Search - Emanuel :: Soundtrack to a Headrush

"Listen up motherf***ers ...

Brent M. | south-eastern Ohio, USA | 06/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"... 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."

Redefining an overcrowded genre...

A. Stoltz | illlinois | 04/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"let's face it... today the emo/screamo/hardcore trend is so terribly milked out that it makes me forget what an actual "good" band is in this genre. sure you have your great bands like taking back sunday, thursday, thrice, brandnew, armor for sleep, the used, finch, coheed, etc. but in the last three years it's hard to pick apart innovative bands like the aforementioned when it seems like it's all been done.



i introduce to you a band called "emanuel" and their debut album "soundtrack to a headrush". even though this band is young, don't that fool you. this sounds like a band years into their career and i'm not afraid to say this is one of the best albums released in the last couple of years in this genre. sure you can label them "screamo" or but that just doesn't do the band justice. the diversity on the album and the freshness is what makes this band standout from the rest. you can label this band probably 5 different genres but all in all, they just flat bring the rock!



i found out about these guys from an armor for sleep interview and they said emanuel was one of their new favorite bands. with that said, i purchased the album and was blown away with the rawness and power. i thought to myself, i've never heard anything quite like this before.



the musicianship is very tight and the singing/screaming is not your typical screamo duals. also, throughout the album you can hear some 80's metal in the music. it's very fresh sounding and the lyrics are very relatable and humorous at times. their are also some slower songs that break up the more anthem driven songs but overall is a great split of both.



if your a fan of screamo you will probably enjoy this album. although it's not your typical screamo, they actually have some talent and a fresh sound. i believe this is the sleeper album of 2005 and i can't wait for a new release from these guys in the future. this band has a huge sound here and lets just say these guys should be getting recognition soon. highly recommended..."

A "New" Sound for the Screamo Scene

IAmMichael | Colorado Springs, CO USA | 05/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm always looking for a band that maintains the raw rock sound that I love so very much, but that gives the sound a unique twist. Emanuel is one of those bands. Now I'm not saying that they're perfect as this is a pretty raw debut album, but it's a refreshing sound in the stagnant, sound-alike screamo genre of today.



Emanuel manages to mix a sort of dance-core, screamo, and straight up rock sound together with this album. Whether you want to play a rock album in the background of a party, drive really fast, or mosh your face off Soundtrack to a Headrush works great. This album has a great mix of sounds from the screamo/rock of "Hey Man" and "Buy American Machines" to the pop-rock, punk-influence drive of "The Willing" and "Breathe Underwater" to the slower yet powerful rock song "Make Tonight".



Pros:

~ Lots of different sounds on one album, which allows for Emanuel to pretty much go any direction with future releases without alienating their fanbase.

~ Lots of energy

~ Not angsty

~ The songs aren't all about girls and poor emo-boys getting their hearts broken. And even when songs are about women they aren't the typical angsty, "ripped my heart out" lyrics.

~ Unique twist on Screamo/Rock genre



Cons:

~ Not too much depth in the music (by depth I mean changing sounds in one song, which is hard to pull of, especially in a 3 minute song) Fortunately, depth is not the most important part of this type of music.



Forewarning: There is a lot of screaming, which may be good or bad depending on your preference. In my opinion the screaming is well done. Also there is swearing and adult subject matter, so conservative parents might not want to get this album for their kid.



Overall this is a great debut album and I can't wait to hear more from Emanuel."