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Album Details

• Artist: Emm Gryner
• Album: Goddess
• Label:
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: tosnob on 2009-02-02

Singer/songwriter Emm Gryner is one of the most under appreciated talents on the Canadian music scene. For years she's been making album after album of beautifully crafted songs. Gryner's new album, Goddess, is about to hit stores.

I recently had the pleasure of doing an interview with Gryner. When asked to describe the new album she called it:

"Probably the most personal album I've ever made. There were a few songs I wrote recently that I thought were poppier or more catchy and I just left them off because they had no place intruding on the moody, subzero landscape of this album.".

That's a fairly apt description. Set against a backdrop of relationship struggles and stark Canadiana imagery, Gryner's song swing effortlessly from quiet introspection ("Skating Rink") to unabashed defiance ("Match").

Somehow those songs of strength and defiance seem darker and more sinister when conveyed by Gryner's soaring and melodic voice than the would with the meanest Riot Grrl growl.

Gryner's signature piano sound is less dominant on Goddess. Filling the void are elegant cello and violin arrangements ("Goddess"). The guitars and drums are also turned up on the album, making songs like "Empty Hole" some of her hardest ever.

Big, bold choruses also play a major role on the album. "Die Evergreen" is a towering anthem, while Gryner's impressive pipes and a killer hook make "Leftover Love" one of the best songs of 2009 so far.

When all is said and done Goddess is an otherworldly album.

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