EMA | Past Life Martyred Saints

Souterrain Transmissions (2011)

By RYAN STEWART | June 9, 2011

3.5 Stars

This hasn't been a bad year for music, but there haven't been a lot of songs that hit in such a way that there's a physical need to hear them again — immediately. But Past Life Martyred Saints, the solo debut from former Gowns frontlady Erika M. Andersen, conveniently shortened to EMA and pronounced in acronym-form, does have such a song. It's called "Milk Man," and it's sweaty, abrasive, and yet also insanely catchy. If it had been released in 1995 instead of 2011, it'd be a minor radio hit and EMA would get interviewed by Matt Pinfield during the second hour of 120 Minutes. If Past Life consisted of "Milk Man" and half an hour of filler, it'd pass as a satisfactory record. But the rest of it is nearly as great: "Grey Ships" starts as an appealingly dark acoustic dirge before giving way to something even more terrifying. "California" finds Andersen reciting spoken-word poetry — half wearily, half angrily — while the whole state burns or sinks or whatever it's supposed to do one of these days, an occasional organ and blaring guitar signaling its doom. Andersen's tortured and whispery delivery may veer into Kim Gordon territory at times, but the more relevant comparison might be to Dry/Rid of Me–era PJ Harvey, particularly on the gritty and vaguely creepy quieter songs like "Anteroom" and "Marked," the latter of which involves EMA at her most unsettling ("I wish that every time he touched me left a mark"). Past Life Martyred Saints is more focused and confident than the work of many of Andersen's peers. It's likely we've not even heard her best yet. And even if not, this is pretty sweet as is.

EMA | T.T. The Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge | July 21 @ 9pm | $10 | 617.492.2327

Topics: CD Reviews , Music, Poetry, acoustic, More

| More

Most Popular

The Current Issue

Table of Contents

Cover Archive

Masthead | Authors | Contact us

Blogs

Winslow Reaps What He Sowed
Talking Politics | February 12, 2013 at 12:45 PM

See this film: Girl Shy [with live musical accompaniment] @ the Somerville Theatre
Outside The Frame | February 12, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Gomez YouTubes Into The Special
Talking Politics | February 12, 2013 at 10:35 AM

Boston Accents 02.11.13: Camden, Modern Lovers, Vundabar, Gentlemen Hall, Bedroom Eyes, Dirty Virgins, the Good North, E90s
On The Download | February 11, 2013 at 7:01 PM

Christopher Shea's Berlin Diary, part one
Outside The Frame | February 11, 2013 at 5:49 PM

CURRENT CONTESTS

Top Gun 3D -- Ticket Giveaway

A Good Day to Die Hard -- Ticket Giveaway

Rigoletto -- Ticket Giveaway

All Promotions . . .

ARTICLES BY RYAN STEWART

THE 10 TV PREMIERES TO DVR THIS FALL | September 19, 2012
With new projects from Andre Braugher, Mindy Kaling, Michael Chiklis, and, uh, Lucy Liu?

INTERVIEW: ANDRE BRAUGHER TALKS ABOUT ABC'S ''LAST RESORT'' | September 25, 2012
Mention the name Andre Braugher to any fan of serious television over the age of 30, and you're likely to get a reverential reaction.

HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE KURDISH TWIST | July 27, 2012
"Today, you're going to the Diminutive Dinos."

REVIEW: THE NEWSROOM | June 20, 2012
The Newsroom is a dose of concentrated Sorkin, by turns maddening and exhilarating.

HBO'S VEEP NEEDS MORE MEAN | April 23, 2012
Reality, right now, is so absurd that almost everyone has already adopted a "laugh-to-keep-from-crying" approach to the news. We don't need someone to tell us how truly horrifying our political landscape is. So what's a satirist to do?