10 Nineties Emo Albums You Should Hear

I'll admit it: I've been a bad emo kid. Like a lot of millennials, I sincerely thought that emo started in the 2000s, when bands like Taking Back Sunday and Aiden appeared on the scene. However, when I did some research, I learned that emo's roots go all the way back to the mid-eighties.

These 90s bands don't sound much like the music I listened to in high school, but I can see the subtle ways they influenced generations of emo music to come: the moody lyrics, strained vocals, dark themes and aggressive melodies that became hallmarks of the genre. Some of these bands lean toward other styles, such as hardcore or indie pop, but they all have a distinctly melancholy sound.

Here's a rundown of ten obscure 90s albums that I found on Spotify. Some might argue that not all of these bands are "real emo," but even if they don't perfectly fit the genre, you're still discovering great bands that deserve more listeners. Let's relive this decade with some nostalgic tunes.

1. Julia by Julia...

Aside from a couple of pictures on Discogs and a blog post claiming that the band started in San Diego, information about Julia... is pretty scarce. Their sole album, Julia, came out in 1994. Sometimes loud and aggressive, other times quiet and introspective, these eight tracks invite you into a world of anguished vocals and dark, intense soundscapes.

Members: Chad Haley, Jeremy Miller, Matt Yeager, Noah Wilson

2. Poppy by Sunspring

With only 1,500 CDs and 56 cassette tapes in circulation, physical copies of Poppy are a rare find. Sunspring also has yet to find their online audience, holding steady with 120 monthly Spotify listeners. Still, the bombastic vocals, harsh arrangements, metallic drums and crackling production are enough to give any emo fan a jolt.

Members: Forrest Kuhn, K. Scott Ritcher, Jason Thompson

3. For The Love Of The Wounded by Split Lip

In 1993, indie rock band Chamberlain was releasing emo music under the name Split Lip. For The Love Of The Wounded made its mark with strained vocals, slow build-ups and a dark, melancholy approach that gives a voice to depressive periods. While some tracks embrace a bold hardcore sound, others are surprisingly quiet and subdued.

Members: Adam Rubenstein, Curtis Mead, Charles Walker, Clay Snyder, David Moore

4. The Lurid Traversal of Route 7 by Hoover

Released in 1994, The Lurid Traversal of Route 7 is Hoover's only full-length album. The band broke up in the same year, with the members moving on to other projects, including Beauty Pill, Regulator Watts and Crownhate Ruin. As the title suggests, the steady instrumentals, melancholy tone and occasional quiet moments place you in the middle of a road trip--one where you're trying to escape an inevitable failure.

Members: Christopher Farrall, Alex Dunham, Joe McRedmond, Frederick Erskine

5. From Angry Heads With Skyward Eyes by Still Life

If you were around in 1993, you could have grabbed one of 1,000 CD pressings of Still Life's album From Angry Heads With Skyward Eyes. Their experimental sound and elaborate album booklets made them pioneers in the genre. Dark and pensive, this album takes you back to summer evenings in the 90s when you sat in the driveway and watched the world go by.

Members: Paul Rauch, Chris Pitzel, David Pitzel

6. Brick Factory by Crayon

Originally from Washington, Crayon produced a single album in 1994 before disbanding. Two of the members formed Tullycraft in 1995. The vocals are bursting with personality that complements the grungey production, cheering on the narrator in each song while occasionally dipping into sadness.

Members: Brad Roberts, Jeff Fell, Sean Tollefson

7. 1986 by One Last Wish

When Rites of Spring and Embrace split up in 1986, four of the members joined together to create One Last Wish. They recorded a single album, 1986, which remained shelved until Dischord/Peterbilt released it to the public in 1999. The complex, poppy sound invites you to view the genre from a new angle.

Members: Edward Janney, Brendan Canty, Guy Picciotto, Michael Hampton

8. The Mission by Mohinder

Clocking in at eight minutes long, Mohinder's 1994 album, The Mission, gets right to the point. After grabbing your attention with an explosion of sound, this album weaves screaming vocals with chaotic arrangements before ending on a somber note: "Of that kind / I figure we don't have time." Mohinder split up in the same year, leaving a short but punchy legacy in their wake.

Members: Clay Parton, James Fuhring, Albert Menduno, Canaan Dove Amber

9. La Vache Qui Rit by Rain

Formed in 1986, Rain lasted only four years and recorded a single EP before the members moved on to different projects. The original 1990 record and 2007 remaster are both out of print, but these six tracks found new life on the Internet. Loud, punchy and energetic, listening to La Vache Qui Rit is a great way to burn off anger or reminisce about a relationship that didn't survive the 90s.

Members: Eli Janney, Scott McCloud, Bert Queiroz, Jon Kirschten

10. Familiar, Forgotten by Walleye

During their six-year career, Walleye played shows in New England and had a large influence on the hardcore scene. Their 1995 album, Familiar, Forgotten, offers evocative lyrics and a nostalgic sound that's reminiscent of 90s garage rock. With only 203 monthly Spotify listeners, I think it's time to give Walleye their dues.

Members: Joey Simpers, Darin Clower, Shane Evans, Nick Rotundo, Jeff Tirabassi

Have you listened to any of these albums? Which tracks are your favorites? Are there any albums you'd add to this list? Sound off in the comments.