EARTH TO EMILY - SHINY SILVER BULLET
a pop genius, try not loving this one
God I love this one. Is there anyone better than EARTH TO EMILY when it comes to writing a pop smash…? I really don’t think so. And SHINY SILVER BULLET is some pretty convincing evidence.
Opening with a sweet and simple riff, E2E rifling off bar after bar, sticking with a few notes while extra layers and adverbs push and pull the melody. It gives her performance so much texture and shape even as straightforward as the lead vocals might be. The drums are a cool mix - the snare/brush feel live with a digital kick that rocks. The production connecting these different elements so naturally. Twenty seconds in and we get some sweet relief. A beautiful reflective section wondering how to get things back to how they were.
The song is relentless - Emily feels overwhelmed, and as I try to keep up writing along, I do too. But as a song, it’s perfectly paced, each moment leading so naturally to the next, no second wasted but never in a rush.
The next section opens, these little vocal pops (idk what to call them, but you hear them) spike the melody, yanking the song higher, it feels so fun. The pops make way for a big synth bass, another new shape giving the song a totally new feel.
There’s so much to enjoy and we’re only a minute in. Hard to mention all of these little details that make the song so special, but it’s E2E’s creative vision that finds a way to tie them together so seamlessly. I’m hearing so many of my favorite pop stars, but bits and pieces that create a sum greater than its parts, and a sum that is unmistakably an EARTH TO EMILY hit.
The break samples these vocals, the computer finding more ways to show off this great performance. Then at 1:38 we slide into another fresh scene, E2E graceful against this guitar. The autotune along the acoustic feeling so so good. It’s a touching and honest moment, reminding of the emotion behind all the dancing prior. It’s the first release from EARTH TO EMILY since 2022 and I’m so stoked for this new era