Starter Pack: Mall Emo

     Mall Emo, or in Brand New or Sunny Day Real Estate fans eyes, "fake emo". It's used to describe bands like My Chemical Romance, Panic! at the Disco, Hawthorne Heights, AFI, and The Used. But a lot of people dislike this word, even Gerard Way himself said:" the modern idea of emo is basically a pair of jeans and a haircut." Hate it or love it, this word is still used as describing those bands' music. So I'll recommend a few albums to get into this genre.

    Paramore - All We Know Is Falling

    Probably a strange pick, in some of your eyes. Something about this album just hits differently than Paramore's other albums. Riot and Brand New Eyes are both more pop-punk vibe. And there's a thing people say about pop-punk or emo - they bring back nostalgia every time. I legit think All We Know Is Falling is the most nostalgic out of all their albums. Some people complain about this album's mix wasn't great, but I don't see this problem at all. Every early punk-rock album, which has been considered classic over the years, their mixing was extremely bad. The drum, vocals, and bass are at the right place, which makes this album sound the best, in my opinion. The guitar riffs are beautiful and stunning. Everything combines just made this a perfect alt-rock/emo album.

    Fall Out Boy - From Under the Cork Tree

    The angsty era for Fall Out Boy, when they don't completely suck(who the hell makes Mania). From Under The Cork Tree is their best work, in my opinion. Maybe this album lacks consistency, some of the tracks are a bit generic? (question mark) But you can't deny the genius of Dance, Dance, and Sugar, We're Goin Down. When the chorus drops, the sweet bitterness of nostalgia just hits amazingly.

    My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

    It's kind of impossible to talk about emo music without mentioning MCR. And it's weird to put them on there, considering their sound was so different from literally all emo music. Anyway, they're definitely the band of that generation. The Black Parade is easily one of the best rock albums of the 2000s, potentially the last rock event album. As a rock concept album, MCR succeeded in creating the whole concept. The character of"the patient" is one of the most well-known emo characters of all time. Musically, it's a grand combination of glam rock, pop-punk, metal, and a bit of emo. As an emo album, it's a classic; as a rock album, it's one of a kind as well.

    Jimmy Eat World - Clarity

    Bleed American is a common pick, so I'm going for Clarity. Compared with Bleed American, this album has a more indie vibe. It reminds me of Diary and Pinkerton, but a more delicate version of them. The melodies are fantastic and heart-wrenching, and the lyrics are melancholy and depressing. The flow of Clarity is amazing, the transition of Lucky Denver Mint and Your New Aesthetic gets me every time. This album found its balance between mall emo and indie, and it's definitely a listen that you don't wanna miss.

    That's the list! Hope you enjoy.