Artist: Emf Album: Stigma

Year: 1992
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of the Album: Stigma by EMF

The 90s were an era of experimentation in music with electronic dance widely accepted. Bands were formed, and styles ranging from techno-pop to rap rock to grunge began dominating the musical sphere. One of the most prominent and successful bands during the 90s was the British rock band EMF. The Stigma album was released in 1992, quickly climbing to the top of the charts. In this blog, we will be taking a critical review of the album Stigma by EMF, tracing the band's history, exploring the music genre of the album, examining the best songs on the album, discussing the most innovative parts, and providing our critiques.

EMF burst into the musical scene in 1990 with their debut album Schubert Dip that included their hit song Unbelievable. Their music was a mix of dance, techno, and rock that had a unique sound that was not typical of the mainstream music of that time. The band comprised of James Atkin (vocals), Ian Dench (guitar and keyboards), and Derry Brownson (keyboard). In their second album Stigma, EMF elevated their music by introducing more layered synths and experimenting with various electronic sounds.

Stigma belongs to the dance-rock genre, which was prevalent in the early 90s. The album was a significant departure from their first album, which was more upbeat and dance-centric. In Stigma, the band incorporated more rock elements, resulting in a more complex sound that was heavier and darker than their debut album. The bands' signature sound remained intact, with their fusion of electronic dance and rock, but they introduced new elements to their music that made it more unique.

The album Stigma contains some of EMF's best work yet, which includes some of their famous hits like They're Here, Glass Smash Jack, and It's Your Money. The standout track on the album is Getting through, a hauntingly beautiful track that starts with a melancholic melody and builds up to a beautifully crafted chorus. This song is a perfect mix of rock and electronic music, with a memorable guitar riff, synth, and drum sounds. It's Your Money is another great track that captures the essence of the band's sound at the time. This song's unique palette of sounds, ranging from beats to guitar riffs, makes it one of the most exciting tracks on the album.

The most impressive aspect of EMF's Stigma album is how they incorporated various electronic sounds and layered them beautifully to create a new sound. In this album, they effectively use all the tools at their disposal to create complex melodies that blended with the sounds of guitar, drums, and bass to create a sonically distinct sound. The band's use of synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines on this album is notable, as it was a time when electronic music was still in its infancy.

However, as much as we love the Stigma album, it does have its flaws. The album could have been more concise and less meandering. The excessively long tracks could have been pared down to retain the standout melodies without sacrificing their musical experimentation. Some tracks feel forced and less engaging compared to other tracks on the album. Despite its flaws, the Stigma album remains an essential album in the band's history and an outstanding example of the dance-rock genre.

EMF's Stigma album is a perfect example of the burgeoning electronic dance-rock genre of the early '90s. The album stands out with its layered sound, blending rock, and electronic music. This album is significant because it sees the band experimenting with new musical ideas, resulting in a complex and musically exciting album. The album's best tracks are the band's greatest work. Although it does have flaws, it remains an essential album in the band's history, and it is worth your time if you love electronic or rock music.

EMF's Stigma album is a perfect example of the burgeoning electronic dance-rock genre of the early '90s. The album stands out with its layered sound, blending rock, and electronic music. This album is significant because it sees the band experimenting with new musical ideas, resulting in a complex and musically exciting album. The album's best tracks are the band's greatest work. Although it does have flaws, it remains an essential album in the band's history, and it is worth your time if you love electronic or rock music.