Album Details

• Artist: My Cousin, The Emperor
• Album: A Long Way From Home
• Label: indie
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2009-11-13

Media

There's something unique about this everything that has passed, but yet to come sound from My Cousin, The Emperor. After landing 7th in IOTY09, and impressing even members of the contest winners Fortune & Spirts, I'm left with my last review of IOTY09, and the latest release of these Brooklyn, NY natives (formerly known as The Populists).

Before I go any further, it should be said that the downloads I received from MCTE was a mixture of their latest, and their recordings as The Populists... Although, we will get back to songs like "Broken Bottle Blues No. 2", I'm headed straight for the most familar sounding and respectable "No Necklace (She Can't Wait To Dance)". A 60's acoustic fold meets the simplicity and romance of 80's contemporary. All the while an unlikely blues is melted within, encompassing a large mix of genre. "Justine" has a formidable plunge and guitar, as lead vocals sort of follow par for the release. John Fogherty meets maybe Jackson Browne meets Buddy Holly meets? You get the point, and I'm tired of focusing in on this one artist, I can't quite seem to name.

Back to the truth and future of a very talented band is the aforementioned "Broken Bottle Blues No. 2" which would probably appear on a top ten song of the year if I made such a list. Constant jazz & blues acoustic melody is lead by a confidently strong vocals performance, telling a short story based more on rhythm than content. Pianist addition and a fearless evening of recording made this track, and I believe it shows the most promise of many bands across this website. An unavoidably catchy track on their The Populists release is "MonteVideo". If I was a manager, I would insist more of this sort of writing and focus as well.

These guys have one the most consistently entertaining sound of all the IOTY contestants, and I'm most curious as to what will become of My Cousin, The Emperor. So soft and aggressive, a stubborn style of storytelling clicks with Contemporary Pop Rock.

User Reviews and Comments

on 2009-10-19 fortuneandspirits Said:

You guys hit that Sun Records sound directly on it's head, you need to get some more people in here voting for you. Broken Bottles Blues No.2 has a real early Elvis meets neo-cabaret feel. It's got an infectious hook and I could listen to your singer's voice all day.

While I hope we kick your asses in the contest, I love your music and I'm going to tell our fans to give you guys a listen, and I'm definitely going to be buying your CD.
Rating: 9/10

on 2009-09-11 wallywoo Said:

very catchy indeed. i'd love to see these guys live.
Rating: 10/10

on 2009-09-07 deaddrjones Said:

Catchy alt-country. It stood out among all the other bands that I have heard on here.
Rating: 10/10

on 2009-09-04 Archelon Said:

Very catchy, blues-rocky... very nice. I'll be humming this all day
Rating: 8/10