Albums to watch

Exile In The Outer Ring

EMA

Exile In The Outer Ring

Third solo album of lo-fi alt.rock from former Gowns and Amps For Christ member Erika M Anderson

ADM rating[?]

7.6

Label
City Slang
UK Release date
25/08/2017
US Release date
25/08/2017
  1. 9.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    While EMA still swirls blasted riffs around her and slams us back with aftershock drums, this time she stands visibly before us, blueprints and implements of destruction in clear sight
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  2. 8.3 |   A.V. Club

    Eventually, when the fog lifts, Exile In The Outer Ring could stand as one of the artistic triumphs of this dark time
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  3. 8.1 |   Gig Soup

    A heavy-hitting, ambitious record that sees EMA articulate the frequently delicate topics she tackles, with both confidence and due vulnerability
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  4. 8.0 |   Spectrum Culture

    Explores the the violent, hateful fury that’s lurked in long-ignored American locales
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  5. 8.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    A sober journey where EMA grabs her feelings and turns them into a state where music is feelings and feelings are music
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  6. 8.0 |   No Ripcord

    Through the album, EMA never judges or grandstands. She takes snapshots of life outside metropolises, inviting everyone to look closer at those left behind in the outer ring
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  7. 8.0 |   The Digital Fix

    As things in the real world escalate at an alarming rate, EMA rebels through song
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  8. 8.0 |   Exclaim

    Some of the best material we've heard from her yet
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  9. 8.0 |   Pitchfork

    A surreal and powerful story about political alienation
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  10. 8.0 |   The Music

    This is the urgent, accomplished work from Anderson we've been waiting for
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  11. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    EMA has frequently dealt with tough, sometimes controversial topics. With Exile in the Outer Ring though, Anderson has all but perfected a very delicate balance
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  12. 8.0 |   musicOMH

    Production-wise the album is a joy, and a much-needed break from a plethora of sanitised, overworked records that all end up sounding the same
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  13. 8.0 |   Punk News

    Challenging but is able to draw you back in for more listens
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  14. 7.5 |   Under The Radar

    A cry of pain and a lament that filters in just enough hope
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  15. 7.3 |   Earbuddy

    After two back-to-back "modern classics" (depending on who you ask), EMA falls short on her third
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  16. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    There’s a special singularity in Anderson’s voice—a wholly distinct instrument that can wrap itself into virtually any type of song with a croon or a growl
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  17. 7.0 |   The Quietus

    Musically, this is Anderson at her most assured: she has synthesised her various musical interests and influences - noise music, metal, grunge, folk and country - into an entirely idiosyncratic musical lexicon
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  18. 7.0 |   Rolling Stone

    All throughout Exile in the Outer Ring, whispers and screams, noise and tune, light and darkness trade places until the differences of disappear
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  19. 7.0 |   Uncut

    Exile is a richly layered sonic feast slathered in alluringly discordant noises. Print edition only

  20. 7.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    Modular synth drones are layered with heavy guitar riffs, multi-tracked backing vocals and repetitive drum programming, until nearly all space is squeezed out of the album’s eleven tracks
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  21. 6.0 |   Mojo

    Clever, unflinching, experimental. Print edition only


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