I suppose I wanted to get mostly at the idea of EMA as auteur. Above all, it makes me optimistic it works from no obvious template and draws from no well other than EMA herself.* *Past Life Martyred Saints is beautiful, powerful, and sonically challenging. Which is to say, an economical story teller working in a thrilling and visceral medium. Whether she sounds like Nirvana, Sonic Youth, or any number of high-octane 90s art rockers, she always sounds like herself. And that’s really what EMA and Past Life Martyred Saints does best. Along with its memorable opening line (which was printed onto tour shirts, rightly so), the song is just snatches of sentiment that somehow evoke time and space better than most 90 minute feature films I’ve seen lately. “California” is my favorite song of the year. As the bottom hits you around the 2:50 mark, though, you realize the past is preamble to a dark (and inviting) future. Part of the album’s glorious expansiveness is due its first song, “The Grey Ship”, which sets your expectations for the album in the neighborhood of Cat Power-esque.
My favorite album of the year was - by far - EMA’s Past Life Martyred Saints.
