Album Review: Emilyn Brodsky – Emilyn Brodsky’s Digestion

This is New York songstress Emilyn Brodsky‘s third album, charmingly titled Emilyn Brodsky’s Digestion, which follows on quite logically on from her 2014 sophomore album, Emilyn Brodsky Eats Her Feelings. Her latest recording brings back many of the familiar collaborators from her previous releases, including members of The Hold Steady, The World/Inferno Friendship Society, Balkan Beat Box and Pearl and the Beard. Her style is self described as “creepy comfy folk pop” and whilst I’m not going to argue with her, I think there’s a lot more under the surface of her songwriting than that description indicates.

The album opens with the subtle charms of Sadists, the haunting, and slightly sinister, opener is delivered with a slightly unsettling combination of ukulele and saxophone, along with the lightest of percussive touches. After the gentle opener you get the slightly more abrasive Origami Cranes, in contrast this has a dark, yet strangely mellow, post punk feel to it. The glorious single, You Read Me Wrong, is my personal highlight of the album, it has an unashamed and authentic ’50’s rock ‘n roll feel to it, but as with every other track on this album, it is delivered with her own inimitable style. Every track on Emilyn Brodsky’s Digestion draws on different influences and has it’s own distinct character, this is an album that incorporates numerous elements and spans countless genres, but it’s all done in a laid back style, there is rock ‘n roll, post punk and folk punk, to name but a few of the influences on this album, all of which are delivered with a perfect pop sensibility.

The album is delivered with an unusual and idiosyncratic style, the usual array of overdriven guitars and heavy bass lines are largely eschewed for the likes of ukulele, saxophone and even xylophone. If you’re a fan of the Dresden Dolls, and Amanda Palmer‘s solo work, then this is an album you need to hear, that’s not to say she’s a facsimile, it’s just that that is the only act I’ve heard that’s coming from even a remotely similar musical direction. Emilyn Brodsky has a unique approach to music and one that is utterly captivating.

Emilyn Brodsky’s Digestion can be ordered here