Emo music from the 2000's, is there anything better?

Next month, I turn 30 and yet I long for a simpler time when I could lock myself in my room and just dwell on how my parents JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND ME! Put on some eyeliner, some TRIP pants, grab your torn and frayed copy of CRANK, and let's all cry together!

1. The Spill Canvas - All Over You

Ahhhh, The Spill Canvas, this band formed in South Dakota in 2002 and are still active. While not achieving the same level of fame as some of the artists on this list, The Spill Canvas did achieve success with the above song, one of the definitive emo songs about still not being over a pesky ex. The rest of the band's discography is just as pop-punky and emo, so if you didn't give them a chance almost 10 years ago(!), now is the time to do so.

2. AFI - Love Like Winter

While I could have chosen a more obvious AFI song such as "Silver and Cold" or "Miss Murder," I just like this song more. This video has everything that an emo video should include: Snow, guys with hair better than most women, and that weird blue filter that was included in every music video for a decade. Even without the emo-ness, AFI is just a solid band that still holds up.

3. Hawthorne Heights - Ohio is for Lovers

Oh, Hawthorne Heights, I know you aren't that great but I have an unapologetic and unexplainable love for you. While I listened to more of their second album (2006's If Only You Were Lonely), their breakout hit was undoubtedly the 2004 "Ohio is for Lovers." This song is angry, edgy, and featured the signature "La la la la GUTTERAL SCREAMING" that is still around in several genres. The song is EDGY by mentioning self-harm that makes you a little uncomfortable to sing along with. One of my biggest regrets is not checking the band out live when they played at Boney Junes years ago. And yes, I'm being serious.

4. Blink 182 - I Miss You

OK, this is the pick I'm going to get the most crap for. First off, Blink 182 is my favorite band of all time because I'm perpetually 15 years old. And while Blink is typically associated with being pop-punk, you cannot deny how emo this song is. It's still an amazing song and showed that Blink could create a beautiful piece of music (even if Tom tried his hardest to be at his most nasally). Still not on board? This song makes a reference to the Nightmare Before Christmas which automatically makes anything emo by association.

5. The Used - All That I've Got

I still vividly remember hearing The Used debut album (2002's The Used) for the first time. My favorite song on that album (and one of my favorite songs in general) is "Blue and Yellow." However, you cannot deny the catchiness of the above song, off the same album. And while lead singer Bert McCracken often looks strung-out and filthy, you can't help but enjoy their is depth to his troubled soul. I apologize in advance if you start screaming lyrics from this song at anyone who passes by today.

6. Taking Back Sunday - MakeDamnSure

I JUST WANT TO BREAK YOU DOWN SO BADLY! If you just screamed "IN THE WORST WAAAAYYYYYYY" at your computer, we can be friends. Taking Back Sunday had hits prior to this, but this song (off the album Louder Now) really helped shine their star. While not exactly purely emo, this song hits enough of the right notes (screaming something, that blue filter on the music video, good hair, etc) for it to fall into this category. Taking Back Sunday still makes music and have evolved in their sound. While I enjoy what they are currently doing, Louder Now is still the album I go to for my TBS fix.

7. Saosin - You're Not Alone

Now THIS is an emo song. It's got Winter, it's in artsy Black-and-White, and you've got a message of hope being sung because, SPOILER!, emo kids aren't the happiest bunch. I never listened to a lot of Saosin back in my emo heyday, but I still remember this song and still think about it from time to time. And yes, whenever I hear "You're not alone," I instinctively say "THERE IS MORE TO THIS I KNOW," which can lead to some awkward conversation as to why I'm referencing an obscure song from 2006.

8. My Chemical Romance - Helena

If you thought I was going to get through this list without mentioning Emo and Scene Kid royalty, My Chemical Romance, you are sadly mistaken. While people identify their emoness with The Black Parade, I still hold that their second album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, is superior. And yes, I will fight you about it. "Helena," one of the singles off of Three Cheers, is the definite emo anthem that had an entire generation putting on black eyeliner and wearing red ties with black shirts. Green Day may have done it first, but MCR lead singer Gerard Way made it into an art. Oh yeah, this video has them dancing in a church during a funeral. I dare you to get more emo than that.

What songs were left off the list? Let me know in the comments below!

 

 

More From WDKS-FM