Remember back in 1999? George W. Bush hadn’t become president yet, 9/11 hadn’t happened and the biggest worry on everyone’s mind was something called ‘Y2K,’ which supposedly would make all the computers in the world lose their shit and cause planes to fall from the sky for some reason. Yes, it was a more innocent time.
It was a simpler time for you back then, too. Your biggest concern was finding the perfect away message for AOL Instant Messenger, and your favorite emo bands kept you well-supplied. 1999 was full of classic, genre-defining emo albums that are now turning 25 years old, which is perfect because you’re getting divorced and it’s time to revisit these albums as you cry yourself to sleep and re-think every mistake you’ve ever made.
American Football “Self-Titled”
The dream-like debut self-titled album from American Football has rightfully become a monumental moment in emo, in many ways defining the Midwest Emo subgenre with its clean production and math-y guitar hooks. It sonically captures a sense of youthful optimism, which of course, you are no longer able to feel. Plus, the iconic cover of a suburban house makes it the perfect soundtrack for driving slowly past the house you’ve been kicked out of as you make your way back to the apartment you share with three stand up comedians you found on Craigslist.
Saves the Day “Through Being Cool”
New Jersey based Saves the Day’s biggest album “Through Being Cool” was hugely influential, adding elements of pop-punk into their previously heavier sound to create a lasting document of teen isolation and loneliness. But hey, it’s not just for teens, and you’ll feel right at home putting this on while you eat imitation crab, directly from the packaging, alone in your apartment for the third night this week.
Jimmy Eat World “Clarity”
The one before they got really popular, this album has achieved a cult-like status among emo connoisseurs like yourself. Your ex-wife really liked “The Middle,” so now you can listen to this album without her asking when that song was coming. That song’s not on this album, Sharon!
The Get Up Kids “Something to Write Home About”
The Get Up Kids’ second studio album”Something to Write Home About” blended emo with power pop and indie rock creating a classic album with hooks so strong, they will stay in your head even through hours of depositions with you and your ex’s lawyers as you sift through the ruins of your previous life together. You won’t care though, because, in your head, you’ll be singing along to “Holiday.”
Rainer Maria “Look Now Again”
The critically acclaimed second album from Midwest Emo band Rainer Maria, Look Now Again, uses poetic lyrics and shimmering guitars to evoke sad longings. The male/female alternating dynamic of their two co-vocalists, bassist Cathlin De Marrais and guitarist Kaia Fischer can help you relive every argument you and Sharon ever had, if only you two had prettier voices and a better grasp of the English language.
Orchid “Chaos is Me”
Orchid, the pride of Amherst, Massachusetts, was one of the early and most prominent Screamo bands, combining bracing elements of hardcore with more melodic turns from emo. Their first album “Chaos is Me” has remained extremely influential and is perfect to scream along too while punching a hole in the wall after hearing about how your ex-wife has moved on and is dating a personal trainer. At least the music is good, you can learn a bit of French, and check out this Nietzsche guy!
Thursday “Waiting”
The debut album by the New Brunswick, New Jersey band Thursday shows a lot of the promise the band would later channel into Emo masterpiece “Full Collapse.” Many of the band’s elements are here on their debut album, which is perfect for you to think back on how promising your marriage once was before you got comfortable and took everything for granted.
The Promise Ring “Very Emergency”
One of the most popular early emo bands, the Promise Ring, transitioned to a more power pop oriented sound with their third album, Very Emergency. You can use this album to put yourself in a sweet, nostalgic mood before desperately calling Sharon and begging for her to take you back.
No Knife “Fire in the City of Automatons”
This criminally underrated band from San Diego, put out the masterpiece “Fire in the City of the Automatons” in 1999, weaving math-rock riffs through elements of emo and post-hardcore. They somehow never get credit for being an incredible band, just like you never get credit for all the good things you did in your marriage, like the one year when you remembered your anniversary without a reminder, and you even got Sharon a really nice crab declawing tool. Like the music of No Knife, all these good deeds seem to be lost to time.
The Ataris “Blue Skies, Broken Hearts … Next 12 Exits”
The Ataris were more pop punk, with elements of emo, but don’t let that stop you from having it soundtrack your full-on nervous breakdown after you accidentally drive past you and your ex-wife’s favorite restaurant. The place where they give a little bib and dump a bucket of crab on the table, Sharon always did love it when you’d pretend the crab claws were really your hands, and you’d make her call you Lord Shell-don, even though she said she didn’t want to do it this time, and she just wanted to have a normal, quiet dinner, but you could tell she actually thought it was cool and sexy.
Fugazi “Instrument Soundtrack”
A collection of instrumentals, unreleased songs and demos from the legendary D.C. indie/emo pioneers Fugazi used to soundtrack the film “Instrument.” Their castaway songs are better than most bands,’ which you can relate to, because you are now essentially a castaway yourself, waiting to be re-discovered and cherished, and told that you are special and that personal training is dumb, and nobody should have ever left you.
Bright Eyes “Every Day and Every Night” (EP)
Just 5 songs, but containing some of Bright Eyes best songs from their early era. Yes, cry-singing, “I believe that lovers should be tied together and thrown into the ocean in the worst of weather and left there to drown left there to drown in their innocence” from the song “A Perfect Sonnet” into Sharon’s voicemail is a really good idea, because it shows how committed you are now and that you’re in a good place mentally and everything.
Hot Water Music “No Division”
The third album from Florida punk rock/ emo/ post-hardcore band Hot Water Music expanded the band’s sound, adding elements of pop punk and southern gospel. It’s perfect to pump you up at the gym, where you just started a new membership, and you’re wondering which one of these personal trainer fuck-sticks is boinking your wife.
The Juliana Theory “Understand this is a Dream”
This is an underrated classic in the emo/indie rock genre. Singer Brett Detar penned many deep emotional lyrics, pairing them with sweet and infectious melodies, while also being the guitarist in the metalcore band Zao. He proves that people can contain multitudes and they’re not just one thing, which would be cool for Sharon to understand. You’re not just the crab claw guy, you also are really good at cornhole, like 2nd or 3rd best amongst your guy friends.
Pop Unknown “If Arsenic Fails, Try Algebra”
A somewhat unknown gem of an album, released in 1999, Pop Unknown featured ex-members of Mineral and Feed Lucy. Yeah, maybe Pop Unknown is not as well known as Mineral, but they made something work after their first bands broke up. Bands they probably thought would last forever. The music on this album is really good, if not as revolutionary as Mineral, and hey, maybe that’s okay, too.
Piebald “If It Weren’t For Venetian Blinds, It’d be Curtains for Us All”
Piebald’s classic album from the tale end of their early era, “If It Weren’t For Venetian Blinds, It’d be Curtains for Us All” combines influences such as Jawbreak and Sunny Day Real Estate and Cave In, forming a powerful statement, though not as powerful of a statement as the statement the gym made when they kicked you out after you personally challenged every personal trainer into a game of one-on-one, mano a mano, cornhole showdown.
Tristeza “Spine and Sensory”
This album by San Diego band Tristeza, who featured Jimmy LaValle of the Album Leaf, blended elements of post-rock to create an expansive and beautiful album full of soundscapes. Tristeza means Sadness, and that’s very appropriate because that’s all you’ll be feeling for a while, after all your attempts to win back your ex have fallen flat.
Burning Airlines “Mission Control!”
“Mission Control!” is the debut album by Burning Airlines, who formed after the breakup of the legendary Jawbox. On this release, they managed to keep the best parts of Jawbox intact while exploring new sonic territories, just like you’ll be doing as you resolve to become a better person, and build your life back up.
Gameface “Every Last Time”
Though not the most well-known emo album of the era, this release by Southern California’s Gameface has everything you’d want in an emo record: catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, big guitars, everything. This will be helpful for making your new Match.com profile, because you’ve got it all, too. You’re well on your way to scoring a new fling to rub in your ex’s face.
A New Found Glory “Nothing Gold Can Stay”
The debut album from pop-punk, emo adjacent, group A New Found Glory, was undeniably catchy and hugely influential over the Fall Out Boys of the world coming down the Emo pike. You know what? These guys dressed cool. You can pretty much still almost fit in your old clothes from when you dressed that way. You could probably still spike your hair up like that and then you can frost those fucking tips, baby. Post-divorce you is looking fly as shit.
Small Brown Bike “Our Own Wars”
The debut album from Small Brown Bike, which channels Hot Water Music and Jawbreaker, is not widely famous, but it is beloved by those in the know, like you. It’s a hidden gem, just like the Crab Hut, where you’ll be going on a date with someone you met from Match.com. She’s pretty much your girlfriend and pretty much better than Sharon in every way.
Torches to Rome “Self-Titled”
Torches to Rome were a three-piece hardcore/emo band from the Bay Area who released an EP and this album, their only full-length. It is heavily influenced by Fugazi and other D.C. bands but it stands on its own right as an awesome one-and-done album. You can thrash around and, generally, just go crazy in your car to this album after your date turns out to be uncultured and rude, and the staff at the Crab Hut turns out to be total narc cops who can’t take a joke.
Reggie and the Full Effect “Greatest Hits 1984-1987”
The debut release by emo pop punk band Reggie and the Full Effect is considered by fans to be a classic album of the genre. It’s full of poppy hooks, and lots of funny movie references. Like the kind you and your guy friends make to make each other, cold beer in one hand and soft bean bag in the other. You know what? Maybe through all this crazy mess you and Sharon might just become friends and have a laugh about this whole thing someday.
The Casket Lottery “Choose Bronze”
The Casket Lottery, featuring some members of the band Coalesce, have a sound all their own, with jangly guitar chords, lush arrangement and poetic lyrics. You can put it on and look back over this whole crazy divorce process, and tell yourself you’re going to be alright. It might be a lie, but you can do it.
Camber “Anyway, I’ve Been There”
Another underrated album from 1999, Camber was an Emo band in the vein of Sunny Day Real Estate or Mineral. Their second album, Anyway, I’ve Been There is a perfect encapsulation of their sound and of late ’90s Emo in general. It sounds great, even years later, and you can assume it will sound great years in the future, when you run into Sharon on the streets, or at the park, maybe you’re both pushing strollers, you share a look of recognition and a first, awkward breaking of the silence, then the conversation gets going and you talk about all the good times. You pretend your hands are crab claws and say “Lord Shelldon misses you.” She halfway smiles, you can tell she wants to smile more, but she’s not letting herself fall in love again. You part with a sideways half-hug. You put this album on. 1999 was a great year for emo.