Inspired by Stereogum’s “30 Essential Songs From The Golden Era Of Emo,” I put together an all-emo 4:00 Free-For-All. I played a few tracks from Stereogum’s list, a few faves of my own, some newer fare, and even some screamo. Take a look and a listen. And cheer up, emo kid!
| 1. | Sunny Day Real Estate “In Circles” |
From their 1994 debut ‘Diary,’ perhaps the most important, respected album in the genre.
| 2. | The Dismemberment Plan “The Ice Of Boston” |
It’s New Year’s Eve in Boston, emo kid.
| 3. | Piebald “American Hearts” |
Hardcore alongside their Andover, MA neighbors Converge and Cave In, they’d later add an emotional edge.
| 4. | Braid “Bang” |
The Illinois outfit is on their third go-round together since 1993, and they released a new album this year. It’s called ‘No Coast’ and it’s good.
| 5. | Jimmy Eat World “Lucky Denver Mint” |
Arguably emo’s most successful act. (Just don’t call them that.)
| 6. | Weezer “The Good Life” |
Purists that shun “commercial” music would likely disagree, but I back Stereogum’s claim that Weezer’s ‘Pinkerton’ is an important album in the emo cannon.
| 7. | The Get Up Kids “Mass Pike” |
On the other hand, you’d be hard-pressed to find a music fan who doesn’t feel ‘Something To Write Home About’ by The Get Up Kids belongs in the aforementioned emo cannon.
| 8. | The Jealous Sound “A Gentle Reminder” |
Front man Blair Shehan started out in another emo act–Knapsack–before founding TJS in 2000. After a brief hiatus, the band released ‘A Gentle Reminder’ in 2012.
| 9. | Saves The Day “At Your Funeral” |
“This song will become the anthem of your underground,” sings Chris Conley. Yeah, it kinda did.
| 10. | At The Drive-In “One Armed Scissor” |
And suddenly, five lunatics from El Paso reminded everyone that “emo” is actually short for “emotional HARDCORE.”
| 11. | Brand New “Sic Transit Gloria (Glory Fades)” |
Then “emo” became “screamo…”
| 12. | Taking Back Sunday “MakeDamnSure” |
…and everyone fell in love with Adam Lazzara.
| 13. | Dashboard Confessional “Screaming Infidelities” |
Important to remember, though, that before everyone fell in love with Adam Lazzara, they were in love with Chris Carrabba.
| 14. | Death Cab For Cutie “405” |
Also important to remember that, before DCFC were an alt-rock juggernaut, they were that peculiar little emo band from outside Seattle.
| 15. | Pinback “Proceed To Memory” |
The San Diego indie rockers aren’t thought of as a core emo act, but they’re important nonetheless. And they put out one of their best albums to date in 2012’s ‘Information Retrieved.’
| 16. | Sunny Day Real Estate “Lipton Witch” |
We started with SDRE and we’ll end with them. “Lipton Witch” was recorded in 2009 and finally released this past April.