The real name for it is Post Hardcore since it was hardcore bands forming more emotionally driven bands that wrote more about feelings then protest. These are some of the important albums that influenced the Emo scene and are actually good albums, because they are the originals of their time.
Green Day-Kerplunk!
Originally considered one of the early Emo driven bands with most of their songs about broken hearts with poppy punk choruses. A major influence on punk and emo bands alike, check out the song “2000 Light Years Away” next time your away from your girlfriend too long.
Sunny Day Real Estate- Diary
Considered one of the first true Emo bands whether they like it or not and one of the popular hardcore acts that had a lineup change along with a name change to become the new Post-Hardcore sound. Considered the original Emo album with the huge indie hit “Seven” which rips as it is sad.
Weezer-Pinkerton
Weezer fans are obsessed with this album and singer Rivers Cuomo is ashamed of it, go figure it’s one of the other early important Emo albums where Weezer’s surf rock poppy debut turns into a sad pop album about his love for a Japanese girl. Listen to the song “El Scorcho’ for one of Weezer’s less popular hits.
Blink 182- Enema of the State
Probably of the more notorious Emo bands of our era with their mix of pop and punk that also had some sad ballads such as the awesome “Adam’s Song”. The band has finally gotten back together and are putting out a new record shortly that I’m sure will have some mixed reviews.
Glassjaw-Everything You Wanted To Know About Silence
Brooklyn’s pioneers of the post hardcore scene and one of the most monumental albums for the Screamo scene with aggressive guitar hooks and schizophrenic vocals on each track. I enjoy the very aggressive “Siberian Kiss” as well as the entire catelog, amazing album!
Thursday- Full Collapse
When this album came out the Emo scene had finally gone main stream with a Screamo band being played on MTV consistently. Thursday hailed from New Brunswick, NJ and were the most mainstream Screamo band at the time with the cry your eyes out track in “Understanding in a Car Crash”.
Taking Back Sunday- Tell All Your Friends
This is and the Brand New album on this list are the ultimate break up with your girlfriend albums and it’s no surprise that tracks on each of the albums make reference to each band member talking shit about each other over a cheating girlfriend. Brand New and Taking Back Sunday have since made up but the ultimate break up with your girlfriend song in “Cute Without The E” is still champ.
Finch-What It Is To Burn
An album that mixes a perfect blend of pop punk with aggressive screamo that leaves room for crying eyes and broken hearts after each listen. The album is one of the other screamo albums that reigns and even if you hate this band I dare you tell me that you don’t enjoy the title track “What It Is To Burn”.
Brand New- Deja Entendu
The last emo related album from the now experimental dark rock band, but either way this is hailed by most emo kids as the best emo album ever. I disagree but it is a great album non the less that received play on the air from several singles such as the fan favorite “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows.”
Fall Out Boy-Take This To Your Grave
How can you talk about Emo and not mention this better late then never Pop punk outfit who blew up tremendously with the album after this. This is their more Emo related effort that brought Emo as mainstream as it gets, the MTV Music Awards stage. Before they hit the big time they had minor success with the pop punk track “Dead On Arrival” and the rest is obviously history.
10 albums to break up with your girlfriend to