Top 20 Greatest Emo Bands of All Time
#20: Embrace
Genre labels can be a funny thing, often placed upon certain artists, regardless of whether or not said band members agree with that term. Embrace only released a single album in 1987, but it went on to influence generations of artists in its wake. The band featured within its ranks former Minor Threat vocalist Ian MacKaye, while the LP consisted of two studio sessions that had been recorded over the previous two years. The music is remarkably prescient for this timeframe, basically containing all of the busy, jangling riffs, introspective lyrics and melodicism that would go on to define first wave emo. And you know what? It still holds up great today.
#19: Saves the Day
These days the old adage of “separate the art from the artist” feels more relevant than ever, and it’s admittedly difficult to separate the legacy of New Jersey’s Saves the Day from the misconduct allegations that were leveled at frontman Chris Conley back in 2021. That said, there are many modern emo and pop/punk groups that likely saw Saves the Day’s “Through Being Cool” and “Can’t Slow Down” efforts as formative in their formation. The band’s sound was definitely catchy, immediate and indicative of emo’s continued musical progression into the nineties and beyond.
#18: Mineral
The sound of emo can often take many different forms, and this can be seen within the diverse musical approach of Austin, Texas’ Mineral. They only released a couple of albums, but their take on emo was refreshingly unique and devoid of any stylistic cliches. A spirit of indie rock experimentalism is coupled with an almost shoegaze-y aimlessness within the riffs, a place where the journey is as important as the destination. “The Power of Falling” in particular was an album that inspired a lot of admiration, both back then and today. It’s an LP with a lot of ideas, and a refusal to compromise; an emo album that never forgets to ROCK.
#17: Moss Icon
The phrase “I know it when I see it” may have been popularized by the judge in a 1964 court case, but it’s also a fitting descriptor when describing the “post-hardcore” genre. The term “post-” anything is sort of nebulous but Maryland’s Moss Icon went on to influence not only this experimental form of indie rock, but also emo groups. This latter tag was another one with which Moss Icon might not have necessarily agreed, but it remains a stubborn stamp upon their legacy. This was thanks to a musical approach that felt borderless, incorporating a wide array of influences, together with emotionally insightful lyrics. So was Moss Icon an emo band? To paraphrase: I’m not sure, but I know it when I hear it.
#16: Dag Nasty
It’s an album that’s proven impossibly influential and important over the years since its 1986 release. “Can I Say” by D.C.’s Dag Nasty is an LP that exists at the crossroads of melodic hardcore and emo, in a musical place inhabited by groups like the Descendents, who inspired both hardcore and pop/punk groups over the years. Dag Nasty crafted an album that was fast and aggressive, sure, but also with songs that had something, pardon the pun, to “say.” Punk rock and hardcore’s natural aggression was starting to be tempered with other elements by the mid-80s, and Dag Nasty was there to sound a clarion call towards the emo horizon.
#15: Rites of Spring
Man’ what’s with these “one and done” emo bands that struck like lightning, and then exploded into dust? Rites of Spring was from Washington D.C., a hotbed of activity for this forward-thinking approach to emotional hardcore. They recorded and released a single album in 1985, a self-titled effort that’s still serving as a blueprint for bands forming right now, as you’re listening to this video. To say that the “Rites of Spring” album was important is an understatement. This is an album that’s furious and angry, like all good hardcore should be, yet with a musicality and progressive spirit that’s just bubbling below the surface. Meanwhile, the harsh vocals on the LP would go on to inspire screamo bands like Orchid [xref] years down the line.
#14: Weezer
Sometimes, all it takes is for a band to take one risk; a decision that may not reap dividends at the time, but will eventually be reappraised. The “Pinkerton” album was a risk for Weezer back in 1996, and it wasn’t well received by fans that simply wanted retreads of “Buddy Holly” or “Say It Ain’t So.” “Pinkerton” is also the sole reason why Weezer makes this list, because it was an album that was heavier and more dynamic, yet still possessing this air of emo confessionalism. It’s not hyperbole to admit that “Pinkerton” was ahead of its time, an album that many future emo groups would copy and hold high to the stars as a major influence.
#13: The Promise Ring
Do sweethearts still give each other promise rings? It’s a courtship ritual that’s definitely “of its time,” just how the sound of Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s The Promise Ring feels indicative of a certain era. This is melodic emo rock from the nineties that felt unafraid to be fragile and imperfect. The emo genre is one that’s often criticized for its…let’s go with “unique” style of lead vocal. Davey von Bohlen is definitely more concerned with getting his lyrical point across than winning any sort of “lead singer awards,” but this is sort of the point, right? The Promise Ring connected with generations of fans on albums like 1997’s “Nothing Feels Good,” and they’re still tightly connected with classic emo from this period.
#12: Texas is the Reason
The prevalence of Krishna Consciousness with pop culture didn’t end with the 1970s. It instead, surprisingly enough, spread through the hardcore scene. Artists as diverse as Shelter, 108 and the Cro-Mags incorporated Krishna lyrics into their music, while Texas is the Reason formed as an offshoot from those former two bands. Their debut LP, “Do You Know Who You Are?” doesn’t necessarily require a Krishna-receptive audience to be effective, however, since it’s since gone on to be considered a classic of the emo genre. Texas is the Reason was a bit indie, a bit rock, with just enough of their hardcore past to be embraced by devotees of the heavier stuff.
#11: Braid
The life of a hardcore band is notoriously fleeting with many musicians restlessly moving from new group to new group, consistently in search of a fresh sound. The members of Braid were similar in this regard, moving on to other bands in the wake of their critical success with album number three, “Frame & Canvas.” Still, this does nothing to take away from how important this album was to emo’s graduation from 1980s experimentalism into a full-on fad. Braid’s sound felt intensely personal, like something they HAD to get out of their collective systems. It’s imperfect-as-a-compliment, a rocked-out slice of emo that saw acclaim come to Braid, rather than the other way around.
#10: Thursday
New Jersey's Thursday are one of the most successful and popular bands from the "screamo" genre, a sub-style of emo that employs impassioned screaming and heavy guitars to create a properly emphatic impact. A few of the band's members share vocal duties, alternating between sensitive clean singing and screams to offset Thursday's energetic guitar attack. The band was active for almost fifteen years before taking an extended hiatus in 2011, only to reunite in 2016 for a series of festival dates, which included a homecoming show in New Jersey's Starland Ballroom.
#9: Jawbreaker
Sprung up from the jam spaces of New York University, this punk rock-inspired emo outfit progressed the genre to new heights during the latter part of the 1980s, and into the 90s. Jawbreaker's subtle mixture of do-it-yourself ideals and jangly indie rock guitar-work quickly won an audience, and it wasn't long before the band signed a major label deal with media mogul David Geffen. The resulting album's scrubbed-clean production style diluted the band's favor with fans, however, with Jawbreaker going their separate ways not long afterwards.
#8: The Get Up Kids
Emo's second wave found a major power player within Kansas City, Missouri's catchiest young rock band, The Get Up Kids. Pop-beat, stripped down, songwriting was finding favor within this newer crop of emo bands, and The Get Up Kids were quick to lead the charge with straight ahead, sing-along rock 'n roll. The band's 1999 album Something to Write Home About focused upon anthemic melodies and big time choruses, and did a great job at increasing the band's profile, introducing them to a whole new group of fans. These fans included future pop/punk-star groups Blink 182 and Fall Out Boy, both of which cite The Get Up Kids as a major influence.
#7: Dashboard Confessional
If you were to look up the textbook definition of "emo" in the dictionary, you’d see a photo of Dashboard Confessional and their charismatic front man Chris Carrabba. This isn't an insult, of course, as Dashboard Confessional seemingly have a knack for composing some of the most effective and memorable emo tunes around, including the hit single "Hands Down”. Carrabba's sensitive and soft vocals meld perfectly with the band's often upbeat and laser-focused attention to songwriting detail. Dashboard Confessional also possess a powerful connection with their fans, who have been known to shout back the band's lyrics in a passionate, call and response frenzy.
#6: American Football
It isn't often that a band makes one of these "best of" lists based solely upon the strength of a single album, but such was the impact of American Football upon the emo scene with their 1999 self-titled debut. The Illinois based band struck a chord with fans with an EP before dropping the album via Polyvinyl Records, a collection of songs that hinged upon a soft, yet determined musical approach. Complex time signatures and a jazz influence permeated American Football's songwriting, but the band didn't last long as a touring entity, and decided to call it quits shortly after the new millennium. 2016 saw the return of American Football to the emo scene, however, with a new album and tour plans announced to their patient fans.
#5: Brand New
It takes a bevy of influences to create the musical melting pot that is Long Island's Brand New. Indie rock, pop, punk and classic rock all make up the creative stew for songwriter Jesse Lacey and company, with Brand New drawing inspiration from a diverse spread of artists, such as The Smiths, The Cars and The Beach Boys. Vocal and guitar melodies alike make up the intriguing sound of Brand New, with particular attention paid to arrangements and songwriting. Fans responded well, with Brand New gaining more headway with each successive album.
#4: Taking Back Sunday
Hot indie darlings to major label emo heroes? It's more likely than you think when we're talking about the story of Taking Back Sunday. Upbeat, punk-fueled guitar riffs and pop-friendly song craft defined the early energy of Taking Back Sunday, while later albums incorporated more than enough layered vocals and aggressive musicianship to expose the band to fans beyond the traditional emo spectrum. Indeed, fast forward more than twenty years since their formation, and Taking Back Sunday are still going strong, having released their eighth album, 152 in 2023.
#3: Jimmy Eat World
The story of Mesa, Arizona's Jimmy Eat World is one of indie rock street cred done right; a success story for a band truly deserving of all their accolades. Radio came running for the pop-friendly sound of Jimmy Eat World with the breakout success of their 2001 album "Bleed American." Follow up albums "Futures" and "Chase This Light" increased the band's profile exponentially, perfecting their balancing act of combining smart rock rhythms, strong songwriting and an honest, confessional sensibility with frontman Jim Adkins' explosive stage presence.
#2: Sunny Day Real Estate
There are few emo bands from the nineties more influential than Sunny Day Real Estate. The quartet only managed a small handful of albums before calling it quits in 2001, but the legacy of their major label debut album "Diary" remains one of the most powerful in the genre's history. The album was a smash for label Sub Pop Records, and inspired legions of younger bands with its fresh and dynamic approach to sensitive, melodic rock songwriting. Want proof? Simply listen to the album's lead single “Seven” for evidence of just how important Sunny Day was to emo's development as a viable and successful musical genre.
#1: My Chemical Romance
New Jersey has been known for spawning a bevy of emo's most important and influential bands, one of which being a little band by the name of My Chemical Romance. Goth, pomp and unabashed punk rock were filtered into MCR's increasingly extravagant sound, amplified by the band's evocative and memorable music videos. Epic tracks like "Welcome to the Black Parade" and "The Ghost of You" were offset by the comical "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" to create a musical style that was unique and commercially successful across the board.
What, to you, constitutes a true “emo” band? Sound off your preferred definition of the style in the comments!