm Pretty. It's more hilarious than anything but doesn't leave without making an impression both in the vocals and instrumentation. Don't think that only those two songs are good because the bonus disc gives the actual CD a run for its money.

My favorite songs are Opheliac, Liar, I Want My Innocence Back, God Help Me, and Let The Record Show. Somehow Emilie Autumn has slipped under the radar but she's sure to gain some huge exposure with this release, I'm not talking mainstream or anything, but word of mouth. Opheliac has all the ingredients of becoming an instant classic and if you give it a shot I'm sure you'll come out as impressed as I did. It's definitely worth the 50$ Amazon is asking but, not to take business away from you guys, but [...]. Whichever way you choose, just know that Emilie is a huge talent and shouldn't be slept on. Highly recommended.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great evolution of EA's sound, October 22, 2007

By 

No1Crush (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opheliac (Audio CD)

This is a big jump up from her previous CD "Enchant" - that wasn't a bad album at all, but one can sense that Emilie Autumn was still searching for her own voice as she was experimenting with different sounds. Her sound has come into its own on "Opheliac", in which her classical training and compositional skills really shine through her dramatic and theatrical flair. Stylistically this CD is very consistent - EA's influences still show (imagine Kate Bush jamming with Annie Lennox, Ute Lemper, Nigel Kennedy and Kraftwerk at a Shakespearean poetry recital), but she has melded the sounds of these various artists into something of her own. Standout tracks include the title track Opheliac, Swallow, Liar, Misery Loves Company and Gothic Lolita.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense, November 9, 2007

By 

SterlingEdge - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opheliac (Audio CD)

After discovering Emilie on myspace I tracked down Ophiliac and gave it a listen. I couldn't have been more impressed. I am a long time fan of the female classical/goth movement. I grew up with Switchblade Symphony and Rasputina so it was inevitable that EA would cross my path. EA has a wide range vocally and emotionally that come through quite well in Ophiliac. It took some doing but I tracked down the rest of her works on Projekt records site and picked up every CD she has made. It has proven interesting seeing such a diverse range of types music. I am defiantly happy with this find.