Never A Moment Alone
Self-Released, 2021
10/10
Listen to Never A Moment Alone
An outstanding sophomore album, El Paso’s Emily Davis And The Murder Police address plenty of relevant political/social topics here as they buzz through loud and soft landscapes of very heartfelt, poetic and engaging song craft that meshes the best parts of ‘90s alt-rock, modern punk and timeless folk-rock.
Davis makes a sizable impression right off the bat with the warm strumming and busy alt-country grit of “Artificial Happiness”, where her inimitable singing aligns well with the charged climate, and “God Hates Flags” follows with a swift display of folk-punk that soars with insightful wordplay and a whole lot of sincerity.
Moving down the line, “Don’t Make Me A Promise” moves quickly and with no shortage of melody, where intricate guitar work and drumming acrobatics fuel the very precise delivery, while “Mitosis” embraces some pop ideas amid sing-alongs and even a dance friendly spirit to the indie-rock influenced climate. “Semicolon”, one of the most tame tracks, then displays much beauty as soothing acoustic guitar and pretty, versatile singing shows us another avenue of their talent.
At the end, “Space Cadet” finds the perfect balance between harmony and firmness in its multifaceted approach, and “Apartment Homes” exits the listen initially bare before building into a cathartic and powerful finish of dynamic song craft.
If there’s been a better record released this year, I haven’t heard it. Davis and Jorge Torres (guitar, backing vocals), Jose Macias (bass, backing vocals) and Tomas Tinajero (drums, backing vocals) create incredible, thoughtful and exciting music that’s suitable for the pit just as much as when you just want to mull things over, and somehow manages to get better with each listen, too.
Travels well with: The Cranberries- In The End; Ross Ingram- Sell The Tape Machine