Five emo classics that every music fan should listen to
By Lee Vowell
What is emo? Well, no one really knows, right? One could describe the music as having hardcore tendencies mixed with punk but many times very emotional lyrics. But that is a simple description for a rock subgenre that is anything but simple.
Some aspects of the music are almost always true, though. The songs are aggressive either musically or lyrically, but they are always fun. Not in a 1960s bubblegum pop way, but in a cathartic I've had a bad day and need to let my thoughts out kind of way. It's always best to let it all out and emo is there to assist you.
Still, it is easy to go bad in the subgenre and sound less than original and just heavy pop. Thankfully, none of the albums that follow devolve into that. These are all worth your listen, and very likely worth being a part of your vinyl collection.
Five emo albums you should be listening to
Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends (2002)
What is most difficult to believe is that this album is over 20 years old and it still sounds as vibrant and exciting as it did when it was released in 2002. This might not be the best emo album ever (more on that in a minute), but it is certainly one of the greatest. The record might still be the epitome of what emo should sound like which is metal riffs done with feeling and a bit of punk ethos snuck in.
The album also features one of the best emo singles ever, "Cute Without the 'E' (Cut from the Team)." If you did not know how old the song was and it came on the radio, you might be searching Shazam for who the artist is and when their new album was coming out. Don't let the beginning of the tune fool you as there is no melodrama to the track. It's pure fun and what the subgenre is meant to be.
Emo allows many things to happen such as the cool kids looking at you funny while you're listening to it but they will remain plastic and you will grow up (even if you're in your 50s you still have some growing up to do) being connected to your own emotions and able to observe and understand that being depressed or angry or sad or happy - all at the same time - is OK. Plus, to be fair, nobody stays a cool kid. You only find people that you belong to.