Customer Reviews

Soundtrack to a Headrush (Dig)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

... this is that new, unheard of, unspoken. So if you're down, then get down, and if you're not, then get the f*** out!" begins track number one, The Hey Man. I look for this band to do great things in future. These days, it is difficult to find a band in this genre that brings something new to the table. "Soundtrack to a Headrush" is full of energetic music that is sure to get your blood pumping, but it also has some tracks that slow things down and show another side of the band. My favorites are below :

1. The Hey Man - One of the best intros that I have ever heard. It really does its job well - introduces you to what the rest of the CD will be like while at the same time keep you wanting more of it.
3. You Cannot Rape The Willing - I guess what really makes this song great is the chorus. Nuff said.
6. Soundtrack To A Headrush - The title track is sort of one of those breaks in the action. It slows things down and pleases your ears better than the other lighter tracks in my opinion.

So, here's the deal, if you're into this genre, this is an innovative band. However, you might want to wait until their next album if this stuff just aint your scene. Thank you for your time.

Do not listen to M.C. Wright. His point about Vagrant buying up smaller labeled bands is justified. But, that is business. Vagrant is a mid grade label, just like victory. Just because Emanuel signed to this label does not make them bad. In fact, they are very good. Although they are not entirely original, they also are not ripping anybody off. It is just plain good music. They bring their own style of energy to their music. I like to say they sound like the perfect blend between Letter Kills and the Bronx. These guys do have a sound that could POSSIBLY put them on Mtv, but so what. Just because a band is played on mainstream radio or Mtv does not mean they suck. Most of the bands they are played with DO suck, but not all mainstream sucks. Nirvana, Sublime, Alice In Chains were all way more mainstream than anyting I can think of right now and nobody can dispute how awesome they all are. Emanuel is just good music, stop whining.

Where to begin... so I was listening to music on Yahoo when "The Willing" came up, and I was instantly all for this band. I bought their CD the very next day and I have to say, it's probably the best album I've bought all year. The songs on this CD are fast, loud, and for once not the slowed down sugar job that make up 90% of mainstream music. Probably has something to do with the fact that MTV hasn't found them yet. Anyway, the album's a great listen from start to finish, here's the breakdown.

Hey Man: Perfect opener, loud, fast, in your face kinda music. Not really sure what category this stuff would be put under but meh... who really cares? 8/10
Buy American Machines: A short and do I dare say political song? Anyway, it's another amazing one, love the chorus. 9/10
The Willing: A little more radio friendly song, but hey, it's what got me into them so it must be good. It puts a bit of a how should I say... punk/rock/emo twist on their screaming hardcore melodies. 7/10
Make Tonight: The soft song... it's not their greatest particularly, but it's still better than most of the stuff on my other CD's. The chorus gets stuck in my head alot so it's catchy enough. 6/10
Hotline: If there was a bad song on this CD, and I'm not saying there is, this would be it. The melody and vocals are good, but the lyrics are nowhere close to par. 5/10
Soundtrack to a Headrush: Fast paced soung that goes back and forth from screaming to singing, very very good. Catchy and hard at the same time. 8/10
Breathe Underwater: Second or third best song on the CD, I still can't make up my mind. I absolutely LOVE the guitars on this song, the verses are slowed down but not too slow, combined with the great vocals and a chorus you can sing along to. Perfect 10/10
The New Violence: Tied with "Breathe Underwater" for 2nd/3rd favorite. It's probably the hardest song on the CD with ear bleeding verses about a public suicide and chorus about leeches eatting you alive... violence indeed. Love it. 10/10
Xeroxicide: Once I learned how to properly pronounce the name of this song, it became my favorite by far. The guitar after the chorus and the lyrics are what make this song stand out. "Meet by the back door, run for our social lives." Amazing song. 10/10
Dislocated: Hmm... have to confess, it's not a great way wrap up the CD. The song is a little softer, even though they keep the fast pace up, and the chorus is a bit cheesy. Not to mention the whole concept "Dislocated" sounds like a corney rip off of songs like "Broken" and "Shattered" (by Seether and Adema). Just not the best. 6/10

I say buy the CD, even if you have to scrape the couches for another 3 bucks to pay for it, it's far more than worth it. It'll be playing in your CD player long into next year and beyond.

Ive have known these boys for sometime now and they are so taleneted and amazing and have come a long way. There music is filled with such energy and emotion. If You have never heard them I insist u MUST check them out.The songs are so rocking and catchy u wont be able to get them out of your head.

With out a doubt, this is one of the best albums I have heard all year. These guys are able to slam together hard power riffs and then follow it up with smoothe transitions into dynomite melodies. They album will have you singing along just as much as screaming along.

I also got the chance to check these guys out at the beginning of the summer with a static lullaby, and they certainly didnt disapoint. My only complaint was that their set was too short (but for an opening band...they all are right?)-i wanted to hear more cause they really ARE that good live.

So if you like good slammin tunes i recommend picking up this album and checkin em out live. It'd probably even be cheaper to catch em live first and then buy the album right from the band vendors. Either way, best coin ive spent on an album and a show in a long time.

I bought this album the other day and with having a collection of nearly 800 cd's it takes something interesting to catch my attention. Like the rest of you the whole emo/screamo scene is starting to bore me with bands like the used only capable of holding my interest. However this album rocks its starts out with a statement from the singer which immediately catches your attention, each song flows nicely with the emo 'make tonight' and breathe underwater being personal favourites. This is one of my picks for new band of the year. Do Yourself a favour and buy this album and rock out like a motherf**ker!!!!!!!!!!

If you're familiar with this genre, you know there's a literal ton of bands that claim to herald a "return to riff rock," then end up sounding like pale rip-offs of In Flames. How appropriate, then, that Emanuel claim to do no such thing and yet do more for that assertion than truckloads of other screamo/metal outfits.

Emanuel's music is punk metal of the caliber one would expect from Kurt Cobain taking a weekend to fully indulge in his Led Zeppelin fetish, or if someone dropped an anvil on Brad Nowell's foot too many times and really pissed him off. The punk influence is still the band's strongest element, but the screams and some of the rhythms shed light on a metal edge that cannot be denied. Lead vocalist Matt Breen possesses a throaty yelp that howls with sincerity while meshing perfectly with the meaty crunch guitar backdrop.

Breen is usually screaming his piece against fashionistas and the damnation of pop culture, like on the opening cut "Hey Man!" and my personal favorite, the social awareness anthem "Xeroxicide" with its full throttle rhythmic pound. The chorus breakdowns interrupt the song like heads rolling away from the guillotine, but conversely to that situation, "Xeroxicide" is one tune that will stick inside your head. Elsewhere, Breen croons this band's amusing idea of a love ballad on the slow-grinding "Make Tonight," like a Motown hit if Barry White were a punk that liked to sing about cunnilingus.

"Soundtrack to a Headrush" is quirky in the best ways and rocks all the way through. You'd be hard pressed to find many albums recorded under the flag of hard rock this year that come close to touching "Soundtrack." Hey brother, put your best shoes on, grow your hair out long, and tell your sister her music sucks.

they're amazing musicians, and i've loved them forever.
the guitar riffs are awesome, and so are the vocals.
if you don't emanuel, you're insane. haha

Let me start out by saying that this album is not the best album ever created. It has some flaws, slow moments, and randomness. However, as a self-proclaimed music snob and one who very rarely likes "the next big screamo band," I find myself begrudgingly admitting that this album is pretty freaking good. Emanuel has one thing a lot of their "screamo"/"punk" counterparts don't have: talent. They know how to write a catchy and energetic song and their delivery is unique and at times, inspiring. If every band that came down the pike claiming to be "punk" sounded like Emanuel, the world would be a better place. However, we're still stuck with bands like A Simple Plan and Good Charlotte, meaning all is lost.
Emanuel deserve all the positive attention they've received, as this is one of the better albums of last year.

I am from Louisville,Ky and I have known these guys for about 8 years. They used to be a little pop punk band with awesome talent but little recording ability. They used to be emanuel nice but now they are not so nice anymore :). This new cd extremely impresses me and it is amazing how much they have improved and come into their own style of rock. EMANUEL ROX MY SOX!!!