Compound Red

Easily one of the best and most ignored first-wave Emo bands to emerge from the Midwest, Compound Red developed their sound by touring endlessly. And with those miles came the mutual understanding of where everything emanating from their instruments should fall: how it would all tumble when the music started. It's more than writing your part and playing it, it's also the feeling of those words, those chords, and those tempos. The band championed their sound simultaneously leaning on their working class roots, conveying in simple language what can be, at times, difficult emotions to understand. You can't be dishonest about your emotions and sound this together. If there is one record that should be considered "definitive" of a genre, this is it.