15 Greatest Emo Albums Of All Time

On their landmark debut, Mineral keep things relatively simple to great effect. This is an album with a real through line and a consistent sound, of a piece in the best possible way. One of the definitive albums of ‘90s emo, this album feels of its era, but has simultaneously stood up to the test of time.

The guitar work from Chris Simpson sounds simply exhausting, as he drives tunes like “July” along with powerfully controlled strumming. The dynamic shifts are typical of the era’s most angsty-driven music, creating real tension and drama out of a pretty basic setup.

The vocals are raw, and indeed the album does not sound as though it has a great deal of budget behind it, but all that adds to the flavour. “Parking Lot”, one of the album’s highlights, is a mini epic, building from a quiet, confessional opening to a self lacerating finale in which the band sound on the verge of self destruction.

Self destruct they would, with sophomore effort EndSerenading being the band’s last. Their influence on big hitters like Death Cab For Cutie is undeniable, however, and their legacy is undeniable.