This year gave us so much great new music across all genres. The emo genre in particular had a phenomenal year. From bands that lean more towards a midwest emo sound, to those who prefer to experiment and create a blend of their own, the albums have been nothing short of exceptional.
Origami Angel – Feeling Not Found
Origami Angel get better and better with every release, and Feeling Not Found shows the band at their best. The follow-up to 2023’s The Brightest Days has a masterful blend of pop-punk, 90’s rock, and easy-core, as well as some 90’s R&B.
Ryland Heagy’s vocal performance on this album is phenomenal and shows his true range of styles. The stand-out track of this album is “Sixth Cents (Get It?).” At two minutes 15 seconds long, this song is heavy, fast, and has a more hardcore punk vibe to it. What makes this song in particular stand out has more to do with being a musician in a digital age and trying to exist in an algorithm.
You can purchase Origami Angel’s Feeling Not Found here. The album is available for streaming here.
Oso Oso – life till bones
life till bones is Oso Oso’s fifth release but the first on their label Yunahon Entertainment LLC. For the band’s first release on their label, this is an incredibly strong start as mastermind Jade Lilitri has honed his craft. Life till bones has a more melancholy feel overall, as this was the first album after the passing of Lilitri’s close friend, collaborator, and cousin Tavish Maloney.
“Seesaw” addresses the loss of a loved one in a beautifully painful way. Conversely, “all of my love” is a more upbeat sounding track, telling the tale of a failed relationship. This song stands out in particular due to an interestingly jarring set of claps between the lines “all of my love” and “all of my life” that seem to come out of left field to add to the uniqueness of the song.
Stream Oso Oso’s life till bones here.
Carly Cosgrove – The Cleanest of Houses Are Empty
Carly Cosgrove are cementing themselves as a band to watch. Their sophomore release The Cleanest of Houses Are Empty manages to blend 2000’s emo with twinkly guitars, and 90’s garage rock. The mix on this album should also be noted, as it is not too polished and just raw enough to add to the music and lyrics.
The Cleanest of Houses Are Empty has themes of anxiety and growing older which blend perfectly with upbeat music of the album. “Fluff My Pillow” really embraces the 2000’s emo sound, feeling like it could be on an early Motion City Soundtrack album. Many of us who have anxiety can easily relate to the concept of our beds being a safe space and a place where we can sleep away our troubles, even if it’s to our detriment. “Fluff My Pillow” speaks on that in a playful and upbeat manner that will have you singing along.
The Cleanest of Houses Are Empty can be purchased here from Wax Bodega. You can also listen to the album here.
Balance and Composure – with you in spirit
We all sat and waited patiently to see if we would get anything after the Too Quick To Forgive EP, and Balance and Composure delivered in the best possible way. With you in spirit deserves a space on every end of year list. It’s a beautifully composed album covering themes of grief and wrestling with God. Jonathon Simmons’ vocal delivery on this album is powerful and conveys the themes perfectly. Title track “with you in spirit” is heavy and crushing. The song really speaks on family and knowing you should be there, but being too struck with fear or anxiety to be present. Simmons’ crooning on this track makes those of us who have felt those feelings feel a little less alone in those moments.
You can purchase Balance and Composure’s with you in spirit here. Listen to the album here.
Sweet Pill – Starchild
Following 2022’s incredible Where The Heart Is, Philadelphia emo group Sweet Pill signed to Hopeless Records where they released this year’s Starchild EP. Much like in Where The Heart Is, the Starchild EP features a blend of twinkly Midwest emo and pop-punk, with vocalist Zayna Youssef shining through.
Sweet Pill took this EP a step further and created a long music video containing each track, which honestly sets this release apart from any other. Notable track “Chewed Up” is very in your face and speaks on having intrusive thoughts that you can’t seem to shake and ultimately hating yourself for it. It’s powerful and loud and demands to be blasted at full volume.
Listen to the Starchild EP here. You can also purchase the album here.
Stay Inside – Ferried Away album
Stay Inside’s second album Ferried Away is a blend of early and current emo in all of the best ways. Reminiscent of early Saddle Creek bands Bright Eyes and Cursive, Stay Inside are a breath of fresh air in a world where twinkly guitars seem to reign. Ferried Away is a collection of songs about various people that the band know as well as being about Steeplechase Park, a park in Coney Island that burned down in 1907. “Sweet Stripe” is a kind of upbeat and driving testament to memories of loved ones.
Buy Stay Inside’s Ferried Away here. Ferried Away can also be streamed here.
Ben Quad – Ephemera
After signing to Pure Noise in August, Ben Quad released Ephemera, an EP that shows the band embracing a new direction than their usual Midwest emo sound. Ben Quad were known for their twinkling guitars and upbeat sound, but Ephemera is a dark, heavy modern screamo masterpiece, with tinges of the band’s previous sound. Whereas many bands toy with new sounds in a couple of songs, Ben Quad embraced an evolutionary change that may very well cement their space in screamo territory. The change in sound is appropriate, as Ephemera speaks on being angry with one’s environment and then turning that anger into action. “Your Face as an Effigy.”
You can stream Ben Quad’s Ephemera EP at Bandcamp here. The album is available for purchase here.
Hot Mulligan – Warmer Weather
To follow up the band’s 2023 phenomenal release, Why Would I Watch, Hot Mulligan put out three of the best songs released this year. The Warmer Weather EP feels like a continuation of the album, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing given the album was the band’s best release this far. Keeping with the themes of mental health and struggles of being human, the EP has themes of dealing with agoraphobia and just trying to survive, as well as the toxic work culture. Vocalist Tades Sanville’s unique vocal delivery really drive the feelings of anxiety and depression home in opening track “Fly Move (The Whole Time).”
Warmer Weather can be purchased here. The EP can also be streamed here.
Riley! – Keep Your Cool
The third release from Texas based emo band Riley! Keep Your Cool is an aggressive, energetic blend of the different eras of emo. From the twinkly guitars reminiscent of Algernon Cadwallader to a Motion City Soundtrack vocal delivery during “God Is An Algorithm…” there is something from each era. The album is full of intense guitars, gritty shouting vocals, paired with catchy hooks. The album features themes of unhealthy relationships a person can have, whether that’s with their chosen vices or personal relationships.
You can buy Keep Your Cool at Counter Intuitive Records here. The album is also available for streaming here.
Glitterer – Rationale
Glitterer are typically just known for being Ned Russian, but for this third release, Russin brought in a full band, a move that worked in his favor. Rationale still sounds like any other Glitterer album, but feels more like Russin is getting back to his Title Fight roots. This album makes you want to move. Honestly, the blend between driving guitars and drums and twinkling keys highlight Russin’s vocal performance. “Plastic” is a perfect example of that blend. Driving and distorted with a mix synths play nicely behind Russin’s vocals.
Purchase Rationale from Glitterer’s website here. You can also stream the album here.
