If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands
Even when we say “emo,” there are a variety of interpretations.
Sometimes the bands themselves don’t embrace the label, and fans may be divided, but in this article we focused on bands that are widely recognized and loved as emo bands.
When you think of emo, the common image might be introspective lyrics that pour in everyday emotions paired with melodic, dark tunes.
Still, this article highlights a broad range—from bands leaning more alternative to those closer to pop-punk.
From the timeless staples to the hidden gems, we’ve selected many bands, so be sure to give them a listen!
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If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands (51–60)
A Perfect SonnetBright Eyes
This is a super-emo track by the American indie rock band Bright Eyes, whose performance is, to put it kindly, anything but refined and quite rough around the edges.
What stands out is the vocals, which sound on the verge of tears—once the singing starts, you’re pulled straight into its world.
It’s not a wall-of-noise kind of sound, but it’s overflowing with emotion, so I think it’s definitely worth a listen.
DriftHands Like Houses
Hands Like Houses is an Australian emo band.
They’re incredibly cool from the intro onward, and their clean, polished guitar and vocal sound delivers a dramatic feel that never lets you down.
Since there aren’t many metalcore elements, they’re a great recommendation for those who aren’t into that style.
They’ve also played the Warped Tour, the American festival of hardcore and extreme sports.
They’re a band I personally recommend.
LukewarmNew End Original
New End Original is a band formed by Jonah Matranga, formerly of FAR, together with members of Texas Is the Reason.
Their 2001 album Thriller, released on Jade Tree, is a varied work that ranges from bright, poppy tracks to quiet piano pieces.
Lights And SoundsYellowcard
Hailing from Florida in the United States, Yellowcard is one of the most popular pop-punk bands representing the 2000s, and they also enjoyed significant recognition in Japan.
One of their defining features is that the band includes a violinist.
Sean Mackin, who is of Japanese descent, plays the violin, and many people may fondly remember their live performances where he shreds the violin like a fast lead guitar over uptempo tracks—even pulling off backflips.
Yellowcard actually began their activities in the late 1990s, and their sound initially had a somewhat different direction.
After Ryan Key—whose vocals are rough around the edges yet outstanding—joined the band, their popularity skyrocketed, culminating in explosive success with their major-label debut album Ocean Avenue, released in 2003.
Personally, I also find their indie-era album One for the Kids to be quite moving, thanks to its handmade, rough-around-the-edges indie feel, so I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t heard it yet.
If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands (61–70)
CaressDrive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu was a band active in the ’90s that had a major influence on the emo scene.
One member, drummer Mark Trombino, later produced bands like Jimmy Eat World and Finch, gaining renown as a prominent producer of the emo boom.
Good Morning ProvidenceGloria Record
This is a song included on The Gloria Record’s 2002 album “Start Here.” The Gloria Record was formed by Chris Simpson and Jeremy Gomez, former members of Mineral.
The band’s sound seems to take the aesthetic beauty Mineral possessed and render it on an even grander scale.
Good Friends, Bad HabitsOWEN
Owen is the solo project of Mike Kinsella from Cap’n Jazz and American Football.
The sound—delicate acoustic guitar intertwined with a conversational vocal delivery—is extremely pleasant to listen to.
The Kinsella brothers are a bit eccentric, but I think the younger one is still a little more normal.