Five Great Emo Songs

1. Bleeder-Alkaline Trio (I Lied My Face Off, 1999)

At this point it should be plenty obvious that I am a pretty big Alkaline Trio and that I have a certain fondness for their goth punk lyricism and macabre imagery. What Trio does best is describing the absolute bleakness and heartbreak that comes with break ups and long forgotten love, and “Bleeder” off their stellar EP I Lied My Face Off does that in spades. Written in a sort of poetic form, “Bleeder” cuts deep with some of the best lyrics the group has ever put together such as “You came to me like a dream, the kind that always seems to leave/Just as the good part starts it ends so abruptly/And leaves you stunned and naked in your bedroom all alone.” From start to finish “Bleeder” is an absolute gut punch of raw emotions that is sure to dredge up thoughts of your first real heartbreak that we all have felt, just not in such a punk rock-poetic kind of way.

2. Accident Prone-Jawbreaker (Dear You, 1995)

Ok, so I am obsessed with Jawbreaker too. My emo heart has plenty of room for the San Fran punkers who dropped their then hated masterpiece just before emo exploded in the last 90s and early 2000s. To this day there is probably only one other song in my opinion that can match the power “Accident Prone” radiates, and that in of itself is certainly a feat. Frontman and punk-emo laureate Blake Schwarzenbach digs deep and sings from the soul as he details a suicide attempt through truly moving lyrics and painful imagery. The influence both Jawbreaker and Dear You have had on emo is undeniable, but it is “Accident Prone” that has had the biggest impact on the emo scene today. Often cited as one of the band’s best songs “Accident Prone” is a wonderful display of the group’s raw talents. About five or so years ago, indie rock star and Jawbreaker fan Julien Baker gave the song a wrenching performance that Schwarzenbach and drummer Adam Pfahler both said was amazing. Pfahler even wrote her a piece of fan mail.

3. Circles-Dag Nasty (Can I Say, 1986)

Without Dag Nasty, quite honestly, emo probably would not exist. The same can be said for any band that came about during the Revolution Summer movement of 1985 in Washington, D.C. Today, Dag Nasty and their debut album, Can I Say, are looked at as essential releases in the emo genre, and that sentiment extends to their song “Circles”. While it sounds quite different to what most think emo sounds like, it is what “Circles” is about that classifies it as emo. With themes of loneliness and self doubt taking center stage, “Circles” is the exact song to push along a new breed of music for a new breed of performers who were dying to express themselves and their innermost thoughts, feelings, dreams, and ambitions with like minded fans and groups. With sonic drumming, wrenching vocals, and the skillful guitar shredding of Minor Threat alum Brian Baker, “Circles” and its accompanying album are both something any true punk and emo fan should grace themselves with. I may have been deep into emo and punk when I finally got into Dag Nasty at the start of the pandemic, but I can truthfully say that even during the catastrophic early days of the pandemic I had a pretty all right time blasting some equally catastrophic early emo ragers. Misery loves company, right?

4. Don’t Break Me-Samiam (Billy, 1992)

As the album opener of Samiam’s third release, “Don’t Break Me” is a moving, anthemic emo piece that only hits harder and harder as you get older. For all of the people out there like myself, the silent sufferers, we can all relate to just sitting alone and being hit with waves of sadness and depression. Heavy, right? That’s “Don’t Break Me” in a nutshell where East Bay punks Samiam bounce from crashing guitars and the sorrowful howl of frontman Jason Beebout. In a five and half minute timeframe “Don’t Break Me” slams hard on the emotions of any who have suffered bouts of depression and loneliness. As a semi-underrated influence on the emo scene, Samiam showcases a truly emotional tone mixed with a razor sharp punk edge. “Don’t Break Me” is an excellent slice of early 90s emo that should be known by all. From start to finish Samiam hits hard with relatable lyrics and familiar feelings for all who have fought through dark moments.

5. Constant Headache (Joyce Manor, 2011)

Six seconds in and the closing track of Joyce Manor’s debut album kicks off with crashing guitars and enough punk rock bite to make any listener wince as “Constant Headache” blares with all of it’s edgy glory. My foray into the discography of the SoCal four piece began with “Constant Headache” and from that very moment I was hooked. Joyce Manor has an amazing talent at crafting such razor sharp songs that are just as catchy as they are edgy and punk with lines like “And then you finally found me, pretending to sleep you said such nice things about me, I felt guilty and cheap You took two steps to the kitchen, just stared at the sink. I couldn't hold back a smile, I still wish I could have seen you having sex in the morning, your love was foreign to me it made me think maybe human's not such a bad thing to be but I just laid there in protest, entirely fucked it’s such a stubborn reminder one perfect night's not enough.” Now that is a lot unpack, but at just a skin deep look it is clear to see true heartbreak, and even clearer to hear. Credited as emo revivalists, Joyce Manor has certainly brushed up on their 90s emo as “Constant Headache” could easily have been penned by Jawbreaker or The Get Up Kids. It made me quite happy to see a newer, younger band building on the undying emo genre in new, and old ways. What Joyce Manor has done with “Constant Headache” is crafted a heartfelt, and heart wrenching song that can reach new audiences and new listeners. I look forward to a burgeoning wave of new emo acts that can muster up the power, and emotion, like Joyce manor has and the countless other groups before them.