V/A – The Emo Diaries, Volume 9 : Sad Songs Remind Me / 12 Songs / 2003 Deep Elm Records / [email protected] / http://www.deepelm.com /

Starting off with guitars that absolutely still haunt me, Sweden’s own So Sad Althea lead off this, the penultimate volume in the Emo Diaries set. Michael is a Band’s “Finish Line” continues the emotive onslaught with the inclusion of a violinist that is actually important in the band, not just an interesting sounding oddity to exploit. Following the opening to the disc is a song more fit for the sequel of Natural Born Killers; both the same breathy vocals and the slightly country and western twinge that made the music for NBK so memorable are present in Surrounded’s “High Five Hiero”. Surrounded’s ending to this song makes it all the more relevant as it shows two very different attributes side by side : the swirling guitars provide chaos while the band’s own devotion to order promotes the other half. La Pieta brings this compilation excellent two-concurrent vocals (a la Ivy’s Butterfly, Go Rimbaud), along with vocals that are aurally similar to Dakoda Motor Co. and Clear, while having a retro feel to their music that reminds one of The Cure and Robyn Hitchcock. Continuing the trend with a concurrent vocal delivery, Avec brings more of an urgency with its multi-layered ‘The Last Injection”. The production levels of “The Last Injection” brings it much more to the forefront in this compilation, as the numbered chorus makes people catch onto the lyrics, while the meshing of both vocalists’ voices keep listeners interested. Sounds like a mix between the vocalist of the Crash Test Dummies and Glenn Danzig, the vocalist for “At the Close of Every Day” provides direction to an immensely-well crafted (and uptempo) single in “High School Lovers USA”, which personifies the carefree days of High School with dreamy-guitars.

Top Tracks : Surrounded “High Five Hiero” and At the Close of Every Day “High School Lovers USA”