Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)
Year of the Rabbit 7”
Count Your Lucky Stars Records; 2008
![](http://www.dryvetymeonlyne.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/eeiwale-yotr.jpg "Year of the Rabbit 7\\"")
Back in the day (boy, do I sound old), being an emo band didn’t mean that there was some predetermined uniform of tight jeans, ironic t-shirts, and eyeliner that must be donned before the music was performed. It used to mean that one had an unabashedly huge heart and the ability to craft intense pop songs without any anger or irony present. It’s that ethos that jumps out from the onset of the Year of the Rabbit 7” from Michigan quartet Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate). The 7” is comprised of two tracks that reflect the dual nature of certain strains of ‘90s emo: the A-side, “Year of the Rabbit,” evokes a moody introspection that refuses to become ugly in the face of pain, while the B-side, “IDK, My BFF Jill,” finds the band waxing melancholic as they regard their hurt, but doing so with a louder, more earnest voice. There’s a steady pacing and passion present here, reminiscent of Sunny Day Real Estate’s more mellow material. Stay tuned for the band’s full-length release later on in 2008.
December 15th, 2009 07:03