by midemolet » Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:05 pm
I like to think that once we immerse ourselves within an art-form, it becomes easier to find a personally satisfying niche. Like we know in fashion people who know so much about it settle on a a few pieces, a brand, or an aesthetic that makes them the happiest. This past year that happened to me with music. I've been really paying attention to the music scene at least seven years now, reading pitchfork, going to lots of different shows. I've had rap phases, folk phases, metal phases, pretty much listened to all I can about every genre and scene relevant today. I have a favorite artist in every genre. But this past year I've pretty much exclusively listened to emo revival bands. Like lyysander said before I was sick of the lack of critically-acclaimed music that actually "rawked." Rap is awesome, but as a nerdy white kid it doesn't really speak to me. I never really got fully into EDM because the lack of lyrical content makes for a unsatisfying listen. And the indie rock scene was sometimes too brainy, sometimes too weird, but overall missing emotion.
Unaware to me previously, there are a myriad of bands making raw, angsty, guitar-driven music, who are not afraid to belt out a world-beating melody. People in music like to call the emo revival music for people who miss the rock spirit, and for as awkward as that sounds its true. Emo music isn't a scene as much as its a catch-all for underground rock music with emotional weight. Because of this, there's a huge range in the type of music that is labelled "emo." Joyce Manor and The Hotelier make great punk music. Sorority Noise and You Blew It! are Weezer-esque poppy throwbacks. Some groups share more with post-hardcore, such as La Dispute or Title Fight. My favorites add a bit of math-rock, such as Dads or Tiny Moving Parts.
Anyway, it's cool to find a genre that really speaks to me. While I still listen to lots of other music, I always end up coming back to my favorite new emo bands.