Saves the Day, Sound the Alarm

As one of the pioneers of emo, Saves the Day created a catalogue of whiny melodic punk in the late '90s that inspired My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and many others. But in 2003, the band recorded a more straightforward pop album that was largely rejected by its fans. So, for Sound the Alarm, the group has returned to the more caustic sounds of its early years. Regardless of whether the move is a reacceptance of some true musical vision or a blatant effort to win back the former flock, there's no questioning the strength of these 13 songs, which are equally desperate, despairing and tuneful. "Shattered" rides a loping bass line into a chorus of scrawling guitars and sneering vocals, "Dying Day" is a jangly cross between Green Day and the Clash; "Don't Know Why" is a sparse, aching vehicle of undistorted guitars and echoey effects colored with Beach-Boys style harmonies. Even when frontman Chris Conley spouts emo-banter like "I'm sick to my gut from the poison I drank to forget" ("Eulogy") or "Sew my lips together so I won't have to say a word" ("Say You'll Never Leave") Saves the Day never sound forced or contrived. Sound the Alarm is a striking example of the kind of depth and diversity that can be still found within the disconsolate confines of emo.