It’s Up to Emma [LP] by Scout Niblett (Vinyl, May-2013, Drag City Records)

$

24

The shout of Scout echoes across the dark and shimmering water, taking the form of a thunderstorm, a puddle, a woman reaching out, to find for herself what’s it all about. Now it’s up to you to find out what’s up with Emma...

Album Notes:

Emma Louise Niblett (born 29 September 1973), better known by the stage name Scout Niblett, is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Niblett debuted in 2001 with her first full-length studio album Sweet Heart Fever, and went on to release four more studio albums over the next nine years, including collaborations with Steve Albini, Chris Saligoe, Will Oldham, and Kristian Goddard. In 2013, Niblett released her sixth studio album, It’s Up to Emma, which she mixed and produced.

Niblett’s music is frequently minimal in style, many of her songs consisting merely of vocals accompanied by either drums or guitar, which she primarily plays herself. She is also known for her intimate live shows.

It’s Up to Emma is the sixth studio album by singer-songwriter Scout Niblett, released on May 21, 2013. It is Niblett’s second release on Drag City records, after The Calcination of Scout Niblett in 2010. It’s Up to Emma met with positive reception from indie rock critics upon release.

Niblett recorded It’s Up to Emma at Type Foundry and Cloud City Sound in Portland, Oregon, as well as in New York City and in Niblett’s residence. Unlike on her previous albums, Niblett chiefly produced the record as well as mixed it.

Niblett described the writing of the album as: “I think for me, [it] seems to be a reflection of a journey through all emotions. It feels like a document of an emotional evolution. Almost like the different stages of grief (anger, denial, acceptance, etc.), all about the same theme [...] The songs are really me dealing with being alone, and the path I took to learning to embrace and value being alone.”

It’s Up to Emma received positive critical acclaim from critics upon its release. Pitchfork called the album “the most listenable record Niblett has made since her debut; caustic in a totally different way than usual,” and Allmusic noted that the songs “add up to a reckoning, an exorcism, and a letting go. Using ragged guitar riffs, basic drumming, some raw-sounding strings, and a deliberate lack of subtlety, Niblett goes straight at her subject.” The Willamette Week echoed a similar sentiment, stating: “Don’t be fooled by the picture on the cover of Scout Niblett’s new album, a photo-booth shot of a couple in full make-out mode. The heart of It’s Up to Emma is not a romantic one. These nine brooding, deeply scarred songs—eight originals and one well-chosen cover—are performed and sung as a form of personal exorcism for Niblett.”

Personnel:

Scout Niblett: vocals, guitar, bass, e-bow

Dan Wilson:- drums, lead guitar

Jose Medels: drums, percussion

Emil Amos: bass, drums, e-bow, backing vocals

Technical Personnel:

Scout Niblett: production, mixing

Danny Bensi:- engineer, strings

Brandon Eggleston:- engineer, mixing

Saunder Jurriaans: engineer, strings

Jason Powers: engineer, mixing

Carl Saff: mastering

Adam Selzer: mixing

Track List:

1. Gun   [4:57]
2. Can’t Fool Me Now   [6:19]
3. My Man   [4:43]
4. Second Chance Dreams   [4:45]
5. Woman and Man   [4:07]
6. All Night Long   [4:11]
7. No Scrubs   [3:20]
8. Could This Possibly Be?   [5:21]
9. What Can I Do?   [6:36]

The It’s Up to Emma [LP] by Scout Niblett is factory-sealed new. It has never been played and has always been kept in its original packaging. The LP is not a promo or cutout. There are no marks or punches of any kind. All our CDs and vinyl are new! If you have any questions or want to see additional photos, just email us.

Same day shipping for payments received by 4:00 PM EST.

Payment must be received within 7 days. We accept and prefer PayPal.