It’s not that this new WHY? song is necessarily emo, and I don’t mean to use the term as a value judgment, but “The Blackest Purse” does include the phrase “earnest hands,” the sentence “still sporting my ex-girlfriend’s dead ex-boyfriend’s boxers,” and cups it all in a plaintive recital piano with backup harmonies — “Mom, am I failing?” — redolent of Mineral (a band Yoni Wolf would find a way to rhyme with “intimate decibel”). The slow-growing, balladic sing-song is from the Bay Area crew’s Alopecia followup Eskimo Snow. It was recorded during the same session as the last collection, but sounds world’s apart, so get your lighters and your tears ready. I partially kid. I partially can’t wait for the reunited Get Up Kids to cover it.
WHY – “This Blackest Purse” (MP3)
(Via P4K)
Eskimo Snow is out 9/22 in the U.S. via anticon and 10/5 in the UK via Tomlab.
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I think the term “emo” has been devoid of all meaning for a longer time than it ever actually meant anything.
There’s nothing remotely emo about this song.
don’t worry, i’ll catch you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UmYgOiKgh8
Agreed. There’s nothing emo about this.
Have you not heard Elephant Eyelash? Gemini (Birthday Song) would be closer to being ‘emo’ than this song. And Gemini isn’t remotely emo.
BUT this new song is absolutely excellent.
yoni wolf is the greatest lyricist in music.
been a why? fan for as long as they’ve been around. not sure how i feel about this song yet..which could mean it will be a song i’ll listen to for a long, long time.
regardless..
still the best shit around.
I feel like Why? is a guy/group that everyone loves. But then, I never hear people obsessing over his albums. Alopecia was the best album of its year, but it didn’t get quite as much props as I’d hoped. I just love Yoni to death. Cannot wait to taste Eskimo Snow!
it took three listens, but i am now in love with this song
WHY? is pretty much the most underrated band in Indie Rock right now. It blows my mind how awesome they are and how few people pay attention.
Great song and I agree that Why? should get more love. In my experience Yoni Wolf?s voice turns some people off, friends have compared him to They Might Be Giants meets Stephan Merritt. Also, his lyrics and repeated references to suicide freak people out.
Might I also bring in evidence from Alopecia that’s more so-called ‘emo’ than this song?
“25 carved with a butter knife in the palm of my new hand. It’s out: you’re mostly what I think about”
I want him to rap again! This stuff is okay, but I don’t know, it’s not grabbing me as much. Elephant Eyelash was the peak.
this and the other pieces from the upcoming album I have heard are excellent, Yoni is so talented.
I loved everything that Why? has done from Oaklandazulasylum. I’m hoping this song is one of those one’s you kind of gleam over when you listen to the whole CD but then fall in love with after you stop listening to it for awhile.
Happend to me with light leaves.
Saw Why? in london a couple of weeks ago and they were phenomenal (again). They played a track from the new album so this Mp3 was much appreciated
i absolutely hated this at first, but after only about 7 listens i’m fully in love with it. stupid easily swayed brain
Fuck you for trying to compare Why? to Mineral/The Get Up Kids because the songs on piano and talks about feelings. Have you heard Why? before?!
Best lyricist. BEST.
Easily the MOST underrated band currently making music. Alopecia is near-perfect.
that last ‘mom am i failing?’ on every chorus has officially dug its teeth into me and will never let go. ever.
This is incredible. So excited for the album!
stereogums emo.
Why? is king.
Why? is the best ever. Impossible not to memorize.
Mike, thats exactly what happened to me with light leaves lol. Its definitely my favorite song on Elephant Eyelash. This new cd is going to be sick.
Whoever wrote this article doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Who uses the term ‘emo’ in an objective manner? Certainly not you. WHY? is as much ‘emo’ as they are ‘terrorists’.
If you’re going to cherry-pick lyrics to fit your loose definition of emo do it with a shitty band.
Have you ever tried listening to the way Yoni puts words together? The poetry is more in the sounds and syntax than in the words. If you don’t understand it you won’t understand WHY?
To the person that said Gemini isn’t emo…
It is pretty emo.
It’s packed with nostalgic memories & there’s a sad tone to it.