Virtue (Emmy the Great album)
Encyclopedia
Virtue is the second album by London singer-songwriter Emma-Lee Moss — better known by her stage name Emmy the Great
— and was released on June 13th, 2011. It has been described as "meticulous and atmospheric" and has been praised for its poetic writing style.
converted to Christianity
and their relationship came to an end. As a result of this, Virtue would become, much like First Love, a very personal album. Moss explains that she "had this really weird period where I was supposed to be getting married... I was actually reading lots about theology because I didn’t understand what had happened." The album was recorded shortly after the summer in which her wedding was cancelled, with Gareth Jones
(notable for working with Depeche Mode
, Einstürzende Neubauten
, Wire
and Erasure
) given the job to produce the album.
The release of her début album First Love
was delayed due to a lack of confidence and Moss' disillusion and frustration with record labels and managers who wished to alter her song writing. As a result, to fund and release her sophomore album, Emmy the Great partnered with Pledgemusic
, an online Direct-to-Fan
/ Fan-funded music platform utilising a Threshold Pledge System
/ Provision Point Mechanism that facilitates musicians reaching out to their fan-base to financially contribute to upcoming recordings or other musical projects. Moss commented that, "instead of relying entirely on a label to make and tour our record, we can skip the middleman and go directly to you, the fans for support. It makes sense for us, because we’ve always tried to work outside of the traditional record label model.
On April 18, 2011, RCRD LBL
released a free download
of the track "A Woman, A Woman, A Century of Sleep", while on April 29, 2011, the album's lead single, Iris
was released.
gave a favourable review, commenting that, "Resigned but never accusatory, it makes for poignant reassurance that sometimes feeling utterly bewildered and lost is not only natural, but a strange and unmistakeable cause for optimism." The Guardian
claimed Moss to be, "One of the boldest young writers in pop today." while the Evening Standard
insisted that Virtue is "What folk music has been praying for."
The album entered the UK Albums Chart
at #84.
Emmy the Great
Emma-Lee Moss , known by her stage name Emmy the Great, is a London-based singer-songwriter. She has released two albums, First Love and Virtue.-Early life:Moss was born in Hong Kong to an English father and a Chinese mother...
— and was released on June 13th, 2011. It has been described as "meticulous and atmospheric" and has been praised for its poetic writing style.
Background
The album mixes themes from myths, fairy tales and saints' lives. Moss initially wanted the album to tell a story entirely from the point of view of various "characters", both fictional and historical, however, while writing the album, Moss’ fiancéEngagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and their relationship came to an end. As a result of this, Virtue would become, much like First Love, a very personal album. Moss explains that she "had this really weird period where I was supposed to be getting married... I was actually reading lots about theology because I didn’t understand what had happened." The album was recorded shortly after the summer in which her wedding was cancelled, with Gareth Jones
Gareth Jones (music producer)
Gareth Jones is an English music producer and engineer notable for working with Depeche Mode, Einstürzende Neubauten, Wire and Erasure.-Background:Gareth Jones is married and currently living in North London....
(notable for working with Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten
Einstürzende Neubauten is a German post-industrial band, originally from West Berlin, formed in 1980. The group currently comprises Blixa Bargeld , Alexander Hacke , N.U...
, Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
and Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
) given the job to produce the album.
The release of her début album First Love
First Love (Emmy the Great album)
First Love is the first studio album from the London singer-songwriter Emma-Lee Moss, better known by her stage name Emmy the Great. It was released on 9 February 2009 on the UK-based indie label Close Harbour Records.-Background:...
was delayed due to a lack of confidence and Moss' disillusion and frustration with record labels and managers who wished to alter her song writing. As a result, to fund and release her sophomore album, Emmy the Great partnered with Pledgemusic
Pledgemusic
PledgeMusic is an online Direct-to-Fan / Fan-funded music platform utilising a Threshold Pledge System / Provision Point Mechanism, launched in August 2009, that facilitates musicians reaching out to their fan-base to financially contribute to upcoming recordings or other musical projects...
, an online Direct-to-Fan
Direct-to-Fan
Direct-to-Fan is a business model used by independent musicians, independent music labels, music marketing professionals, promoters, and others in the music industry...
/ Fan-funded music platform utilising a Threshold Pledge System
Threshold pledge system
The threshold pledge or fund and release system is a way of making a fundraising pledge as a group of individuals, often involving charitable goals or financing the provision of a public good. An amount of money is set as the goal or threshold to reach for the specified purpose and interested...
/ Provision Point Mechanism that facilitates musicians reaching out to their fan-base to financially contribute to upcoming recordings or other musical projects. Moss commented that, "instead of relying entirely on a label to make and tour our record, we can skip the middleman and go directly to you, the fans for support. It makes sense for us, because we’ve always tried to work outside of the traditional record label model.
On April 18, 2011, RCRD LBL
RCRD LBL
RCRD LBL is the premier online destination for free, curated, legal MP3 downloads from the hottest marquee and emergent artists. RCRD LBL delivers free music downloads and more directly to readers with multiple personalized email properties, including the RCRD of the Day email newsletter, RCRD...
released a free download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
of the track "A Woman, A Woman, A Century of Sleep", while on April 29, 2011, the album's lead single, Iris
Iris (Emmy the Great song)
"Iris" is a song by Emmy the Great, written by Emma-Lee Moss and released as the first single from her second album Virtue in 2011.Talking about the track, Moss said that, "Iris is part me and part lots of girls I know – ‘Princess Impermanent’, always deeply unsatisfied with right now, very...
was released.
Critical response
The album met with generally positive reviews upon release. The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
gave a favourable review, commenting that, "Resigned but never accusatory, it makes for poignant reassurance that sometimes feeling utterly bewildered and lost is not only natural, but a strange and unmistakeable cause for optimism." The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
claimed Moss to be, "One of the boldest young writers in pop today." while the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
insisted that Virtue is "What folk music has been praying for."
The album entered the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at #84.
Track listing
Chart positions
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
84 |
External links
- Emmy the Great – Virtue. Track-by-track guide. - www.guardian.co.uk.