Jawbreaker - Unfun (1990)

Man o man! You'd think from the amount of Unfun h8rs that anyone could write an album off just by mentioning Fugazi, Husker Du, The Replacements, and the dreaded pop punk tag. You'd probably also think of music as a race to see who can do something first, and that's all, although I think music histories certainly read that way. Pays to NOT BE A H8R and also to, ya know, enjoy a record for being a good one. On Unfun, Jawbreaker's songwriting aim is Husker Du, their experimental aim is Fugazi, and their fundamental spirit is emo. Not reaching the cutting edge heights of their influences, their record still rules. Biggest criticism I can find is that it might be 4 tracks too long (11's more manageable), but this one's got four bonus tracks on it (fancy that!)

A-

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I Hate Myself - 10 Songs (1997)

Fits into the unusual tradition of the band or album as subversive love-letter to a style: Monster Magnet to metal, Ween to country, Royal Trux to rock n roll, I Hate Myself to emo. There’s the eye-roll of the band name and song-titles, but also the genuine embrace of the components of emo: the screams, the emotional builds, the unusual guitar-lines. 10 Songs is tongue-in-cheek but they’re not gonna mock you for enjoying it, they believe what they’re doing themselves

A

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Yaphet Kotto - The Killer Was In The Government Blankets (1999)

Raw! Energetic! Um... guitars! Double screams for double the core in emocore! Time-signatures! Influence! Relevance!

B

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The Wrens - The Meadowlands (2003)

If bummed out dudes could be a concept album and the bummed out dudes behind it figured that in order to really capture that feeling of total bummed out-ness, their songs could not flow and build together, but would instead benefit from being demo-like if your'e being kind, stream-of-consciousness if you're a fan, or messy/random/unfocused if you're not. All of this because being bummed out is a confusing affair and so jarring highs-and-lows are needed 'cause who can explain the brain any way? Certainly not these indie rockers, although they do manage to say a lot about being bummed out, from nostalgia through to marriage.

Being neither a fan nor a music critic, I don't fully buy the stream-of-consciousness theory, so I'm either stuck assessing the individual songs or half-buying it but finding the concept frustrating. As it so happens, I have a real soft spot for indie emo so like a bunch of the songs quite a bit. But here I'm gonna say focus! Boring, I know, but I just can't dig that in practice. THAT SAID, the more likeable interpretation of the unevenness of The Meadowlands is that it has a collection of demos like quality, and that way of thinking's endeared musicians like Daniel Johnston through Sebadoh and Sparklehorse to me. Apparently this is a real grower so I'll have to wait and see. C for the few songs I liked until that happens (or doesn't)!

C+

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Lifetime - Jersey's Best Dancers (1997)

Young, Loud, and Snotty? At least you guys know it! Oh wait, it's Scotty. Haha!

Nostalgia-core for those who heard it in 1997. I didn't hear it 'til last week, so it's more than that. I found it when I was trying to get something like Leatherface's Mush. When you hear it you'll know how confused I was! Other than both being hardcore in the most liberal sense and also fast and moving, they couldn't be more different. In fact, with those criteria you could be talking about Husker Du or the Meat Puppets! So under labels I've added pop punk and emo. Bitter in the most wide-eyed and naive way, and with REALLY good songs

B

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Pity Sex - Dark World (2012)

1. When You're Around 03:56

2. Dogwalk 04:42

3. Hole Away 03:18

4. Coca Cola 03:39

5. Glue 04:24

6. Flower Girl 03:55

Pity Sex are a real good indie rock/emo band who've put their two EPs up for free on their bandcamp. I haven't listened to their 2011 one, but I recommend this year's Dark World

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Everyone Asked About You - Everyone Asked About You 7” (1997)

1. Paper Airplane, Paper Hearts

2. Me Is, You

3. It's Days Like This That Make Me Wish The Summer Lasted Forever

4. Everyone Asked About You

Fuckin tweemo. You'll like it

B+

Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary (1994)

1. Seven 4:45

2. In Circles 4:58

3. Song About an Angel 6:13

4. Round 4:09

5. 47 4:34

6. The Blankets Were the Stairs 5:27

7. Pheurton Skeurto 2:33

8. Shadows 4:46

9. 48 4:46

10. Grendel 4:53

11. Sometimes 5:42

Whenever I start my day with Diary I wonder why I don't do it every day. Theatrical and passionate- some of the best post-grunge alt songs (along with ones by Weezer and Foo Fighters) ever written and performed- big choruses, melodies, and loud-quiet shifts- so even when fans tell you sentimental stories about how much the album means to them or how this shit is just so emotionally raw you can think they're lame and still enjoy the album. Straight up more radio rock like Nirvana, Weezer or Foo Fighters than any hip post-hardcore like Unwound or At the Drive-In

A+

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Suis La Lune - Heir

1. With Wings of Feathers and Glue

2. September Gave Us Awkwardness, October Gave Us Nothing

3. The Greatest Actors Keep on Acting Offstage

4. Can't Believe I Spelled it Out to You

Suis La Lune is an emo band from Sweden. Their sound is hard to describe, encompassing shoegaze and slowcore influences in melodic passages (that kind of sound like Sunny Day Real Estate?) contrasted with chaotic, yet melodic screamo parts. Probably the 'prettiest' sounding band of this genre... and that's saying something. One of my favourite releases.

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Title Fight - Shed (2011)

1. Coxton Yard

2. Shed

3. Flood of ‘72

4. Society

5. You Can’t Say Kingston Doesn’t Love You

6. Crescent-Shaped Depressio

7. Safe in Your Skin

8. Where Am I?

9. Your Screen Door

10. 27

11. Stab

12. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Bizarre compliment- 2011's best pop punk album. Good shit though, you'll love it

B

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Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit (1998)

1. Cringe 2:23

2. Cop 2:18

3. San Francisco 3:52

4. Nose Over Tail 2:37

5. As You Were 2:11

6. Enjoy Your Day 2:18

7. Clavicle 2:28

8. My Little Needle 3:01

9. Southern Rock 3:05

10. Message From Kathlene 3:22

11. Trouble Breathing 3:55

12. Sorry About That 3:19

I was using Grooveshark to listen to albums that I used to like but didn't particularly want to download and buy, but that didn't work out 'cause I remembered why I loved Alkaline Trio via Private Eye and then checked out Goddamnit 'cause it's their first album and they're even better than I remember

The album is filled with catchy, enthusiastic punk/pop-punk with lyrics mainly centred around heartbreak. The singer sounds like a gentleman, something I didn't expect from pop punk. It's kind of cheesy but so good that you don't really feel self-conscious listening to it. Even with songs like Clavicle where the chorus is I just want to wake up naked next to you / kissing the curve of your clavicle

It's incredibly sweet, bitter, and earnest. Easily one of the best 90s punk albums I've heard and one that since I've (sort of) re-discovered, will undoubtedly stay on high rotation alongside guilty pleasures like Enema of the State and Sing the Sorrow, and less embarrassing ones like Punk in Drublic, Diary, and Schmap’n Schmazz. Somehow it covers all those bases.

A-

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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 (1994)

1. Little League 3:56

2. Oh Messy Life 2:02

3. Puddle Splashers 2:03

4. Flashpoint: Catheter 3:24

5. In The Clear 1:57

6. Yes, I Am Talking to You 2:36

7. Basil's Kite 2:36

8. Bluegrassish 1:08

9. Planet Shhh 2:59

10. The Sands Have Turned Purple 2:45

11. Precious 2:43

12. Que Suerte! 3:04

I'd be one of those assholes claiming that old school emo was actually awesome but I like My Chemical Romance too much to imply that they aren't awesome, but here's Cap'n Jazz's Schmap’n Schmazz any way.

Members from Cap'n Jazz went on to form American Football and numerous other important bands, and were very influential themselves. I'd call their sound 'jerky' but that'd make Bluegrassish's boys kissing boooooyyysss chorus sound even more funny 'cause handjobs are fucking hi-larious

They're insanely likeable, you'll certainly like Cap'n Jazz if you haven't heard them

A

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Rites of Spring - End on End (1991)

1. Spring 2:09

2. Deeper Than Inside 2:17

3. For Want Of 3:09

4. Hain's Point 2:08

5. All There Is 2:54

6. Drink Deep 4:55

7. Other Way Around 3:59

8. Theme 2:19

9. By Design 2:38

10. Remainder 2:30

11. Persistent Vision 2:21

12. Nudes 2:48

13. End on End 7:24

14. All Through a Life 2:57

15. Hidden Wheel 2:31

16. In Silence/Words Away 3:00

17. Patience 1:58

Fucking love this album

Released on CD by Dischord in 1991, this digital version of End on End covers the complete recorded output of the legendary Rites of Spring: their self-titled LP, the All Through a Life EP, and one extra song. One of the first bands to be labeled emocore, Rites of Spring would seem to transcend all labels as their music cuts right through to the heart of universal human experience. Emotional? Yes -- check out the bitter memorial relived on "For Want Of," the pulse pounding moment-grab that is "Drink Deep," or the devoted searches for honesty and meaning explored on "End on End," "Theme," and really just about every track on the disc. Hardcore? Yes -- emerging from the D.C. scene, the music is pure focused energy, not a single note wasted. The band at times is fast and furious, at other times lush and evocative though always with a sense of drive and melody. Rites of Spring hint at some of the territory vocalist/guitarist Guy Picciotto and drummer Brendan Canty would later survey with Fugazi, but this band is much more than just a stepping stone. End on End, quite simply, is a testament to the rich possibilities of sincerity in music.
-AMG

A

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American Football - American Football (1999)

1. Never Meant 4:28

2. The Summer Ends 4:46

3. Honestly? 6:10

4. For Sure 3:16

5. You Know I Should Be Leaving Soon 3:43

6. But the Regrets Are Killing Me 3:54

7. I'll See You When We're Both Not So Emotional 3:42

8. Stay Home 8:10

9. The One With the Wurlitzer 2:42

American Football were an emo band formed by members of the the equally celebrated Cap'n Jazz. I am a big fan of both bands but much prefer American Football.

Whereas Cap'n Jazz were jerky and excited in their uh emo-ness, American Football went for a more reserved melancholy which was complimented perfectly by the math/indie influenced guitar lines- clean, melodic and perfect.

It's the only album of its kind that I really like- more distant and passive than Sunny Day Real Estate, less experimental and violent than Unwound, and I've already said how it's different to Cap'n Jazz. For that it's completely unique and is made even more appealing by its length and place as sole album by the band.

A+

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