The complexity of Emily Danger grabs you from the first note on their album ‘Paintings’. They manage the rare feat of making the listener feel both extremely relaxed by Emily Nicholas’ phenomenal vocals and grappled with excitement from the accompanying music provided by bandmates Ryan Nearhoff (guitar), Colin Lime (bass, drums), and Cameron Orr (violin). The most important thing music can do for its listener is provide them with a soundscape for many moods and atmospheres, and Emily Danger accomplish this effortlessly, if not flawlessly. Perhaps the most enchanting moments on the record are when Nicholas’ voice truly serves as an instrument in its own right and, not only does the listener get mesmerised in her singing, they don’t want it to end.

For the most part, “Paintings” is a rather mellow affair, in the best possible way. The opening track, ‘Shed My Skin’, begins quietly and eventually lets everyone know exactly how powerful Emily Nicholas’ voice is. If you thought you couldn’t rock out to a song with a violin, this will, undoubtedly, prove you wrong. The title track is the most fast paced of the four song EP, while ‘Never, Know’ and ‘Easy’ are slower paced without ever crossing the line into the dreaded waters of clichéd sap.

Perhaps the most glorious thing about this record is that the entire time one is listening to it, a soundtrack is imagined; the best part being, the film is entirely your own. The lyrics are just vague enough that anyone can give it their own meaning and make it about their own situation. That is precisely what makes people connect so powerfully with music.

The only problem with the ‘Paintings’ EP is that it has only four tracks. More, please.
--Christine Infanger (thirtyroses.com)

**You can find Emily Danger at:
Emilydangerband.com
@emilydangerband
Facebook.com/emilydangerband