feelings and stuff

Though I live in a society thoroughly drenched in irony, I will proudly admit that I genuinely and wholeheartedly love emo music. Listen up, world: I believe that Brand New has never recorded a bad song, and one of the most revelatory concerts I have ever attended was Taking Back Sunday/Blink 182/Weezer at Jones Beach. Suck it, hipsters.

But, while I will eternally harbor a soft spot for MySpace-generation emo, I'm actually talking about emo in its earliest manifestation: a brilliant post-post-punk fusion of understated sentimentality with a hardcore foundation of uncompromising intensity. Clearly, this wave of emo emerged in the '90s and sometimes gets confused with post-punk (e.g. Jawbox) or post-hardcore (e.g. Rites of Spring) or grunge, which is understandable because who besides unsociable nerds (e.g. me) even knows the difference between archaic sub-sub-genres?

Anyway, I mostly like '90s emo because it is presumably Trent Lane's genre of choice. No, that's not the only reason. But ever since I was old enough to watch Daria he has uncontestedly held the first spot position on my qualitative list of fictional-character crushes. (Yeah, there's a list. Ricky Fitts, anyone?)

I mean, look at this boy's bedroom. He must be brooding to the Weakerthans.

Anyway. Here are some choons to ponder/to which to ponder. 

Sunny Day Real Estate - "In Circles"

Classic song, classic record, classic fitted black long-sleeved T-shirt.

Jawbreaker - "Boxcar"

"You're not punk, and I'm telling everyone/Save your breath, I never was one/You don't know what I'm all about/Like killing cops and reading Kerouac." Brilliance, brilliance.

Get Up Kids - "Valentine"

A song to close your eyes to and feel genuine feelings. Try it!