Midwest emo explained

Midwest emo
Cultural Origins:1990s, Midwestern United States
Derivatives:Emo revival
Other Names:Midwestern emo

Midwest emo (or Midwestern emo) refers to the emo scene and/or subgenre[1] that developed in the 1990s Midwestern United States. Employing unconventional vocal stylings, distinct guitar riffs and arpeggiated melodies.[2] Midwest emo bands shifted away from the genre's hardcore punk roots and drew on indie rock and math rock approaches.[3] According to the author and critic Andy Greenwald, "this was the period when emo earned many, if not all, of the stereotypes that have lasted to this day: boy-driven, glasses-wearing, overly sensitive, overly brainy, chiming-guitar-driven college music."[4] Midwest emo is sometimes used interchangeably with second-wave emo.[5] Although implied by the name, Midwest emo does not solely refer to bands and artists from the Midwestern United States, and the style is played by outfits across the United States and internationally.[6]

Characteristics

According to The Chicago Reader critic Leor Galil, the second-wave bands of the Midwest emo scene "transformed the angular fury of D.C. emo into something malleable, melodic, and cathartic—its common features included cycling guitar parts, chugging bass lines, and unconventional singing that sounded like a sweet neighbor kid with no vocal training but plenty of heart."[7]

Incorporating elements from indie rock, the genre also features "gloomy chord progressions"[8] and arpeggiated guitar melodies. Midwest emo is also commonly associated with the use of math rock elements. Texas Is the Reason guitarist Norman Brannon has stated that the 1993 albums The Problem with Me by Seam, In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi, and On the Mouth by Superchunk were particularly influential on the development of Midwest emo and have been "name-checked by every second-wave emo band I knew".[9] Post-hardcore band Jawbox also impacted the sound of Midwest emo, being cited as an influence by such bands as Braid, Elliott, and the Jazz June.[10] [11] [12]

The definable traits of the Midwest emo have proven to be easily fused with other genres of underground independent music. Revival bands including The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die mixed the Midwestern emo sound with genres such as post-rock and orchestral music.[13] Other outfits, including Patterns Make Sunrise, The Pennikurvers, and Everyone Asked About You, introduced elements of twee pop and indie pop into the sound of Midwest emo.[14] This proved influential to the aforementioned Emo revival scene, with groups like Dowsing and Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) taking a similar approach.

History

The Midwest emo scene came into prominence starting in the mid-1990s with bands such as American Football,[7] Chamberlain,[15] The Promise Ring,[16] Cap'n Jazz,[17] Cursive,[18] Rainer Maria,[19] Mineral and The Get Up Kids.[20] Braid has been regarded as an important act to propel the Midwest emo sound across the United States.[21] [22] Some of the acts to practice the sound were originally not from the Midwestern United States, with Sunny Day Real Estate being from Washington and Mineral being from Texas.[20]

Midwest emo saw a notable resurgence over the late 2000s and early 2010s with labels such as Count Your Lucky Stars Records,[23] as well as by bands such as CSTVT,[21] Oliver Houston,[17] Camping in Alaska,[24] Into It. Over It.,[25] Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing,[7] and Joie De Vivre.[26]

In the 2020s, Midwest emo became a meme on TikTok with videos parodying the genre's stylings. This includes the use of long naming schemes, relationships, and poor singing quality.[27]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: In its fourth wave, emo is revived and thriving. 15 August 2018.
  2. Web site: Funeral Advantage – Demo (staff review). Sputnikmusic. February 14, 2013. July 5, 2017. Lowe. Robert.
  3. Web site: The History of Math Rock: Part One. 16 August 2015.
  4. Greenwald, pp. 34–35.
  5. Web site: Is Emo Revival Really a Thing?.
  6. Web site: 2016-10-20. "We Pretty Much Whine About the Same Things": Emo in Asia. 2021-03-29. Bandcamp Daily.
  7. Web site: Midwestern emo catches its second wind . The Chicago Reader. August 5, 2013. July 5, 2017. Galil. Leor.
  8. Web site: Melbourne Artist Fractures Channels Midwest Emo On "Time Frame". The Fader. February 8, 2017. July 5, 2017. Perry. Cameron.
  9. Web site: Brannon . Norman . May 6, 2015 . Norman Brannon (Texas Is the Reason) Talks Mac McCaughan's Non-Believers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200929105808/https://www.talkhouse.com/norman-brannon-texas-is-the-reason-talks-mac-mccaughans-non-believers/ . September 29, 2020 . June 13, 2023 . Talkhouse.
  10. Web site: July 25, 2013 . BRAID . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518145315/https://www.reggieslive.com/band/braid/ . May 18, 2023 . April 2, 2024 . Reggies Chicago . Braid started writing songs that combined the sounds of DC with those of the Bay Area. 'We would soak up and study pretty much anything on Dischord,' [Bob Nanna] says. 'Anytime any of those bands like—Fugazi, Nation of Ulysses, Shudder to Think, or Jawbox—came anywhere near Chicago, we were there.' In addition to the music, Nanna was obsessed with the energy that these bands expressed onstage. 'But Braid was also equal parts of music coming out of the Bay Area...'.
  11. Web site: December 2005 . Elliott 14/12/05 - Mail . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240216031219/https://www.metalorgie.com/interviews/133_Elliott_14-12-05-Mail . February 16, 2024 . February 16, 2024 . metalorgie.com . I think it is obvious and easily perceptible that our influences have evolved over the years and changes in line up. We moved from music incorporating post hardcore elements on US Songs (inspired by Quicksand, Jawbox, Sunny Day [Real Estate], etc.)....
  12. Web site: Anderl . Timothy . September 16, 2013 . When The Drums Kick In…Again; an interview with Andrew and Bryan of The Jazz June . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221129070521/https://ghettoblastermagazine.com/features/special-report/when-the-drums-kick-in-again-and-interview-with-andrew-and-brian-of-the-jazz-june/ . November 29, 2022 . July 4, 2024 . Ghettoblaster Magazine . When I listen to the old Jazz June songs now I can hear elements from bands like Jawbox, Archers of Loaf and Superchunk that were direct influences on us..
  13. Web site: Cohen. Ian. April 29, 2014. Don't Call It an Emo Revival. July 5, 2017. Pitchfork.
  14. Web site: Review: Everyone Asked About You – Everyone Asked About You Sputnikmusic. 2021-03-29. www.sputnikmusic.com.
  15. Web site: Chamberlain – Fate's Got a Driver . . July 5, 2017. Cohen. Jonathan.
  16. Web site: 13 Beautiful Photos of American Football At Shepherd's Bush Empire, 11/02/2017 . . July 5, 2017. Trefor. Cai.
  17. Web site: New Music: Oliver Houston Embrace Classic Midwestern Emo on Whatever Works. Spin. January 23, 2017 . July 5, 2017. Gaca. Anna.
  18. Bruno. Franklin. Cursive – Domestica. CMJ. 56. 84. August 2000.
  19. Web site: Gwee . Karen . May 3, 2018 . An interview with Rainer Maria about their latest album S/T, Midwest emo and more . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419174733/https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/rainer-maria-interview-singapore-midwest-emo . April 19, 2021 . June 13, 2023 . Bandwagon.
  20. Web site: On Mineral and midwestern emo's second wave. . August 9, 2013 . July 5, 2017 . Raymer . Miles.
  21. Web site: Chicago Has a New Emo Rock Scene (Again) . Chicago. October 24, 2013. July 5, 2017. Osmon . Erin.
  22. Web site: Braid – Movie Music Vol. 2 . . March 1, 2000. July 5, 2017. Green . Stuart.
  23. Web site: Song Premiere: Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate), 'A Keepsake'. NPR. July 22, 2014. July 5, 2017 . Gotrich, Lars.
  24. Web site: Midwest Emo pioneers CAMPING IN ALASKA share top 10 influentian albums, new acoustic EP streaming . IDIOTEQ.com . 31 October 2022 . 29 April 2024.
  25. Web site: I Went to High School with the Leader of the So-Called Emo Revival . . April 4, 2014 . July 5, 2017.
  26. Web site: 2013-10-01 . 12 Bands To Know From The Emo Revival . 2024-03-29 . Stereogum . en.
  27. Web site: Galil . Leor . 2024-03-20 . Midwest emo becomes a meme . 2024-03-21 . Chicago Reader . en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Midwest emo".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.