Has there ever been a style of music as misunderstood as emo?
Though rock's angstiest subgenre might get a bad reputation, there's a lot of history behind it—as well as great albums. Before bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, and Paramore boomed in the mid-2000s, emo fire rose to prominence from Washington, D.C.'s hardcore punk movement in the '80s. It's been a long road to get emo where it is today, but the genre wouldn't be what it is without the many bands who passed the torch over the years. There are many great albums to dive into, many of which timestamp Midwest emo's massive spike in popularity in the '90s.
Here are just ten essential emo albums to get you started on a very sad journey.
Sunny Day Real Estate, Diary (1994)
One of the earliest bands to help define emo as we know it now, Sunny Day Real Estate swiftly toed the line between poppy melodies and gritty guitars. Their debut, Diary, offered a perfect mix of not-quite-punk and not-quite-hardcore, paving the way for many bands to follow their footsteps. The band broke up the following year, with members Nate Mendel and William Goldsmith leaving to join Foo Fighters.
▲Cap’n Jazz, Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped On and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over (1995)
It's arguable that no one band had the collective influence on emo that Cap'n Jazz did. The short-lived Chicago band released one scrappy, lengthily-titled album (colloquially referred to as Shmap'm Shmazz) and then seemingly disappeared. But their implosion led to the formation of a few unforgettable bands: the Promise Ring, Joan of Arc, and—most notably—American Football. Cap'n Jazz didn't receive proper recognition during their time, but their legacy is irrefutable.
▲Texas Is the Reason, Do You Know Who You Are? (1996)
One of the last prominent emo records to feature heavy hardcore influence, the title of Texas Is the Reason's only album comes from what are, allegedly, the last words John Lennon ever heard before he died. Do You Know Who You Are? is expectedly dark, having earned its right as an underground favorite that's stood the test of time.
▲The Promise Ring, Nothing Feels Good (1997)
There are many reasons why the Promise Ring's Nothing Feels Good is often considered the pinnacle of emo. Much more exuberant than many records of its time, the Wisconsin band's second album could easily be full-blown pop-punk if it weren't driven by such a tight, mathy rhythm section. Despite its title, the 34-minute sprint of Nothing Feels Good proves that emo doesn't have to be so depressing, after all.
▲Mineral, The Power of Failing (1997)
Mineral drew many comparisons to Sunny Day Real Estate, but the Austin band's short career proved they could stand alone. Gritty, expressive, and haunting all in one, The Power of Failing showcases emo at its most, well, emotional. Were they being melodramatic? Perhaps. But were people singing along emphatically regardless? Absolutely.
▲Braid, Frame and Canvas (1998)
If the Promise Ring and Mineral ever combined forces, it might sound something like Frame and Canvas. The Illinois band's third album features a harmonious blend of soaring, melodic instrumentation with the sort of striking attitude that made Mineral so powerful. Frame and Canvas found a happy medium between two sides of emo, inviting others to follow suit.
▲Rainer Maria, Look Now Look Again (1999)
Emo has historically excluded women. Taking their name from the notably sad Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Wisconsin band Rainer Maria marked one of the very few emo bands of the era to be fronted by a woman. Caithlin De Marrais' vocals are expectedly idyllic, and on her band's second album, Look Now Look Again, she gave emo a more elegant, brainy facelift.
▲American Football, American Football (1999)
For 17 years, American Football's self-titled debut was their only album. Since its release just before the turn of the century, American Football has become a definitive timestamp of Midwest emo, immortalizing the "twinkly guitars" that'd become synonymous with the genre. The house on its cover is arguably Urbana, Illinois' most iconic landmark, and the instrumental riffs of "Never Meant" are sung by concert attendees as loudly as its words.
▲Thursday, Full Collapse (2001)
New Jersey hardcore titans Thursday weren't quite part of the Hot Topic generation of emo, but they sure as hell helped raise it. A major influence of beloved acts after them like My Chemical Romance (even opening MCR's reunion show late last year), Thursday delved deep into emo's darker side, taking the title of "screamo" by the horns.
▲Algernon Cadwallader, Some Kind of Cadwallader (2008)
It's both a blessing and a curse that Some Kind of Cadwallader didn't come out ten years before it did in 2008. Their sound admittedly approximated forebearers Cap'n Jazz, although a decade of music trends separated the two, thus keeping Algernon Cadwallader somewhat of an underground secret. But the silver lining was that Some Kind of Cadwallader helped instigate the late-aughts' emo revival, and their often euphoric sound made the genre a lot more fun, too.
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