Watch the Fireworks
by Emma Pollock

Album details

US: 11 September 2007 on 4AD
UK: 17 September 2007 on 4AD

"Fireworks" marks the first solo album for the former co-leader of Scottish indie-rock favorites The Delgados. Victor Van Vugt produced.

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The critical consensus

The good news for Delgados fans upset that the group is no more: Pollock’s first solo effort sounds a lot like a Delgados album (especially their final effort, Universal Audio). The only bad news: it also sounds, unsurprisingly, like it’s missing a little something (such as Alun Woodward’s vocal counterpart).

Aversion highlights the fact that "she’s never sounded so conventional," yet rather than a drawback, the move "suits her surprisingly well … Pollock’s songs are stripped-down and confident like never before." The Guardian, too, calls Pollock’s new sound "comparatively straight," which turns out to be a drawback, as her vocals aren’t forceful enough on their own to elevate the material. (Now Magazine disagrees, suggesting that the simpler instrumentation and vocal focus "means you feel the full effect of her acid-tinged lyrics.") Although Delusions of Adequacy notes some attempts at a more commercial sound, that site feels the album doesn’t diverge enough from her efforts with the Delgados, concluding that "Watch The Fireworks is neither a big revelation nor a reason to be fearful." The BBC doesn’t necessarily agree with the verdict of conventionality, saying "there is an overwhelming feeling of unpredictability about this album," although they do note that this could be the album to finally give Pollock "the international acclaim her ex-bandmates were so cruelly denied."

Comparisons to past efforts aside, Exclaim! concludes that the album is "quite enjoyable," as "Pollock charms and dazzles the senses." All Music Guide finds the disc extremely atmospheric, and notes that the "lovely and windswept" songs "echo many of her former band’s finest moments." Stylus, however, finds Fireworks too safe, although it does suggest promise for the future. Under The Radar feels that, "Most of the time the more streamlined approach works for the benefit of the songs, but there are a couple of missteps." And Uncut similarly finds that "Pollock tries to connect more directly here" but doesn’t always succeed.

Pollock’s strength is her ability to write convincing pop songs and straight-up beautiful tracks.

- Gemma Padley, BBC

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. New Land
2. Acid Test
   
   
3. Paper & Glue
4. Limbs
5. Adrenaline
   
   
6. If Silence Means That Much To You
7. Fortune
8. You’ll Come Around
9. This Rope’s Getting Tighter
10. Here Comes The Heartbreak
11. Optimist, The

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Emma Pollock @ 4AD
• Emma Pollock @ MySpace