I Miss Emo

Weezer and Jawbreaker both released foundational emo texts in 1994, though not many people noticed it at the time. But eventually, their wounded anthems would inspire a generation of alternative and punk-leaning bands to choose introspection over anger. While other ‘90s emo touchstones like The Promise Ring and Sunny Day Real Estate would prioritize soaring melodies and spindly guitar licks, early-'00s artists like Bright Eyes and Thursday would push the limits of what the genre was capable of with ambitious arrangements (the former's "The Calendar Hung Itself") and high-concept protest songs (the latter's "War All The Time").