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Lucero

By Jason Diamond, eMusic ContributorThe shocking thing about the whole '90s revival that we've supposedly been engulfed by in the last few years is my generation's entire denial of a dark, emo past. There's an entire group of people… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorEmo is a difficult genre to define - namely because so few bands openly cop to being an "emo band." Certainly not Cloud Nothings, whose latest album, Attack on Memory shares so much DNA with… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorIt's only apt that My Chemical Romance close out this list, since they were the last band of this era to propel emo into the 20th century. In fact, songs like "Helena" took the basic… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorAlong with acts like Thursday and Brand New, Taking Back Sunday helped make their East Coast brand of emo a national phenomenon. On their debut, they're at their most visceral and transparent. Frontman Adam Lazzara… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorThursday may have helped usher in the "Summer of Screamo" when Full Collapse was released, but that's only because no one knew where else to file it. Born in New Jersey's basement culture, songs like… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorFive years after his swan song with Jawbreaker, Blake released the second album from his next project Jets to Brazil, which was essentially an emo version of Wilco. (I didn't invent this analogy: Blake professed… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorWe've all had failed relationships but Tim Kasher has a knack for transforming these experiences into songs that are as complex and dizzying as the personal interactions they're based on. Correspondingly bone-shaking bass lines and… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorWhere Cap'n Jazz was a sonic experiment conducted by high school students, Nothing Feels Good saw Davey von Bohlen and Co. crafting a more pop-oriented album that retained the same obstinate personality of his previous… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorThings were different for emo in the '90s. Guys doused their hair with pomade and wore cuffed jeans while girls sported headbands and messenger bags sewn up with patches advertising obscure bands. Much like Four… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorChristie Front Drive came up touring with acts like Jimmy Eat World and Mineral, and left an indelible mark on the emo landscape despite never experiencing widespread success. Musicianship was tantamount; muscular songs like "November"… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorOnly a state full of underdogs like New Jersey could have birthed a band as unique and enduring as Lifetime. Their secret weapon was Ari Katz's vocals, so recognizable that he helped the act maintain… more »

By Jonah Bayer, eMusic ContributorBefore the Promise Ring, Davey von Bohlen and his high school friends were in a scrappy act called Cap'n Jazz. Unlike your high school band, they were actually good. The songs collected on Analphabetapolothology may… more »

By Laura Leebove, Deputy EditorIn 2010, I heard Superchunk for the first time — or for what I thought was the first time. My immediate reactions were, in this order: "Oh my god, this is amazing," "Why didn't I… more »