VersaEmerge: A Review

Vultures Unite


Do you have a vulture fetish? Do you like well thought out lyrics and catchy guitar riffs? Do you wish “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was a musical genre? Then the new album, “Fixed at Zero,” by the band VersaEmerge, is for you.

After releasing several much shorter EP’s, the band’s first full length album was met with much anticipation from their growing fan-base. Released on June 21, 2010 by their label, Fueled by Ramen (which also represents bands such as Paramore, Gym Class Heroes, and A Rocket to the Moon), the eleven track, 46 minute album can be picked up for a cool $10.98 on Amazon.com, or on the bands website, www.versaemergemusic.com.

Playing like full-on punk rock, edgy alternative, and the soundtrack from an eerie, Tim Burton-esque movie, the album has created a good balance. The wailing guitars, thoughtful lyrics, and mysterious melodies create a more unique sound than what most other bands are offering at this time. VersaEmerge sounds like a combination of Paramore, Flyleaf, and Evanescence, with the punk edge of bands like OK Go, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. By blending the sounds of different genres and adding their own twist, VersaEmerge creates a distinctive, and pleasant listening experience.

The band’s first single and title-track, “Fixed at Zero,” is surely one of the strongest. The line from the chorus, “There’s a vulture on my shoulder,” has sparked a following, calling themselves the “Versa Vultures,” an entire line of VersaEmerge vulture-related clothing, and the name for the band’s upcoming tour, the “Vultures Unite” tour. The song shows the frustration behind feeling trapped, and the pressure from outside sources to give up, without trying. While some bands’ title-tracks leave the audience disappointed, hoping the other songs make up for it, VersaEmerge succeeds in pleasing the audience and leaving them hoping for more.



On the opposite end, the albums least inspiring tracks, while still catchy and admirable, are “You’ll Never Know” and “Up There.” The outside melody that precedes most songs on the album, that ties the song together, just doesn’t fit with “You’ll Never Know,” and leaves it sounding more awkward than moving. The most straight-forward track of the album, telling of an un-requited love, doesn’t share the same thought-provoking lyrics that can be found on the remainder of the record. While the attempt is admirable, and clearly vulnerable on the part of the writer and vocalist, Sierra Kusterbeck, it seems to have difficulty meshing with the remainder of the album. While “Up There” doesn’t have the same lyrical problem, it does share the same melodic inconsistencies, making it a more difficult listen than the other tracks on the album, though still reasonably interesting.

Other notable tracks include: “Mind Reader,” “Stranger,” “Fire [Aim Your Arrows High],” and “Lost Tree.” “Mind Reader,” a very close second to the title-track, if not a tie, is not only catchy, but thought-provoking. Telling of the obvious frustrations of having someone always seem know what you’re thinking, the song continues to delve deeper. “Lost Tree” adds an interesting quality by repeating key phrases from the other songs on the album, and truly tops the album off with a nice conclusion, leaving the listener feeling content.



Sierra Kusterbeck’s vocals play a wide range through the album, from the power behind “Figure it Out” to the quieter, more melodic “Lost Tree.” It’s clear the girl has talent. Hitting notes that span the spectrum, she has found an amazing control over her voice. Band-mate Blake Harnage adds background vocals, and harmonizes during their duets in the tracks “Your Own LoVE,” and “Fire [Aim Your Arrows High].” Occasionally Sierra’s pitch hits an almost too-high, irritating level, but overall, her voice is more astonishing than annoying.

If you’re looking for a catchy, up-beat dance song, this album is not for you. However, if you’re looking for a deeper, more meaningful listening experience that nicely combines melody and lyrics, this is an album that is definitely worth the money.


(The above was the review that we had to write for class. It was edited very slightly, but only in structure, not content. I just single spaced it and took some of the tabs out, and added a few links. Otherwise, all of the words are the same, that part wasn't changed. I felt it nicely tied into my blog, so I'm glad that we had to post it.)