CD Review
EMILIE AUTUMN: BY THE SWORD, Charity Single
Traitor Records, c. 2001
by Bryan A. Bushemi

Emilie Autumn is an artist. Emilie Autumn is a free spirit. Emilie Autumn is a passionate human being. Because of those things, Emilie Autumn is a musician and a storyteller. Her latest CD single, "By the Sword," which was written and recorded in response to the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, is one artist’s attempt to articulate the feelings many are experiencing in the aftermath of this event. And in a time when most of the things we hold in esteem, including music and art, have been made rather insignificant by the recent tragedy, "By the Sword" is also one artist’s attempt to use her passion and talents to contribute to a very worthy cause. Emilie is donating her royalties from the sale of the recording to the American Red Cross and Americares, to aid the victims and their families.

Written and recorded shortly after the attack on the WTC, "By the Sword" follows the great tradition that American musicians have for responding to trying times with their art. It brings to mind Neil Young sitting down with his guitar and writing "Ohio" after hearing of the Kent State massacre, and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On, recorded in response to Vietnam and the tumultuous social issues of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Like those works, "By the Sword" combines compassion for those who suffer with a righteous anger and determination directed towards those who commit such affronts to peace and human dignity.

Beginning with sweeping violins and piano, segueing to almost martial fiddle playing, and then into pulsing rock, the music and lyrics work well to conjure an image from ages past of riding to do battle in the name of honor and justice. Emilie’s lilting voice soars and dips over this landscape, infusing it with a bold storytelling quality reminiscent of bards of old singing rousing hymns to inspire the listener to great deeds. And when she barks at the end, "We will find our brothers/By the sword I swear," we believe her.

"By the Sword" is one artist’s attempt to remind us that while some choose to strike at the helpless and innocent in cowardly, despicable fashion, there are those among us—the rescue workers laboring day and night to locate survivors, the passengers on United Flight 93 who found it in themselves to resist the hijackers even at the cost of their own lives, and the men and women soon to be marching into harm’s way to defend this country—who still possess the nobility of spirit to be heroes. I think she succeeds very well.