Ok, I think it is time to bring up my complicated feelings on the word emo to start this post. It's not complicated in the sense that I don't like the genre, because I love emotional hardcore music. However, I find it's a genre that is hard to describe or explain because, in the year 2022, it has such a large umbrella. Here's some examples of the sub-genres of emo: midwest, revival, skramz, emo rap, twinkle, all the waves...anyways I think you got it now. It's very overwhelming at times but yet I am so very intrigued by it all.
There's a reason why I try to stray away from using the word emo in my posts because what does that actually mean today? It could mean so many gosh darn things now that I like to try using other descriptors, and it's a fun challenge to myself. Just like the Jazz June, I have an acceptance that I am part of the emo world, even though I may not completely understand it or know when to categorize a band into the genre.
With all this being said, you may wonder why am I even bringing this up? Here's the point to it all, if I can try to contextualize what, in my opinion, might be a good example of an emo album. That example would be The Medicine (along with other releases) by The Jazz June. Here's my case why: the lyrics are introspective with an emotional weight, the came from a hardcore background and took influences from it, they played because of that love for the scene and toured with like minded people, they broke up before they could blow up then had a revival in 2014.
I completely agree with other folks, like Tom Mullen from Washed Up Emo, when they say the Jazz June are an underappreciated gem. The music has a unique mix of punk, indie, and post-rock that is your non-traditional rock set up. Along with thought provoking lyrics that stick in your head in darks of the night, The Medicine is an album that you shouldn't sleep on. The cherry on top is that these guys seem like a group of long time friends who just like to have a reason to play music together. It's very wholesome and makes me happy :)
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Highlighted songs and lyrics:
Death From Above - "Lying to ourselves/That we can't still believe"
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Similar bands to check out:
Mid Carson July, Elliott, Hot Rod Circuit, The Appleseed Cast
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Reviews and links to check out:
Washed Up Emo Podcast- Interview
Vice.com- An Oral History of The Jazz June
Punknews.org- Review
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