I Guess This Is Goodbye: The Emo Diaries - Chapter Five

The fifth volume of Deep Elm’s Emo Diaries series is entirely made up of unreleased material that’s mostly from unheard of bands. Sometimes that is a good thing. Reuben’s Accomplice sounds like it needs a little work, and White Octave’s contribution “Looking Past Sky” is not the band’s finest hour. Slowride makes a strong showing with “Daydream of a Future,” and the clever production on Walt Lariat’s “6:00am in Cortona” helps it along nicely. Sonically, this volume of the series doesn’t tread too far from the emo feedbag. The set vacillates between a rawer, post-hardcore sound (Cast Aside) and the drifting and/or driving traditional emo of groups like Keith Ravine and Benji. This is not the strongest chapter of the Emo Diaries, but it will certainly offer enough thrills and chills for Deep Elm faithful. – Johnny Loftus