A while back I wondered why modern songs have become so short in duration. Barely hitting the three minute mark, many of the new releases I’ve come to love seem like a fleeting moment. There isn’t time to fully enjoy the beauty of the lyrics or intricacies within the instrumental. Could it be the result of society’s attention span shrinking? Or do musicians and their labels believe that six or even seven-minute tracks won’t do as well as they did in the 60s and 70s?

With (EM)’s latest release I had a chance to fully appreciate each song for the first time in a while. Each track being over 3 minutes doesn’t alienate or bore the listener their first listen; rather, the complexities found in each song draw you in. In some cases feeling like two songs in one, each track kept me at the edge of my seat with its brutally honest lyrics and unapologetic experimentation in terms of composition. Dumbo It was overall a comforting listen that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes emo/grunge-esque indie rock.

(EM) is the moniker of solo recording artist Eddie Mead. Based in Wisconsin, Eddie uses songwriting as his main emotional outlet. His songs examine nostalgia, isolation, mental illness, dreams, substance abuse, and the struggles of recovery. He hopes that those who listen to his work might relate to those issues and find inspiration through them.

(EM)

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Cover image by Nick Lamb