Emarosa
Emarosa's self-titled album gives the band's melodic side a clearer focus. The songs use more familiar shapes and make Jonny Craig's singing the main attraction, with the instruments creating a setting around him. The approach produces some immediate, memorable moments. It also exposes how much the record depends on the voice to keep similar arrangements interesting.
A Toast to the Future Kids! is a strong opening. Active lead guitar and expressive singing give it plenty of movement without hiding the hook. Craig shifts between a softer tone and a rougher, more powerful delivery, helping the song make an impact quickly. The arrangement shows why a more direct approach can suit the band.
Pretend.Relive.Regret continues that melodic strength with one of the record's clearest choruses. The Game Played Right brings the singer's R&B influence further forward, giving him room to stretch the vocal line. These songs make a convincing case for placing melody ahead of constant changes in structure.
The instruments still contribute more than a simple backdrop. The drums give the songs force, and the guitars contain atmospheric details that suit the singing. The balance is less successful when those guitar lines become difficult to separate in the mix. Some of the instrumental character is lost just when it could help distinguish one song from another.
Consistency remains the larger issue. The recurring movement from a softer verse into a louder chorus becomes predictable, while some vocal phrases add less to the music than Craig's strongest hooks. Live It. Love It. Lust It relies too heavily on its spoken opening and attitude. The quieter We Are Life gives the ending a more relaxed character, but the sequence needs more variety before reaching that point.
There is enough quality here to make the change in direction worthwhile. The strongest songs have clear melodies, energetic performances and a singer capable of making a straightforward line feel substantial. Emarosa is more focused than an album built around endless instrumental changes, but its best ideas would stand out more with a stronger balance between the voice and the rest of the band.
