The Question [Enhanced]

Emery | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 2, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Tooth & Nail Records
• ASIN: B0009X75FG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,326 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

In 2004, South Carolina natives, Emery did something amazing: they went from near obscurity to undeniable success and popularity, all in a year's time. What spurred their sudden fame was a combination of January 2004's release of their critically acclaimed debut, The Weak's End, and a non-stop tour schedule, including stints with everyone from Hawthorne Heights to Eighteen Visions. Now Emery releases their sophomore effort, The Question, which is more focused, profoundly mature, and so undeniably passionate that no one will be questioning Emery's potential. Tooth & Nail. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emery at it's best, December 13, 2005

By 

J. R. Morales "Critic - www.180magazine.net" (Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Question (Audio CD)

Emery's debut album blew it's listener's with witty lyrics and and driven guitars, not to mention that they created a huge splash when they got on the scene. Now, with Emery's second release, listeners are in for it once again.

Although, the sound may be a little more commercial, it's Emery at it's full best. Not since Blindside's "Silence" have I purchased an album that I can listen to from beginning to end without skipping any tracks. There are a few things that stand out from this album: the lead voclas, for instance, are only a part of the entire vocal composition of the album, not the central piece. The harmonies are brilliant, with a mixture of classical choir intonations (on some tracks, like "Miss Behavin'") and modern vocal stylings that are just genius, not to mention perfectly executed.

Musically, Emery takes bold steps with this album, creating a musical atmosphere like nothing one's experienced. The ripping guitars, the syncopated rythms... all fused inside intricate progressions that will keep you guessing from start to finish. The album focuses on vocal arrangement this time around and not so much on the progressions of the music (although, they are still very much there). The result? An album that will take the emo genre to the next level. Very few albums explode with such originality as "The Question" by Emery.

This album is an all-around good buy. If you're exploring artists of the genre, look no further. If you liked their last album, what are you waiting for?

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the Greatest, May 19, 2006

By 

IAmMichael (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Question (Audio CD)

To begin, Emery is one of the best rock/screamo/alternative bands ever, and if I could I would give this and their last album both a 6/5. They take screamo to a completely different level. I won't ramble here I'll just give out the pros and cons.

Pros:
~ Amazing voices! These guys can SING!
~ They can scream too! The background screaming UNDER the beautiful vocals of Toby Morrell and Devin Shelton just gives me chills. And the fact that screaming isn't focused on as much as vocals is what really blows me away. In screamo, vocals are underappreciated.
~ Complex. Two/Three guitars, two lead singers that switch off, and Josh Head screaming his last name off make one of the most complex and impressive sounds since screamo became a word.
~ Heavy yet melodic.
~ So much energy.
~ Emotion is relayed through the melody of the singing, screaming and even the instruments, which doesn't happen too often.
~ Power and emotion without swearing. Props to any band that does this. Emery doesn't resort to throwing in four letter words to fill in enough syllables or make lines rhyme.

Cons:
~ I can't think of one.
~ Some may consider this a con, some may consider it a pro; there is screaming in almost every song, if not every single one.

Emery is as close to perfecting their sound as any band in their genre. This album is worth every penny and then some. If you liked "The Weak's End", you'll love "The Question". Emery has only gotten better since "The Weak's End". If you haven't heard any Emery, but you like the screamo genre go buy both of their albums. You won't regret it.

Songs to check out for samplers:
- "Returning The Smile You Have Had From The Start"; one of the heavier, more screamy songs on the album. This song throws you right in the middle of heavy guitars and pissed off, scratchy screaming.
- "Listening To Freddie Mercury"; melodic, slowish, poppy
- "Studying Politics"; a single with a music video, good display of general Emery sound
- "The Weakest"; very little screaming, singers really sound great in this song. They sing over eachy other, different words, but it fits (that's one of the coolest things about Emery).

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Emery ~The Question~ *bonus, November 24, 2006

By 

RaY RaY Pine "Fan of All Music" (Philly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Question (Audio CD)

I am a diehard Emery fan. Saw them on their first tour, loved The Weak's End, loved The Question and am a huge fan of the acoustic disc they released as part of the prerelease package for The Question when it originally came out.

This re-release, from a musical standpoint, isn't very good.

I'm not a bonus DVD guy, I admit that. I could honestly care less about back stage footage and behind the scene's information... that's all worthless to me. I'm in this for the sole purpose of new music or new versions of songs so, if you're into DVD's, maybe this will be your thing. With regards to additional versions of songs (and new songs altogether), let me give you my best synopsis of what we have here:

If you own the Presale Exclusive CD already from The Question, you already own the best acoustic stuff this band has to offer. The releases acoustic material is overproduced, somewhat lifeless and, in some cases, just plain bad. The idea of hearing the song "Fractions" appealed to me greatly until I heard it for the first time on this disc and realized that it was bluegrass version that I was mildly embarrassed for the band in having made it. This may be a fun version of the song for the band to play... but for those of us that actually wanted a serious, heart on the sleeve, acoustic version, this was a slap in the face. It's not listenable.

The demo versions of the new songs are just that, demo versions. They're not overly impressive and we might have been better off not hearing them at all. There's nothing truly special about either of them at this point, though they may develop into something great down the road.

The only standout track on the album is the piano version of "Ponytail Parades." Otherwise even diehard fans, such as myself, will be disappointed with the overall package you're getting here. This just appears to be another way for Solid State/Tooth and Nail to make another easy buck as they are the kings of re-releasing albums... unless you find this for the same price of the original album, this is NOT worth it!