Emily Haines steps away from her work with Broken Social Scene and Metric with this, her first solo album and it’s a pleasing divergence indeed. ‘Knives Don’t Have Your Back’ is a fine collection of mellow, introspective songs, presented in an understated manner, with a relaxed confidence that allows their more sublime moments to shine through naturally. Haines’s voice too, as fans of her bands will attest, is ideally suited for such things as it sweet and melodious, though again never in a showy ‘look at how sweet and beautiful I am‘ kind of way. The vocals on closer ‘Winning’ are especially nice.
The success of the album musically is definitely Haines mastery of the maudlin minor key piano part, many of which are sprinkled generously across the album. Thus the best moments are really the tracks with the prettiest parts - the timeless tune of ‘The Man Needs A Maid’ which explores male and female relations and the intoxicating night time lullaby of ‘The Last Page.’ Elsewhere ‘Doctor Blind’ ascends in to other- worldly floating strings and “da da da” vocals and the whole world seems to stand still when she sighs “if you fine me/ hide me/ I don’t where I’ve been” on the dreamy and drowsy ‘Crowd Surf on A Cliff.’
Haines’ lyrics contribute as much as the music, however. While occasionally direct in communicating her meaning, the feminist overtones of ‘ A Man Needs A Maid’ for example, her metaphors and images are generally pleasingly subtle and elliptical. She often takes two different images and combines them to form a new whole one, such as the song titles – ‘Detective Daughter’ ‘Nothing and Nowhere’ and ‘Doctor Blind.’ The letter explores a whole range of oxymorons as evidence of the crazy world from which oblivion is an all too available solution…”toothless dentists/ cops that kill/ doctor blind just subscribe the blues ones .. .just prescribe the red ones.” Special mention should go, too, to ‘The Lottery’s’ “It’s impossible.. Like girls in stilettos trying to run.” Though it does sound a bit like something a character might say in an ITV sitcom.
Haines is to be congratulated because without comprising her ideals or chasing after commercial appeal she has produced an accessible and rewarding album.
