EMILY DUFF – Razor Blade Smile (2021)
“Razor Blade Smile“, the new album from New Yorker EMILY DUFF isn’t the typical music we feature on this blog, but certainly rock n’ roll based. Duff style has elements of hard rock but also Americana, country, blues, soul, and more. And sometimes what matters is attitude, “Razor Blade Smile” has more a rocking spirit than many self-proclaimed classic rockers.
Emily who sings and plays acoustic guitar has enlisted the help of some stellar musicians on this album with Eric Ambel (Joan Jett) on electric and slide guitar and backing vocals, Keith Christopher (Lynyrd Skynyrd) on bass, Charlie Giordano (Bruce Springsteen) on keyboards, Phil Cimino on drums, and Mary Lee Kortes on backing vocals.
The album opens with ‘Go Fast, Don’t Die’ which reads like an anthem on how you should live your life. It was delivered in almost a marching cadence call and response style in her wonderfully understated vocal, a delightfully captivating listen. There’s more of a rolling beat to ‘Gimme Back My Love’ which had some superb keys, a driving drum beat and a brief guitar solo midway through.
Emily’s vocals color bring to mind ’80s Stevie Nicks solo works, her more rocking songs.
‘Done And Done’ is a reminiscence on a relationship that’s had it’s good times but is now buried firmly in the past. The fuzzy guitar riffs are sublime but so is everything on this track from the steady bass, soaring keys and almost hypnotic drumbeat. The vocals have that wonderfully thoughtful and reflective texture about them.
There`s another introspective number with ‘Angry To Bad’ which seems to have a hint of exasperation in the vocals about the situation this relationship has reached. There`s a brilliantly telling line with “I don’t care what your best friend said”.
Title track ‘Razor Blade Smile’ is more belligerent hard rock out, a sort of threat or challenge laid down from someone whom I’d have to say I’d decline to oppose. There was an almost frenetic pace on ‘Flying Paper Planes’ a country tinged number where the skillfully rhythmic almost poetic lyrics were rapidly shared.
‘Another Goodbye’ is a meditative but pensive offering with a musical accompaniment that gave it an air of sorrow, loss but also underlying strength. A number that could have come out of Nashville follows with ‘Feelin’ Alright’ a mesmerizing foot tapper which had subtle accordion tinges initially.
‘Don’t Hang The Moon’ had a real edge to it. A tale possibly of somebody who lives and loves on their own terms. There was a sense of the narrator wanting to commit but almost a feeling of anticipation and unease shared in the vocal delivery.
The album closes with ‘Nicotine & Waiting’ which has Cody Nilson joining on pedal steel guitar. The singer has related that it’s a view of having too much time on your hands that could “push you into self-destructive coping mechanisms”. A stunningly reflective submission where the lyrics nearly paint a visual, they are that well expressed.
Classic Rock Mag have said that Emily’s vocals rise to the top with “grit, honey and melody” and it’d be difficult not to agree. ‘Razor Blade Smile’ is a cracking album where this singer, songwriter and guitarist has recruited some gifted musicians to help her realize this varied and delightfully, tender, thoughtful, reflective, and captivating composition.
Highly Recommended
01 – Go Fast, Dont Die
02 – Gimme Back My Love
03 – Done and Done
04 – Angry to Bed
05 – Razor Blade Smile
06 – Flying Paper Planes
07 – Another Goodbye
08 – Feelin’ alright
09 – Don’t Hang the Moon
10 – Nicotine & Waiting
Emily Duff: Acoustic Guitar & Vocals
Eric Ambel: Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar & BG Vocals
Keith Christopher: Bass
Charlie Giordano: Keyboards
Phil Cimino: Drums
Cody Nilsen: Pedal Steel Guitar on 10
Mary Lee Kortes: BG Vocals
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www.emilyduffband.com/music
