Tag Archives: Emo

The Get Up Kids – Something To Write Home About

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Emo pop rock

Moods

A melodic ode to coming of age relationships.

Thoughts

I've listened to this album a lot, it's impossible to talk about objectively. It doesn't sound as good or profound as it did 20 years ago but I think I'm the one that's changed. Addressing its faults I'd point to overly wordy lyrics and bland instrumentation. However the melodies and just straightforward memorability of these songs is hard to deny. The basic Moog lines add just the right amount of emotional highlight.

I think it does stand the test of time rather than just serving as a nostalgic memento of emos golden age. Is it for everyone? Definitely not but I'm sure this and the rest of the get up kids early catalog could find some modern fans.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Get-Up-Kids-Something-To-Write-Home-About/release/1262915

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgqxFcVD89M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-nuYrZE94A

Spotify


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The Get Up Kids – Something To Write Home About

Description: Album Review of The Get Up Kids – Something To Write Home About


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Madrugada – The Nightly Disease

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Dark alternative rock

Moods

Living with regret, depression caught on tape

Thoughts

I've been a fan of this record for years though only really kept coming back to a few songs ( early album cuts ‘hands up I love you’ and ‘dance for me’). Revisiting the album in its entirety I can appreciate this much more as a cohesive document. Texturally I think they're strongest when things are slowed down – easy bassline and slide guitar, like a modern noir take on the blues. Sivert Hoyem's  commanding voice is effective and works well with the straightforward but poetic lyrics. It can be bleak, like a lonely dusty highway at night: surrounded by darkness but just as aware light would only illuminate a vast emptiness.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Madrugada-The-Nightly-Disease/release/512675

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ne6c3LuD40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNppGG71A-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhSSKc-EGic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcZ5cKyceKM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN0pENoxVBg

Spotify


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Madrugada – The Nightly Disease

Description: Album Review of Madrugada – The Nightly Disease


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

American Football – American Football

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Golden age emo meets math rock

Moods

Songs I play when walking over to your place

Thoughts

Adds to the typical somber 'classic' emo format with well timed brass and tasteful/tight percussion. All of this additional instrumentation is good with songwriting that builds in a skillful way. I think it's a stretch to call this emo jazz as it's referenced on Wikipedia but it's distinct enough to call out.

‘Honestly’ is a great highlight showing the strengths of this album: mellow catchy introspection breaking into an extended jam type thing; letting emotion and tension playout in a natural way. You can feel the frustration and confusion of a breakup.

This type of genuineness is what drew me to emo initially and is captured beautifully here. Recommended for golden age emo fans who need something more than the pop-punk mold.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/American-Football-American-Football/release/450722

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NfnXdXpjL0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uj2JpvsvX4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CU4VGgX0nA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCBUK_mvY4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr_DMGZ-JrY

Spotify


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American Football – American Football

Description: Album Review of American Football – American Football


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Into It. Over It. – Intersections

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

New school emo

Moods

Introspective and sentimental – revisiting your old highschool

Thoughts

Intersections is the good one, standards is the lame one. Just gonna write both reviews for them here:

Intersections

There's a mature social introspection that separates this from the classic emo-pop I liked in my teens. Hard to deny the poppy directness of his songs, it's as if he's taken the best parts of emo songwriting and applied them as an adult songwriter.

Aside from an off-putting smugness in his delivery but I found this is a satisfying listen overall. At 32 and feeds a trip down nostalgia lane while still feeling new.

Standards

Don't like this one as much as intersections. Pretty good for the genere, mature emo singer songwriter. Lyrics and melodies don't sink in the same way.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Into-It-Over-It-Intersections/release/5029842

Listen!

Spotify


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Into It. Over It. – Intersections

Description: Album Review of Into It. Over It. – Intersections


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Into It. Over It. – Standards

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Revivalist emo singer songwriter

Moods

Revisiting your high school

Thoughts

There's a mature social introspection that separates this from the classic emo-pop I liked in my teens. Hard to deny the poppy directness of his songs, it's as if he's taken the best parts of emo songwriting and applied them as an adult songwriter.

Aside from an off-putting smugness in his delivery but I found this is a satisfying listen overall. At 32 and feeds a trip down nostalgia lane while still feeling new.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Into-It-Over-It-Standards/release/8242767

Listen!

Spotify


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Into It. Over It. – Standards

Description: Album Review of Into It. Over It. – Standards


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Princess Nokia – A Girl Cried Red

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

What’s it sound like?
Rapper meets bedroom singer songwriter

Thoughts
This feels like the voice of the ‘youtube’ generation we’ve been waiting for. She’s pulling from a lot of familiar styles but the album carries the emotional honesty of a fragile teenager matched with a tasteful worldly hip hop backdrop.

Another one of these recent culture vultures who has taken in her surroundings and turned them into something new.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Princess-Nokia-A-Girl-Cried-Red/release/12154864

Listen!

Youtube



Spotify

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Princess Nokia – A Girl Cried Red

Description: Album Review of Princess Nokia – A Girl Cried Red


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Pinegrove – Everything So Far

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?
Alt rock, has a 90s vibe to it.

Thoughts
Personal favorite band of mine. The songwriting can get repetitive but there’s a heartfelt sincerity that’s created in their music. The lyrics are key to this feeling, he sings with an uncertainty that illustrates a mature approach to life. I hear someone taking experiences as they come, learning and sharing them.

On this collection you hear the band evolving over a couple of albums. The earlier stuff, featured on the later half, is maybe a bit more drawn out, lyrics expanded and unrefined. It’s as if an epiphany is explored musically. I find the newer material is a bit more polished and crafted into some very memorable songs. If you like the band then this is a must have.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Pinegrove-Everything-So-Far-/release/10175309

Listen!

Spotify

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Pinegrove – Everything So Far

Description: Album Review of Pinegrove – Everything So Far


Rating: 5 out of 5