Shocking Miss Emerald

In May 2007 Caro Emerald got a phone call from Dutch producers Jan van Wieringen and David Schreurs. They'd written a song with Canadian songwriter Vincent Degiorgio. Their demo singer wasn't available, and that's why Caro got the opportunity to record the demo for 'Back It Up'. A year later, Caro performed the song on a local TV station. It caught fire right away: viewers just wouldn't stop calling, e-mailing and commenting about that lovely girl with her catchy song. A low-budget video on YouTube created a similar effect. Suddenly, viewers wanted to know where they could buy the song. But, with only one song on the repertoire David, Vince, Jan and Caro started working on an album first. Inspired by films and music from the 40's and 50's, ...

This give to us some advantages, like this :
1. Good, but...
This is a perfectly decent follow-up album from Caro Emerald. She is a very good singer, that enjoyable fusion of swing and modern sounds is still there and some of the material here is good. People like me who found Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor such an original and joyous treat will certainly like it, but for me the terrific musical zing and zest which I loved in Deleted Scenes isn't quite there on this album.

Part of this is that Miss Emerald isn't really at all shocking here, but plays it pretty safe. The old sense of a bunch of really good musicians having a great time has been overlaid and dimmed by a much more expensive, corporate gloss. Sweeping strings and slicker, more impersonal production have largely driven out the immediacy of the terrific, gutsy brass section, for example, so the humorous twinkle of Dr Wannado, the irresistible swing of That Man and the infectious beat of Back It Up are harder to find here. Some of it is great, and there's a...

2. Miss Emerald has done it again
The criticisms of this album that I've read both here and on Amazon's UK site seem to be centered on one fact: the production values. Specifically, that they've increased. As if sharp production is a negative in and of itself.

This album is more polished that Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor, but after listening to it several times I keep coming to the same conclusion... this is a more complete album, if you listen from end-to-end. This album is neither "safe" nor a regression of form. If anything, it has the sophistication of "Lipstick on His Collar" and "I Know that He's Mine" from the first album and spreads it across an hour-long feast for the ears.

Side Note: As I write this, The Shocking Miss Emerald is only available as an expensive import. I actually saved $10 by ordering directly from the UK site. (Hence why this review is not marked as a "certified" Amazon purchase...)

Need more appointment... ?
One word : STUNNING"
I absolutely loved the first release from Caro Emerald. If that first release was a success, just listen to the second one, you will be blown away!
This second "essay" is a wonderful combination of lyrics and rhythms that makes your foot tap the beat, your head swing, and your fingers hit that fake piano keyboard you wish you learned how to play when you were a kid!
A touch of New Orleans, a little bit of Satchmo, and a "soupcon de" Sidnet Bechet and you can't stop listening to each song over and over!
This is also an opportunity for Caro to get out of what she does best, and show us she can do so much more! Just listen to the last 3 songs of this release: The wonderful in you, Tell me how long and My 2 cents. A mixture of her traditional sounds and main stream POP, but with a style and presence that define Caro Emerald!
A must have and a must listen over and over...
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