Увага - Сум'яття
B Tier
Увага is a Ukranian Emo project that began life as a very traditional Emocore act before morphing into what we find on this album - mathy Midwest Emo in the vein of early Emo Revival artists. Intricate, twinkly riffs are the bread and butter of this album, though the rhythm instruments do an admirable job keeping pace. There are only two minor gripes I have: 1) the vocal performance is quite underwhelming and bland, and 2) the compositions, while pretty and satisfying, aren’t too original. The music is so good that it doesn't matter if it's a bit derivative.
Barely Civil - I'd Say I'm Not Fine
B Tier
I’d Say I’m Not Fine is another solid outing from longtime Wisconsin Emos Barely Civil and is modern Midwest Emo done right - hooking vocals, dynamic and diverse arrangements played with energy and sincerity. Despite the catchiness of the vocals and the vigor with which the band plays, nothing on this album quite stands out amongst their discography or the greater Emo tapestry of 2024. Still, your year isn’t complete until you hear this album at least once.
For When You Can't Breathe - A Home That Doesn't Exist
B Tier
A Home That Doesn’t Exist is FWYCB’s debut album and like many in Emo before them, the album cover is of a house (at least this one is more of a landscape shot than just a photo of the house), and that sets the sonic expectations right away. Somewhat traditional Midwest Emo compositions are highlighted by the impassioned yet melodic vocals ala Arm's Length or Ben Quad. For When You Can't Breathe is definitely a contemporary of such notable acts and this debut shows they have the promise to achieve their name with these modern greats.
Touche Amore - Spiral In A Straight Line
B Tier
Iconic Post-Hardcore / Emo legends Touche Amore need no introduction. On their sixth studio album, the band refines the sense of melody they developed on the back end of their discography while adding in some of the missing Screamo flourishes from their previous album. Though perhaps their best material is behind them, Touche Amore nonetheless push themselves sonically to give hope and meaning to new miseries that appear with time and age. Don't mourn the youthful expressions of old, enjoy a more world-weary approach to find a place in this world.
Re-read - Повсякденність, драма, романтика
B Tier
Re-read’s debut LP is an ethereal blend of Midwest Emo and Dream Pop. This gem comes from Ukraine’s budding Emo scene. The lush soundscapes that compose the harmonies are punctuated by spirited mathy guitar riffs, though the dreamy dual vocals add more to harmony than melody. The songs are well composed and the individual performances are all technically excellent, but I don't quite sense their spirit in this music. Perhaps there is a language barrier, but one of the songs is written in a universal human tongue (cat noises. I don't want to explain…).