Top 10 Favorite Emo Records

While the genre of emo has (almost) always come with a stigma, there was a moment before Fall Out Boy and emo as the latest teen MTV craze. While all these records may or may not fall under what people think of emo as, each of these has a connection to the scene and a time when emo was a big thing in my life.

10. Dashboard Confessional – Swiss Army Romance

Before MTV unplugged and huge success and even before leaving Further Seems Forever, Chris Carrabba released Swiss Army Romance, the Dashboard Confessional debut album. It’s the most simple of all the DC records, just Chris and a guitar. The songs aren’t as bitter as The Places You Have to Come to Fear the Most, and Chris’s heartbreak hadn’t consumed Dashboard Confessional. The songs are light, the songwriting is great and while the album is on the shorter side, it’s a nice hint at how good Chris was going to be.


9. Brandtson – Fallen Star Collection

Brandtson formed out of the ashes of Christian hardcore band Six Feet Deep. Fallen Star Collection was Brandtson second full-length. Fallen Star Collection still maintains some of the rawness that the band’s debut, Letterbox, had but the melodies, harmonies, and hooks were so far improved. While the first 3 songs on Fallen Star Collection are nice, it’s not until Things Look Brighter that the really catchy and memorable songs start. Summer in St Claire is such a beautiful song and really showed the potential that the band would hit on their next ep, Trying to Figure Each Other Out. The Fallen Star Collection walks the line between beauty and heartache so well. There is a pain in the vocals that ring true to the listener. Fallen Star Collection is one of those records that really shows what emo used to be about.


8. Elliot – False Cathedrals

While US Songs is looked on as an emo classic, it’s Elliot’s False Cathedrals that I’ve always loved. False Cathedrals was more polished, more piano based then US Songs. False Cathedrals has moments of being super catchy (Calm Americans, Drive Onto Me) but it’s the dark undertones that make it such a great record. It’s almost stereotypical with so many quiet to loud moments that used to define the emo genre. I heard Superstitions in Travel on mp3.com and fell in love. The record is emo in the year 2000.


7. Denison Marrs – World Renown for Romance

World Renown for Romance put Denison Marrs on the map. A very small indie map but a map nonetheless. Released right after their split with Stavesacre, that split gave the band more exposure and Denison Marrs had some small radio play. World Renown for Romance was catchy and poppier then Denison Marrs’ debut. It’s a love record. The songs are great. The New Droan, Love and It’s Grand Scheme, Let’s Dance, Twilight:Eyelight. It’s a fantastic record.


6. Further Seems Forever – The Moon Is Down

It seems wrong that The Moon is Down is only number 6 on this list. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen so head over heels in love with a band and a record then I did with Further Seems Forever’s debut. The Moon is Down has been called Strongarm’s melodic next step and it’s might not be that far a cry. Steve Kleisath drumming is intricate on each song. Nothing is stuck in standard patterns. The Moon is Down never falls into strict song patterns. There’s no consistent verse/chorus/verse/chorus progression. Chris Carrabba’s vocals never sounded better and the songwriting, although never as personal as his Dashboard Confessional work, is some of his best. Shortly after the albums release, Carrabba left the band to do Dashboard Confessional full time and the bands second album, How to Start to Fire, had me fall right out of love them. The Moon is Down is a classic record and I’m glad the guys have reunited with Chris.


5. Thursday – Full Collapse

I didn’t love Full Collapse when it came out. Although I thought Understanding in a Crash was a great song, the song didn’t click with me for a while, but there’s something charming about Full Collapse that has endeared me to this record as time as gone by. It’s a great post hardcore record. It’s truly a record of the New Jersey underground that had no business being as popular as it got. The success of Full Collapse brought Thursday a major label deal and that’s a testament to the record. Full Collapse isn’t perfect. Geoff Rickly’s vocal sing out of perfection on every song but that realness captured the hearts of everyone who heard the record. Paris In Flames is such a killer song. Full Collapse might not be recognized over time for being a great record but it was something special when it came out.


4. TwoThirtyEight – Regulate the Chemicals

I don’t remember what made me pick up Regulate the Chemicals. It was probably an album I got just because I had become obsessed with Takehold Records. Regulate The Chemicals is a quirky little album. It’s not the most pop based album in the world but the songs are still fantastic. While songs like Hands of Men and Coin Laundry Loser are stellar songs with great hooks, the album has more of a post hardcore kick. There Is No Dana and Songs Will Write The Words are just killer sing-a-longs that were awesome live. This Town Will Eat You is such a heartfelt song. Tooth and Nail re-released this album with 2 new songs added on but I never picked up the re-release and have still never heard the two extra songs. Regulate the Chemicals broke free from poppier emo of the bands first two records and created a truly unique sound and album.


3. Jimmy Eat World – Clarity

The first time I heard Clarity was driving back from a youth group retreat. I was in Mike Garcia’s car and he introduced me to Jimmy Eat World. You want to talk about an emo classic. Clarity is so good. From Table For Glasses to Goodbye Sky Harbor, the record is great. Jimmy Eat World’s always been great at crafting memorable songs and Clarity is by far their most memorable record. So many great songs; Lucky Denver Mint, Just Watch the Fireworks, For Me This is Heaven, Clarity. Jimmy Eat World has written great songs and released awesome records since but nothings been as perfect as Calrity.


2. Sunny Day Real Estate – Diary

Another emo classic. If you’ve ever looked on wikipedia or read any book on the genre of emo eventually you come across Sunny Day Real Estate’s classic Diary. It’s the album the band is known for. Jeremy Enigk wrote some of the most poetic lyrics on Diary. It’s just an outstanding record all the way around. Although Enigk had yet to find his perfect falsetto yet, his almost straining to sing is what makes Diary hit emotionally and what gave it it’s emo status.


1. The Juliana Theory – Emotion is Dead

I can thank Napster for Emotion is Dead. After Brett Detar left Zao he formed The Juliana Theory. While Understand This Is Just a Dream was a nice record, it wasn’t Zao and thus I wasn’t super thrilled with it. Thanks to Napster I was able to download Emotion is Dead and give it a listen before spending my money on the album. And one listen through Emotion is Dead I went out and bought it. Emotion is Dead is the perfect balance of rock fury and pop sensibility. You Always Say Goodnight, Goodnight hit me like a ton of bricks when I first heard the song and still today that song kills me. Everything from the band name, the album name, and even the cover screams emo. Emotion is Dead might be the most emo record of all time and it’s by far my favorite.