your arms are my cocoon - death of a rabbit
A Tier
In 2020, YAAMC controversially released their s/t EP, singlehandedly establishing Bedroom Skramz as the genre of the times. Beloved by many, it remains unlistenable for a huge swath of Emo fans. Fast forward four years into the future and YAAMC has released their first proper full-length record. While Bedroom Skramz hasn’t really evolved since it was introduced in 2020, Tyler Odum took the last four years to mature his sound. death of a rabbit is fragile and cathartic with many quiet instruments like acoustic guitars and soft synths juxtaposed against harsher synths and desperate screams. Listening to this album feels like prying into someone’s diary, a document of their private thoughts. And while it almost feels wrong, the near 45-minute runtime evaporates with each listen. Definitely listen to this whether you liked the 2020 s/t or not.
glass beach - plastic death
A- Tier
This band is no stranger to controversy in the Emo scene; their first album caused a rift between people who categorized it as Emo and those who didn’t so great it almost singlehandedly defined 5th Wave Emo. After five years, J and the gang triumphantly return with their second LP plastic death. On this second full-length, glass beach drops some of the poppiness found on the first glass beach album in favor of more Progressive Rock influences. Some may say this album has even less Emo cred than their original, though I’d argue that this record transcends simple genre conventions. The Mars Volta successfully combined Prog Rock and Post-Hardcore on De-Loused in the Comatorium, Circle Takes the Square did the same with Prog and Screamo on As the Roots Undo, now glass beach has taken the mantle and fused Prog with Emo on plastic death.
Wapddi - Like Our Friend Murphy
A- Tier
Infectiously fun, wildly explorative and ridiculously melodic, South Korea’s hidden Emo gem Wapddi delivers one of the freshest albums of the entire year. 5th Wave Emo fans rejoice! This release takes influence from a multitude of other genres, including Math Rock, Power Pop, Indie and Post-Rock. The superlative influences actually meld together quite naturally here, with song after song feeling instinctively in its place as the album presses on. Some of the catchiest vocal and instrumental melodies of the entire year are just casually found several places throughout each song.
Oso Oso - life till bones
B+ Tier
life till bones is a breezy stroll through increasingly-Power-Pop-influenced-Emo-Pop from Emo stalwarts Oso Oso, filled with acoustic guitars, fun and simple song structures and an unwavering commitment to making catchy music. It’s not the greatest Oso Oso release of all time, but fans will have a lot to dive into, but new fans will love how accessible this outing is. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but there’s a strong Macseal vibe on this one, too.
Bummer Hill - Far Removed
B Tier
Trying to peg these eclectic musicians is a tough task; some tracks on Far Removed are through-and-through Emo-Pop goodness while other songs ride the softer Indie Rock wave. Others still borrow from the heaviest of Pop-Punk bands. This versatility is punctuated by top-notch production, highlighting the different tones this band aims for. The singer's smooth voice produces some very catchy melodies, but he also knows how to explode when necessary. If nothing else, this record is one of the most interesting of the year.