{"id":2335,"date":"2017-05-02T12:30:25","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T12:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-emperor-x-oversleepers-international\/"},"modified":"2018-03-21T22:15:52","modified_gmt":"2018-03-21T22:15:52","slug":"review-emperor-x-oversleepers-international","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/review-emperor-x-oversleepers-international\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Emperor X – Oversleepers International"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/figure>\n

There always seems to be some sort of distrust around creative and literate singer-songwriters, especially in the UK. Artists like John K. Samson, John Darneille and Toby Foster feel like the preserve of the few \u2013 a cultish, bookish throng of people who invest in lyrics and mood beyond simple refrains and easy-going choruses. <\/p>\n

Occasionally, these artists break out \u2013 the love afforded The Hotelier following the success of \u2018Home, Like Noplace Is There\u2019<\/i> emphasises how literate punk music can find a larger audience when the stars align. Which brings us to Chad R. Matheny (AKA Emperor X<\/b>), a man whose career echoes the challenges faced by Samson, Darnielle and Foster; an exceptionally gifted lyricist who feels like a best kept secret. <\/p>\n

\u2018Oversleepers International\u2019<\/i> is Emperor X<\/b>\u2019s eighth full-length and first for Tiny Engines<\/b>, and is as whimsical and insightful as anything that has gone before. It sounds gorgeous too; the layered vocals on \u201930,000 Euros\u2019<\/i> working perfectly with the sparse keys and processed beats, while lead single \u2018Wasted on the Senate Floor\u2019<\/i> is a countrified slice of indie-punk that emphasises Matheny\u2019s socio-political lyrical leanings. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Oversleepers International by Emperor X<\/a><\/p>\n

Naturally, such verbosity will be too much for some, and the eccentric arrangements \u2013 which come off like The Decemberists going toe-to-toe with Atom and his Package \u2013 may be too left-field for those who like straight-ahead pop\/rock songs. That said, there\u2019s beauty to be found in the eccentricities. \u2018Tanline Debris\u2019<\/i> is a frayed and frazzled slice of indie rock that is utterly beguiling, if a little oblique lyrically, while the title track keeps things simple musically but spins a wonderful storytelling narrative. <\/p>\n

\u2018Oversleepers International\u2019<\/i> is proof that great pop music doesn\u2019t have to play to the lowest common denominator. Instead, it spins on its own axis, removed from outside musical influences, but instead stimulated by and created in response to the political and social landscape. It\u2019s the work of a true auteur \u2013 and is all the better for it. <\/p>\n

4.5\/5<\/p>\n

\u2019Oversleepers International’<\/em> by Emperor X<\/strong> is released on 5th May on Tiny Engines<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Emperor X<\/b> links: Website<\/a>|Facebook<\/a>|Twitter<\/a>|Bandcamp<\/a>|Soundcloud<\/a>|Tumblr<\/a> <\/p>\n

Words by Rob Mair (@BobNightMair<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There always seems to be some sort of distrust around creative and literate singer-songwriters, especially in the UK. Artists like John K. Samson, John Darneille and Toby Foster feel like the preserve of the few \u2013 a cultish, bookish throng of people who invest in lyrics and mood beyond simple refrains and easy-going choruses. Occasionally, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":16306,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[1824,1845,15022,206],"class_list":["post-2335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-album-reviews","tag-emperor-x","tag-oversleepers-international","tag-rob-mair","tag-tiny-engines"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nReview: Emperor X - Oversleepers International - Already Heard Staging<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There always seems to be some sort of distrust around creative and literate singer-songwriters, especially in the UK. Artists like John K. 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