Review by Dom Vigil
Emarosa have reimagined four of the most powerful songs from their most recent album, 131, and they’ve done so in the most unexpected way possible. Rather than churning out a simple acoustic album to give fans something to chew on until their next release, it is apparent that the band has taken great care in reworking “One Car Garage,” “Helpless,” “Miracle” and “Blue” for this release. No two tracks sound the same, and the new sounds on these already familiar songs will make listeners hear them with an entirely new pair of ears.
The normally explosive opening song on 131, “One Car Garage” finds a new sound situated somewhere in between synthwave and a mellow coffee shop song. The combination of sounds is unconventional, but what else would you expect from Emarosa? They’ve completely rewritten this already strong track and (despite the melody) have made it almost unrecognizable. And that’s only a taste of what’s to come.
“Helpless” takes on a more somber, heartbroken tone than the original version, really putting the focus on the lyrical content and Bradley Walden’s vocal work. Stripped down to piano and vocals, this acoustic version is absolutely stunning, definitely packs even more of a punch than it did before. On the other end of the spectrum, the reimagined version of “Miracle” ends up sounding influenced by artists like The Neighbourhood or The Weeknd. The haunting, hip-hop influenced version of this track proves yet again that Emarosa are capable of practically anything, including making an “acoustic” EP some of their most unique content to date.
Closing the EP is the theatrical version of “Blue.” Shining string instruments are situated nicely alongside piano and a stripped down versions of the full band. Like “One Car Garage,” there is some underlying synth in this song that keep things interesting, too. 131 Reimagined is something you’d never expect from a band like Emarosa, proving yet again why they’re one of the most buzzed about bands in the scene. On top of their killer live presence, this EP just goes to show (yet again) that these artists are incredible songwriters, capable of breaking the mold and stepping out of their comfort zone.
LISTEN TO “Miracle”
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