#mark rose

Been feeling kindy crummy lately so I thought I’d reconnect to my roots and doodle some old ocs from circa 2014? 2015? (left to right: Steve[they/them], Tommy [he/ they], Mark [he/him])

This is a list of songs that I think are important in the world of alternative music. Specifically emo. I said screamo and post-hardcore to try to please everybody that may come at me saying, “ that’s not emo.” Whatever. I do hope you agree with the importance of these songs. The order is not in a specific way besides a predecessor being after the song I think its fits after.

1. American Football - Honestly? (1999) - LP1

This song, to me, is what emo is all about. Beautiful on all fronts, from the lyrics to the way each instrument is played. It is the definition of 90′s emo, even though it came out in 1999. Emo bands are still trying to pull this off, with little success. That was mean. Some can do it ok. 

2. American Football - My Instincts Are the Enemy (2016) - LP2

Who can put out emo as good as American Football? Well, American Football. So 17 years later and they can drop an album that is every bit as good as LP One. Good job guys, good job. 

3. Bilmuri - Timing (2016) - Bilmuri

This is just one of those bands that lyrically you can tell is deeply inspired by American Football. Not as intricate but the vocal delivery is nothing short of passionate. I think this is important because it is saying something. It is saying that you do not have to finger pick and play ridiculous of beat drum patterns to make passionate emo. 

4. Pianos Become The Teeth - April (2015) - Keep You

This song is pure beauty. Just listen to it and you will hear why it is important. It was completely unexpected for me because i was so used to hearing PBTT screaming. This album will go down as a classic for me. It is the emo that we had been  waiting for since Thursdays’ War All The Time. 

5. Touche Amore - Benediction (2016) - Stage 4

Just like Pianos Become The Teeth, Touche, in my opinion, has heavy Thursday War All The Time influences. Not saying that they a copying Thursday at all. They have their own completely unique styles. This song is just one of those songs that shows how to scream on an emo song. Like Pianos, it has  really deep meaning, and this song is one of those that you can feel the loss.

6.Title Fight - Murder Your Memory (2015) - Hyperview

I feel that this song is important instrumentally more than anything. That guitar riff in the song is just haunting. It literally hits you right in the feels. Then comes the drone like lyrics.Just gives you the chills. With this song out, the bar was set really damn high for cool sounding emo. 

7. The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (2003) - Give Up

Do I really need to say much about this? Poetic with technoish type beats going down. This song paved the way for so many others. This is important due to its future influence. This band overall is important. 

8. Into It. Over It. - Your Lasting Image (2016) - Standards

This definitely would not have existed without #7 on this list. A listener would be very naive not to notice the influences. This song is just as important as The District Sleeps Alone Tonight because it reminds us that things like this can still be done, and done well. People will remember this one after the fact.

9. Lydia - It’s In Your Blood (2005) - This December; It’s One More And I’m Free

This song from the legendary “This December; It’s One More and I’m Free” album is song that made emo what it is today. The vocal delivery mixing male and female vocals so perfectly was the first time many of us 2000′s emo kids have heard anything like that. They definitely paved the way for many bands to come. I would like to say Straylight Run got it from Lydia but that is not true. I can say that Lydia set the bar high, so Straylight Run had to come out with some bangers after Lydia.

10. Lydia - The Sounds In Your Dream (2015) - Run Wild

Bet you thought Straylight Run was going to be next. Nope. Like American Football, no one can make music like Lydia except Lydia. Though not the same band as they once were, they still make great music 10 years later. The importance of these long running bands does not need explaining. 

11. Thursday - Understanding In A Car Crash (2001) - Full Collapse

Obviously Thursday was going to be on here. If it was not for this band you would not have all that post hardcore, melodic hardcore stuff you listen too. This is the song that had significance because it out Thursday on the map. Ask any emo fan, this song is classic. I bet most of your favorite post hardcore bands will site Thursday as a major influence and can probably still to this day sing this song word for word. Honestly, Thursday taught us we can scream while sad.

12. Thursday - War All The Time (2003) - War All The Time

I listen to a lot of music and am always on the lookout for new bands. I always find a underlying music theme just like the one in this song. Thursday brought back political views back into emo. Not that it was not there, but it had not been done this genuine in a some time. I promise you the influence of this song is heavy, which is why it is so important. 

13. Spitalfield - I Loved The Way She Said L.A. (2003) - Remember Right Now

2003 was a fantastic time to be into emo, and yeah, actually into Victory Records. Spitalfield was one of those emo bands that was kind of pop punk crossover. They lets us know that emo can be fast and fun as well as sad. After Spitalfield I feel so many bands came out just trying to sond exactly like them. I still heard hear songs that remind me of them.

14. Mark Rose - You Come Along (2015) - The Wild Type

The lead singer from Spitalfield is all grown up and making more adult music. Its like us that grew up on 2000′s emo grew up with Mark Rose. Keeping that long running emo contenders can still do it. He also adds some funky jazzy stuff into his music adding to the concept that emo has no boundaries factor. 

15. Foxing - Night Channels (2015) - Dealer

This song is important in many ways but I am trying not to be repetitive. The main reason this song is important is because of the maturity. This song is very mature and is a statement saying that emo is not just for teenagers going through some breakup that will not mater in 6 months. 

16. Taking Back Sunday - You’re So Last Summer (2002) - Tell All Your Friends

I feel that there is not much needed to be said here. This song showed a side of emo that I feel had not been shown very well. It gave that violent factor that had been missing for so long. The band in general are emo legends. 

17. Brand New - Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis (2003) - Deja Entendu

This is one of those bands that needs no explanation as to why it is one this list. This song was a step forward in emo. The lyrical content is just flat out cool. Really had not been done like this before in emo. It gave emo that cool guy with bad decisions look. 

18. Citizen - The Night I Drove Alone (2013) - Youth

Citizen to me really in like the reincarnation of Brand New. Not in a band way. Not in a copy cat way. They are just heavily influenced by them are you can hear it through the speaks. This song is one of those emo anthems, and it is not yet but, will go down as a classic. 10 years from now fans of this song will still know every line word for word. 

20. The Early November - I Want To Hear You Sad (2002) - For All Of This

This band holds a significant place in my life. I found this band at a time when it was exactly what i was looking for. This song made it easier for us in the emo community to move on. It made it to where emo was not all about wanting a person back, or I miss you. It let us say, “I’m better off without you.”

21.  I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business - So I Finally Decided To Give Myself A Reason (2004) - I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business

This band is the side project of Ace Enders (The Early November). This song was yet another step forward in the emo community. This song is sad and pretty, yet uplifting all at the same time. Enders brought story telling to the table and, I mean, he really brought it. Setting in motion tons of other artists. 

22. Boys Night Out - I Got Punched In The Nose For Sticking It In Other People’s Business (2003) - Make Yourself Sick

This song and band is pretty different from all the rest. It has anthem like sign-a-longs, crazy good lyrics, and its always changing. It has the perfect mix of screaming and singing. Everything about it is good. It has fast parts and slow parts. This song seriously has everything you are looking for, and more, in an emo song. 

23. Senses Fail -One Eight Seven (2003) - From The Depths Of Dreams

Classic emo anthem. Also at a time when profanity was barely in any emo songs, Senses Fail pulls out a great big FUCKING. The lyrics are just dark and that is what made this song and this band as good they were. The went to a more hardcore sound but shit, they are still good. The song just has that violence in emo that rarely gets used in anymore these days.

24. Name Taken - I Quit My Scene (2004) - Hold On 

The thing about Name Taken is that song sounded completely genuine. the songs did not feel or sound like they were forced. They were not trying to be the cool band. They were just making music they loved an pouring their hearts into it. This song is shows everything that they were good at. Unfortunately they did not stay around that long. I would love to see a reunion show.

25. The Starting Line - Cheek To Cheek (2002) Say It Like You Mean It

Some call these pop punk legends, which would not be wrong. I see them also as emo legends. These guy had that crossover sound that was done properly. Cheek To Cheek just comes in so smoothly and straight into your heart. Another classic.

26. Bright Eyes - We Are Nowhere And It’s Now (2005) - I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning

I feel like the name says it all. Bright Eyes did their own thing. Vocally and lyrically is what makes this song and band so legend. Story telling emo at its finest. These stories really can not be beat.

27. mewithoutYou - Nice And Blue (2002) - A To B Life

This band brought pure poetry to emo. They slapped us with some good ole spoken word while giving us all the rest. These guys really made spoken word in emo what it is today. 

28. Glassjaw - Motel Of The White Locust (2000) - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence. 

Violence is common throughout on this list but no one did it as violent as Glassjaw. Specifically this song. It is so dark and pure rage. This is one of those song that you can feel the emotion put off by the band. Glassjaw made other bands want to put 110% of themselves into the song. Not many songs can get you to actually feel what they feel.

29. Hawthorne Heights - Ohio Is For Lovers (2005) - The Silence In Black And White

This song is as influential as it is cheesy. I think that this band also brought the generalization about emo fans cutting their wrists. They kind of put the suicide in the genre. Not really a good thing but it was meant to be there for people with mental illnesses and for people that do hurt themselves. 

30. The Used - Blue And Yellow (2002) - The Used

This song showcased at the time what the used were all about. This song like many on this list is one of those anthem songs that most fans, to this day, can repeat word for word. So many emo bands coming out now quote The Used as a major influence.

Hawthorne Heights, SHVPES, and Spitalfield’s Mark Rose will head out this October on a tour of the U.K. and Ireland. You can purchase tickets now at HawthorneHeights.com. The fall run will make the following stops:

10/10 – Belfast, IE | Foundry 10/11 – Dublin, IE | The Grand Social 10/12 – Liverpool, UK | Jacaranda Phase One 10/13 – Plymouth, UK | Turbulence Festival 10/15 – Bristol, UK | Exchange

Words & pics: Mark Rose Is Venice the most romantic city in the world, or a SUPers paradise? Grab your paddle and a partner to find out which. Mark Rose did and this is what he discovered. Venice is made up of 118 islands, surrounded by 26 miles of canals. To access the numerous islands there are over 400 bridges, or you can use the water taxis – vaporetto’s and traghetto’s. Venice has over 1000…