Bottom Bracket - I'm So Afraid of Where
B+ Tier
One of Chicago’s true hidden gems, Bottom Bracket have been hard at work improving their sound ever since their debut EP all the way back in 2017. While I wouldn’t say they’ve perfected their sound, this album is a sizable leap forward for the band. I’m So Afraid of Anywhere is chock full of excellent Mathy riffs, heart-on-your-sleeve vocals and generally a light atmosphere, an accessible combination that many could be interested in. Although this album isn’t the defining Chicago album of the 2020s or anything, it’s an extremely solid effort from a band who is ever-improving.
we'rethecurrency - For the Hearing of My Heart
B+ Tier
One of the biggest surprises of the year comes by way of 5th Waver Emos we’rethecurrency who deliver on their second-ever EP. Despite the demo-level production values, the band pulls out all the stops with ambitious arrangements featuring acoustic guitars, trumpets, spoken word sections, melodic and melancholic clean vocals and some sorrowful screams. Traditional Midwest Emo instrumentation with early Screamo flourishes seems to be their blueprint, but the band isn't tethered to any specific idea of what Emo is supposed to be. This is without a doubt one of the most cathartic releases of 2024.
SeeYouSpaceCowboy - Coup de Grâce
B+ Tier
Starting off as a Whitebelt Hardcore band and spending the majority of their career injecting 2000s-era Emo-Pop and Post-Hardcore into the mix, SeeYouSpaceCowboy’s newest release is for the fans of the Third Wave. With Sassy clean vocals, filthy screams and tons of personality, the singer is truly front and center in the mix, but the band does an excellent job utilizing the polished 2000s soundfont to craft memorable tracks. To top things off, the band took great care to make the album flow smoothly. This album stands a head above most other recent Scene Revival releases.
Dead Butterflies - I See Myself In you, I Hate It
B Tier
Dead Butterflies is a project from prolific Drum and Bass musician POSITIVE+, known for its tremendous Ambient influence. Micah applies that atmospheric depth to I See Myself In You, debut album for this Emo project. Coming from an entirely different genre allows for unique approaches to writing music, and this fits well with the spirit of 5th Wave Emo. The record has all the bones of a worthy Midwest Emo album - heartrending riffs, quiet-loud dynamics, emotional lyrical content - and overlays them with electronic drum elements, synths and highly-processed vocals for a Shoegaze-like effect. Dead Butterflies already has multiple studio albums out this year alone - start with this one.
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.
