15 Greatest Emo Albums Of All Time

The Arizona band proved their hit making bonafides on this highly successful fourth album. Bleed American succeeds as an emo album precisely because it takes steps to move away from what the layman might categorise as emo - i.e self pitying, angst-ridden shoutalongs.

There are such numbers, of course, most notably the title track, which opens the album with punchy guitars and an anthemic, if slightly indecipherable, chorus for the ages. It’s the uplifting tracks that make this album soar, though. The uber-positive “The Middle” remains the band’s best known song, and for all its sugary pop there’s no denying the songcraft.

Working with fellow emo stalwarts from The Promise Ring and That Dog, as well as Blink-182 producer Mark Trombino, the blend of punky tunes like “Sweetness” and the more traditional “Your House” allow the band to keep a foot in both camps.

This is an album that unashamedly swings for a wider audience, but it works due to the band’s songcraft and deep, layered production more than anything like selling out. A winning record by a band who have stood the test of time.