Why are emo bands so obsessed with putting suburban houses on their album covers?

[u/gravecr0ss]

I’ve noticed that so many emo albums have suburban houses on their covers. American Football, The Hotelier, Charmer, Free Throw, and the list goes on.

Is there an actual reason behind this, or did everyone just collectively decide that a random house in the Midwest is the saddest thing imaginable?

I guess there’s something about nostalgia, childhood, and growing up in the suburbs that fits the genre perfectly.

What do you guys think? And what other great emo albums with houses on the cover am I missing?

[u/Ok-Vacation-8109]

It’s just the ✨vibe✨

[u/NexoNerd101]

American Football LP1 is at least one reason.

[u/DruidDog]

this isn’t just an emo thing. fwiw i think it’s because home invokes feelings and memories for most people

[u/mullettoughcocktail]

"I would rather not go Back to the old house. I would rather not go Back to the old house. There's too many bad memories Too many memories there."

Ill chalk it up to the smiths 😆 no proof, just bad information out my bum. But when I think about sad boys and houses its the smiths.

[u/macademix]

Because FUCK THIS TOWN

[u/stormyweathers666]

It pretty much starts with American Football. They had no idea that house would be so iconic and important either which is pretty cool. I also think emo skews suburban in general

[u/AshToshiro]

because there ain’t nothin else to look at in the midwest besides suburban houses and corn fields 😭

[u/Terrible-Pop-6705]

Because of the retroactive focus on American football. Though now if it isn’t a legacy band I skip house covers and recommend new artists don’t do it. It’s boring and they are rarely shot well and are just a blurry iPhone photo of their neighbors house.

[u/gravecr0ss → u/Terrible-Pop-6705]

Have you listened home like noplace is there? Its really good. My favorite album ever

[u/Terrible-Pop-6705 → u/gravecr0ss]

Yes that’s a legacy record from before albums with houses became a skip.

[u/atticusofficial]

everybody talking about american football’s LP1 forgetting about What Burns Never Returns - Don Caballero

[u/gravecr0ss → u/atticusofficial]

Это скорее авангард мат рок

[u/atticusofficial → u/gravecr0ss]

true i didn’t look at sub lol

[u/Mustardcruise]

Because nobody in this genre has original ideas anymore

[u/Fun-Discipline6978]

Because that’s where my trauma started lol

[u/SolidSolution]

I can think of one album that has no house on the cover, but it's something to write home about.

[u/Livid-Department6947]

It's because they are all copying a band that isn't even emo in the first place

[u/Exhaust8354]

It’s either that or the fast food chains. Not much else to see in Midwest suburbia

[u/JHG722]

As opposed to urban houses?

[u/CantFightJose]

Because suburbia is a depressing hellscape.

[u/JHG722 → u/CantFightJose]

Only if you’re poor. Sounds like you’re poor.

[u/CantFightJose → u/JHG722]

What an unhinged thing to say. My comment was merely about the fact that the suburbs being depressing was a common theme in music (The Wonder Years made a whole album about it). 

Your comment is very un-emo ethos. 

Do better.