Today's Lesson: Emo

Emo is one of those genres that is so often misunderstood. While some of what is considered emo today has roots in real emo music, a lot isn't of the genre at all. Emo, short for emotive hardcore, started in D.C. in 1985 during what is called "Revolution Summer". Sometimes also referred to as post-hardcore, emo started when people from the hardcore punk scene were getting disillusioned with where the scene was going. There was a lot of violence, and a lot of uniformity in the sounds. The same rebellion that led these kids to start and to join the punk movement led them to start emo music. These people started playing slower, more introspective songs, intentionally making a scene apart from where punk was at the time.
Out of this scene and this summer came Rites of Spring featuring future Fugazi Guy Picciotto, and Ian MacKaye's Embrace. The D.C. area would host the first wave of this new sound, but it would soon spread. Bands would build on the D.C. town, and the classic Dischord ethic. Your typical emo band was short lived, anti-commercial, and somewhat mysterious.
What followed the D.C. scene in the years and decades to come would build on the foundations of emo in different ways. Some would play a more refined version of the traditional D.C. sound, while others would go heavier, louder. Some would play with the loud/quiet dynamic. Some would take the anti-commercial ethic to new extremes. Some would develop popularity and sign with big labels.

What follows isn't a definitive list, but rather a beginners sampler of sorts. These tracks come from important records in the genre, and all are highly recommended.

Embrace are considered one of the originators, alongside Rites of Spring.


Moss Icon were from nearby Maryland. A very clear D.C. influence, but still a sound all their own.

Native Nod were part of 90's emo, from the east coast. They released a total of 9 songs.

Julia were another 90's emo band, this time from the west coast.

Saetia is a perfect example of "screamo", a term often applied to the louder, screamy emo bands.


I Hate Myself were from Gainsville, Florida. One of many bands from the brothers Jim and Jon Marburger, I Hate Myself were at the same time a quintessential later emo band and satire on the genre.

Christmas Music, Volume Two

Again I am going to revisit Christmas songs, and again I am going to focus on songs, not albums.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Willie Nelson. He is my favorite songwriter and one of my favorite guitarists. He has put our several Christmas albums, including Pretty Paper in 1979. This song was written about a legless man who sold pencils and wrapping paper on the sidewalk.
Willie Nelson: Pretty Paper


Like Fairytale of New York, another Christmas favorite of mine, Jim Croce's It Doesn't Have To Be That Way is more of a story that takes place during Christmas time, rather than a Christmas carol. The holidays are traditionally the hardest time to be alone, and this song captures that perfectly, adding a little hope in the character's story.
Jim Croce: It Doesn't Have To Be That Way



In 1969, Jimi Hendrix recorded this Christmas jam session with Band Of Gypsys. The song has been release as a single a few times throughout the years, and is currently available on three track CD, that includes and extended version of this jam and Three Little Bears. Neither an essential Jimi Hendrix tune nor an essential Christmas tune, it is nonetheless a good listen. Jimi plays the medely with his usual abandon.
Jimi Hendrix: Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne


Kurtis Blow was not only one of the first rappers, building on the groundwork laid by such pioneers as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, he was the first rapper to sign with a major label, releasing Christmas Rappin on Mercury records in 1979. I really love the sound of early hip-hop. It was all so fresh and new.
Kurtis Blow: Christmas Rappin

Quest For Quintana Roo: Things To Remember

Released in 2002, Things To Remember was the last release for California's Quest For Quintana Roo. This three song seven inch is my favorite release form this band. Call it emo, screamo, or emotional hardcore, this is a band that defines the hard to define genre. They have all the call signs of a real emo band. Short lived, few scattered releases, and not a lot of information to be had. Dynamic music that ebbs and flows, but is usually pretty loud. Emotionally screamed vocals. A tight, three piece sound.

It all starts with a track called Apnea. Lots of distorted stop and start guitar riffs over drums that rise and fall as necessary. A nice little instrumental interlude in the middle adds to the overall flow of the song. Next up is They Spoke In Greek. This one starts out fast and driving, then continues on in the style of Apnea before slowing to a stop at the end. Things To Forget is an altogether different one. Half the length of the other two, Things To Forget is a short, bass led instrumental. With a steady drum beat out front and some playful guitars on the edges, this song serves as a goodbye.