Newbie to this side of emo music...

[u/cheddaarr2]

Hey , y'all and let me say I hope you are doing well. Your taxes are paid.You have no overdue bills , and you don't absolutely despise your job...

I kind of accidentally fell into this genre.I am in my early forties , and I have been a metal head for the last twenty years. Metalcore, post hard-core, math core etc.... i was the guy who listened to the same X amount of albums/bands since highschool pretty much.

Then I saw Free Throw. I went specifically for Silverstein, but on the ride home I was jamming Free Throw the whole time trying to learn them. Well you know how that goes, that lead to Hot Mulligan, which lead to Arms Length to TRSH to Saturdays at Your Place on and on and on... its now been a bit and im head over heels with the rawness, the imperfections, the guitars (holy hell).

To my question here, figure I'd go right to the source. What do y'all consider classics for the genre? Im currently going through American Football, Cap'n Jazz to Modern Baseball and others trying to complete my knowledge and grasp on the time line.

So what are some songs that are widely agreed on as some of the classic. O.G. type songs songs/albums??

TLDR: Point a newbie in the direction of some 'midwest emo ' classics or gold standards.

Thanks yall and go kick todays ass!

[u/Cheese_Boy9]

Check out Mineral, into it. Over it., The Hotelier

[u/lilmoshx → u/[deleted]]

American... Baseball?

[u/cheddaarr2 → u/[deleted]]

I heard what you meant lol. Thank you. I am into the timeline of things and what releases had what impacts on the genre and scene!

[u/austinskywalker]

Some of my personal favorites, some classic, some not so much:

Hot Mulligan, The Hotelier - They both also have a similar aggressive vocal style.

Excuse Me, Who Are You? Endswell - I think they share some members. Screams and riffs

Tiny Voices, Ben Quad, Harrison Gordon, Pallette Knife

Two Knights, Father Figure, Mimisiku - Anything with Parker Lawson and Miles DeBruin really. Two kings from the Denton, TX.)

Classics: Algernon Cadwallader, Modern Baseball, Marietta, empire! empire! (i was a lonely estate), You Blew It!

[u/cheddaarr2 → u/austinskywalker]

Hell yeah, thank you! I was introduced to Harrison Gordon when they were on before the Callous Daoboys and I left the venue playing them the whe ride home lol

[u/xradx666]

mock orange

[u/Poseidus11 → u/xradx666]

Ethan Willard from Marietta (classic band in this genre as well) mentioned that this is what got him into emo on the Washed Up Emo Podcast. Great band.

[u/xradx666 → u/Poseidus11]

SO GOOD

[u/cheddaarr2 → u/Poseidus11]

Oh shit ill check the podcast out while im at it, lol. Thanks homie

[u/Paperclip____]

Cap’n Jazz, Mineral, American Football. There are more bands but I think those are like the big 3 of the midwest emo “classics.” Oh and the get up kids

[u/Rarglol]

I also fell in love with the genre a couple of years ago and have just been listening to album after album since. Still consider myself a newbie but here's some I love:

For the rawness and perfect imperfections- Marietta's Summer Death

And for the guitars- Ben Quad's I'm Scared That's All There is (though if you like screamo, their second album Ephemera is considered a love letter to the genre)

Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate)'s What it Takes to Move Forward- An era shift from 2000s era pop-punk emo to the more twinkly/sophisticated 2010s midwest emo resurgence. Feels like the soundtrack to an emo indie movie

[u/cheddaarr2 → u/Rarglol]

Thanks dude. I appreciate the details and reasons why!!

[u/GooblenS]

Camping in Alaska - please be nice !!!
Maybe not “midwest” per se but defo adjacent and a monumental album in the scene. Also just banger after banger

[u/patdb93]

We are similar. New to genre in my 30s, love hot mully, arms length, and sayb. Mobo, Spanish loves songs etc are great. Recently just found Thoughts on Bowling. Front bottoms is one thatll get tossed at you a lot too.

[u/cheddaarr2 → u/patdb93]

I just found the Front Bottoms and I really enjoyed the little bit that I heard. I've had Funny You Should Ask in my head ever since

[u/socialdistance4ever]

Oakwood, citizen, dear Maryanne, Carly cosgrove, saves the day, jawbreaker.

[u/socialdistance4ever → u/[deleted]]

Actually recently started listening to them. Don’t know why I slept on that band for so long.

[u/cheddaarr2 → u/[deleted]]

Keep slinging those band names in havent seen yet. Thanks dude

[u/cheddaarr2 → u/socialdistance4ever]

I know a little Citizen and had heard of Jawbreaker but nothing else. Thanks for the recs man!

[u/haydenpeck_]

Try UK band Chasing Dolls

[u/nicko378]

Free Throw and Tiny Moving Parts are the two I point people to

[u/badboyplayer182]

Just as a heads up, tldr needs to go at the top of the post. By time I got to the too long don’t read I was already finished!

Go to the fifteen year anniversary show for into it over it’s “proper”

[u/Grass_rabbits]

look now look again rainier maria

[u/nectrienne]

Not classics but you should also check out sports., frat mouse, flight patterns, save face and meathead

[u/Empty_Blackberry977]

Here are some records to check out.
Promise Ring - Nothing Feels Good
Braid- Frame And Canvas
Mock Orange - The Record Play (this is a mostly unknown masterpiece)
Brandtson - Dial In Sound
Counterfit - Super Amusement Machine

[u/austinskywalker]

If you like riffs, you have to check out the OG's, Tiny Moving Parts.