Vs Self

Vs Self are a three-piece screamo/emo band from Apple Valley, California that formed in 2018. I know I'm late to the game with this band, since they've garnered a pretty strong following within the past few years. Their skeletal approach of drums, one guitar, and two vocals really works in their favour, as there's this melancholic, atmospheric spaciousness amidst the instrumental noodling that makes these songs stand out, with lyrics that really cut straight to the point. Their sadly relatable and anthemic, suited for both bedroom and live show scream-alongs. I'm sure most are at least tangentially aware of this band by now, but if not, enjoy.

Demo (2019)

1. Worthless

2. Leave Everything

3. Ti Esrever

4. Wake

Everything Seems Better Now (2020)

1. Homesick

2. Waves

3. Promise

4. Heartache

5. Leave Everything

6. Desert

7. Worthless

8. Yesterday by The Beatles: or Imagine by Yoko Ono as performed by John Lennon

9. Ti Esrever

10. Still

11. Wake

12. Mourn

Despair (2020)

1. Despair

Vs Self/Knumears (2022)

1. Vs Self - Maudlin

2. Vs Self - LJP.HTPaPSTLBM

3. Vs Self - Departures

4. Vs Self - Steep

5. Knumears - Harrison Bergeon Saved My Life

6. Knumears - I Love You Now I Love You Never

7. Knumears - Threehundredsxityfive days in a week

8. Knumears - Stuck At Sea With My Paddles On The Shore

Catalyst/Vs Self/Knumears/Party Hats (2024)

1. Catalyst - Yesterday's Apology

2. Knumears - No Count

3. Vs Self - Tide And Swell

4. Party Hats - Today's For Sale

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

M.I.J.

M.I.J. were a three-piece indie/emo band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin that started in 1993 and ended in 2000. In typical emo fashion, they only put out a few EP's and one album, despite their (relatively) long tenure together. Early on, they played a fast, aggressive style of emocore more akin to a Gravity/Ebullition band than the midwest emo they would later on. By Chewed Smooth Center, it sounds like they got into Jawbreaker's discography, with the bright octave chord guitars and melodic vocals beginning to come through. After years of tweaking their sound, they came through with their one and only album, The Radio Goodnight. This is the sound of a tight band that has crafted these songs to perfection, with the punk rock influence of their past sound mixed with melodies that almost sound poppy, kind of like what The Promise Ring were doing around then too. Most notably about this band was singer/guitarist Jeff Hanson's voice, which he often used in an immaculate falsetto or a melancholic thin whisper, similar to Elliott Smith. This album is one of emo's best-kept secrets, with top-notch songwriting and performances to boot. Following M.I.J., Hanson signed to Kill Rock Stars and put out a few solo albums before sadly passing away in 2009. Enjoy.

Demo (1993)
1. Distraction
2. Wait
3. My Seed
4. Relay
5. Graffin
6. Loss

Chewed Smooth Center (1995)

1. Distilled

2. With Time Badderlocks

3. Whistle On A Lackaday

4. Algia Butterfly

5. First Water

6. Propelled Soft Skies

7. Leafy Green

8. Running

9. Sand Path

300 Miles (1996)

1. Do You Miss?

2. Lamp Light

3. 300 Miles

4. Untitled

The Radio Goodnight (1999)

1. Say It In Words

2. The Radio Goodnight

3. Right Downtown

4. West

5. Sometimes In Sleep

6. The Last Time Was

7. The Swingtown Pledge

8. Do You Miss?

9. Your Stories

10. Again Today

Jazz Hands

Jazz Hands were a four-piece emo band from Northern Ohio (no idea what city) that were around in at least 2010. There's no much info out there about them, aside from their sole EP, which was put out by Messy Life Records. They played a twinkly style of midwestern emo that was just starting to break out at the time, complete with screamy gang vocals. For a loose comparison, they're like a mathy-er (mathier?) Cap'n Jazz or Algernon Cadwallader. Enjoy.

The Party EP (2010)

1. Balloon Boyz

2. I Don't Think I'm Into Toga Parties

3. Champions of Breakfast

4. Remember the Boat Times?

5. Tiny Hands

Bandcamp

William Bonney

William Bonney were a four-piece emo/screamo band from the Midwest that existed from 2010-2013. The band featured members who were formerly in Merchant Ships and Midwest Pen Pals, and it certainly shows in their sound. Clean, twinkly guitars are mixed with blasts of distortion, blasting drums, and high-pitched screams, quite reminiscent of the aforementioned bands, though William Bonney have refined and honed this sound over time, and the results are exquisite. The band's small discography is absolutely killer, so enjoy.

Fall Demo (2010)

1. See Ya Later

2. No Pizza

3. For My Sad Friends

4. I Think We'll Be Okay

Good Vibes (2011)

1. Leather Empire

2. No Pizza

3. Drug Lord

4. See Ya Later

5. Good Vibes

6. Monsters

Droughts/William Bonney (2012)

1. Droughts - Class Of '09

2. Droughts - Body Of Glass

3. William Bonney - The Rapture

4. William Bonney - Red River

5. William Bonney - Robbie Hansen

Unreleased (2013)

1. Dope Castle

Expire

Expire are a four-piece hardcore band from Milwaukee/the Midwest that formed in 2009. They've been keeping really busy since, constantly touring and putting out records. These guys are kind of like the descendants of Madball and Sick Of It All, or something like that, along with siblings Trapped Under Ice, Rotting Out, Backtrack, and Cruel Hand. Yeah. But really, Expire are an excellent band that fans of modern hardcore/punk must check out. Their live shit seems pretty sick too. They're also on Bridge Nine, and seem pretty proud of it (which is quite understandable, I'd imagine). Enjoy.

Demo '09 (2009)

1. Darker

2. Expired

3. Lately

4. Navy Blue or Black

5. Sold Short

Grim Rhythm (2010)

1. 3:56

2. Navy Blue or Black

3. Expired

4. Darker

5. Anchor

6. Sold Short

Suffer The Cycle (2011)

1. Sleep Lost

2. First Fall

3. Grip

4. Focus

Sink With Me (2012)

1. Abyss

2. The Pain Strikes (Sick Of It All cover)

Live At Sound And Fury 07-23-11 (2012)

1. Intro/Darker

2. Sleep Lost

3. Sold Short

Pendulum Swings (2012)

1. Just Fine

2. Reputation

3. Spit Out

4. Dig Deep

5. Anxiety

6. Abyss

7. Bark

8. Sleep Lost

9. Pills and A Promise

10. YDN

11. Focus

12. Pendulum Swings

America's Hardcore Volume 2 (2012)

2. Tucked Away

Pretty Low (2014)

1. Pretty Low

2. Just Don't

3. Fiction

4. Gravity

5. Nobody

6. Old Habits

7. Forgetting

8. Callous

9. Rejection

10. If It Were Up To Me

11. Second Face

Old Songs (2016)

1. 356

2. Navy Blue Or Black

3. Expired

4. Darker

5. Anchor

6. Sold Short

7. Sleep Lost

8. First Fall

9. Grip

10. Focus

11. Tucked Away

With Regret (2016)

1. Fighting The Slip

2. Divide And Conquer

3. Hidden Love

4. Regret

5. Medicine

6. Vultures

7. Live Or Die

8. Fair Weather Friend

9. Turned To Dust

10. Ghost

11. The Harsh Truth

12. Beyond My Reach

13. Fear In Control

Bridge Nine

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