WHO ARE THE ‘BIG FOUR’ EMO BANDS?

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Get Extra today to start building credit with debit! extra.app/finnmckenty

[@agentmethod]

your discord link seems to be dead / "unable to accept invite"

[@oXAngelusXo]

I fully respect your opinion but you're wrong on this one. MCR are the literal poster chldren for Emo FOB aren't emo never were. The Used are no2 as Paramoore aren't emo either they're more mall pop punk. Third would Funeral for a Friend Hawthorn Hights or the band that shall not be spoken of Lost Prophets. Special mention to blue Ocober and Atryue.

[@briankills4713]

MCR PARAMORE FOB PANIC BIG 4!THE USED WERE GOOD THO

[@timmcclymont3527]

Bro what did Megadeth ever do to you?

[@timmcclymont3527]

Show us on this doll where Dave touched you...

[@saiathegreat]

Finn. Your videos have always brought my wife and I together. This video tore us apart.

[@tylerdragon5065]

Dam

[@patrick5735]

which one of you is angry that American Football wasn't mention once lol

[@jjerkamillo]

@@patrick5735 RIGHTFULLY angry

[@poorfligga260]

@@patrick5735 only a pic of the AF album tho @2:03. So there.

[@naruto5432100]

The first vid took the breath from our lips Why did the last one tear us apart

[@thrice87]

The Used first album (self-titled) is one of the best albums out there. Every track slaps. No skips.

[@RockerFoo92]

Their first 2 albums were instant classics

[@Father_Daniel]

The Used first album beginning to end is perfect! Their second album is great but the first one was everything to me when it came out

[@idrinkmotoroil9120]

That album is so perfect

[@brock8993]

I love the used and still listen today. Glad Bert went through his transformation and was able to still drop bangers

[@Chellob]

I found it in a borders in 2002, bought it cause of the album artwork and track names. They blew my mind and I instantly fell in love. Listened to the cd on repeat til it was so scratched it wouldn't play right. One of my favorite bands and still listen and love them today. #bertismyhomeboy

[@marathonxman]

I do definitely think MCR is still the biggest of the genre and the selling out stadiums in minutes on their comeback tour says a lot about that, but I do agree that musically they fit more in the Slayer archetype since they were both so defined by creative vision

[@emma-hz4td]

yea and also you have to remember that slayer were accused of being Satanists which is similar to mcr being accused of being a cult.

[@taliesinpotter4097]

@@emma-hz4td Catholic Tom being called a satanist will always be funny

[@alextaylor417]

im only ok with mcr being considered the "slayer" only because they are better than metallica and megadeth just like mcr is better than paramore and fob lol

[@emma-hz4td]

@@taliesinpotter4097 ikrrr

[@gre2060]

@@emma-hz4td I was in the mcr fandom and I can confirm it was a cult

[@TheRealityofFake]

This was my exact top 4 for emo. Although while MCR fits more as the "Slayer" of the group, I'd say they're the biggest and most influential band of this era of emo.

[@rosadoliteral]

@Ryan Schilling yeah i was ab to disagree with the mcr thing but finn is right. mcr doesnt have enough records and fob are arguably bigger than mcr. it hurts to not give mcr the first spot but i think they are fine in the "slayer" spot.

[@IcarusofSillyBoys]

Ranking how big a band is, is weird. Fall Out Boy were notably bigger at their peak, but My Chemical Romance have a bigger legacy and now after 10 years of releasing nothing, receive roughly the same amount of streams as Fall Out Boy

[@darthbigred22]

@@IcarusofSillyBoys That's because they dropped Danger Days and realized that wasn't them and got the hell away from it. FOB was willing to adapt or in 90s lingo they "sold out".

[@IcarusofSillyBoys]

@@darthbigred22 What do you mean? They followed up by releasing 10 songs that didn't make Danger Days then almost *actually* sold out by making dark/heavier music because that's what the fans and critics wanted, not them. Then they broke up reunited and are now playing more songs off Danger Days than any of their other albums. So I ask again, what do you mean that they distanced themselves from the album?

[@Tamajyn69]

I mean, Davey Havok of AFI was the Bowie of emo tbh. He inspired all of them, but never wanted to claim the label for himself

[@danielbutlermusic]

facts

[@zuko3282]

THIS COMMENT. YES.

[@Tamajyn69]

@@zuko3282 😇

[@ZackSeifMusic]

100%

[@aestheticbeatz5700]

Pretty much yeah

[@HoistTheSailsGentlemen]

I've had such a Taking Back Sunday resurgence in the last year or two. I enjoyed them back in the day but for whatever reason it has really been working for me lately. Good stuff.

[@ohthehorror31]

TBS was one of my top favorites in the early 00s and they are still one of my favorites today. They're definitely one of those bands I'll cary close to my heart for a very long time.

[@Iffyish]

Learned Liar on guitar last night - so fun to play

[@corywilson2007]

Tell all your friends is perfect from top to bottom

[@Uruguay182]

I’m a Louder Now fan! TBS was my favorite band from this era

[@codymastel588]

I hate panic. So so so bad

[@delusionalx2605]

Idk about sales and accolades but MCR definitely has just as strong a legacy in the mainstream eye as FOB and Paramore. I’ll never forget one night I was at a glow paint party at a club and after playing EDM all night the DJ played Teenagers and everybody knew every word

[@ThisisStephennn]

More imo

[@christopherjordan4495]

Life in Color was EDM for normies.

[@lunatikkrazieazylum6226]

MCR were bigger than Paramore and Panic in the 2000's, and were just as big as Fall Out Boy back then.

[@BeachDreamere]

@@lunatikkrazieazylum6226 completely agree and I think the band should be determined and placed based on what they put out back then. Yes, some bands have changed stylistically to stay relevant today. I don't think those changes should count against them. I took my daughter to the Fall Out Boy concert and Blackbear opened for them. Blackbear was great on stage, FOB, not so much they stood around and every once in a while someone would come down the aisle. The highlight of FOB was Pete Wence stopped right in front of us and leaned over and my daughter was one of the people holding him up. It was great, Blackbear at the end of his show, he reached over and grabbed her hand because she was singing/rapping with him word for word he told her that was awesome. She had a great concert in 2017 at 15 years old.

[@phoenixtfb]

Panic’s first album had so many better songs than I Write Sins but that’s the only one anyone ever talks about

[@ihateweezer7222]

Every song that isnt an intermission is a banger

[@th3gr81]

I Write Sins is fu**ing terrible. I’ll check out the first album.

[@davearmstrong1722]

@@ihateweezer7222 I actually love the intermissions too

[@MrCoolguy1632]

@@ihateweezer7222 intermission is a banger 😂

[@DezereaJoslin]

@@th3gr81 one of the best album they have.

[@JohnBiddleMusic]

I’m glad you didn’t include panic in this. I write sins not tragedies is literally their only emo hit. Don’t get me wrong, I think Brendan urie is super talented and still putting out pretty good music. But I get annoyed when people bring them up as a huge emo band

[@Azafell]

yeah, they're cool but only the debut is kinda emo pop...

[@dekaiaverett3265]

When compared to bands like MCR, FOB, Saosin, The Used, AFI, Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, etc. they simply lack many influences from earlier emo bands and punk bands. They had one album that got popular with emo kids but I’ve always considered it as a Weezer situation. Popular with emo kids doesn’t make the band emo or even the album.

[@ryanlarson2692]

@@dekaiaverett3265 I always say that Panic At The Disco is this generation's Weezer.

[@joshpatrick7613]

I know it wasn’t any where near as big of a hit but “But It’s Better If You Do” got pretty big as well. And also, I feel like Panic was an entry into the emo scene for a lot of people.

[@SM-gt9vg]

I hate them being lumped in with emo too. Ever since he went solo, his music is more comparable to Justin Bieber than emo. PATD is very pop anymore.

[@scarecrow33]

The Used is one of my favorite bands of all times. A Box Full Of Sharp Objects was on the first Atticus cd, the song literally changed my life.

[@stonecoldsteverharvey7862]

Incredible song, have the words tattooed on me

[@MrCoolguy1632]

Dude I still workout to this song. Definitely the best The Used song and one of my favorite of all time

[@LuisLopez-id4zc]

@@MrCoolguy1632 Dont forget "just a little"

[@charlespeter5610]

Idk calling Jimmy Eat World not emo is kinda laughable. They were one of the biggest 2nd wave emo band. The actual reason that they didn't fit is because he's talking about 3rd Wave Emo and not 2nd wave, of which they are

[@FairyCRat]

He's definitely talking about emo-pop for the most part (except The Used)

[@johnblack8872]

This. Even band members from taking back Sunday recognize jimmy eat world as emo. Same with Thursday and many others.

[@kage6613]

Yeah funny too when he says bands like The Get Up Kids and The Promise Ring, which Jimmy Eat World both predate, are the "real emo" of the 90s. No, Finn, that's just the 90s version of what you're talking about here: post-emo rock. Jimmy Eat World opened for the "real emo" bands like Julia and Indian Summer. Just like the "real emo" for 2000s would be bands like End of a Year and Comadre. But Finn supposedly doesn't care about that so why would he care if Jimmy Eat World is really emo? Also I'm actually offended that he compared them to Weezer. Weezer have literally nothing to do with the punk scene and that's like in his terms comparing Smash Mouth to blink 182 or The Offspring to NOFX. Jimmy Eat World's first album recorded in 1993 is like a halfway between EpiFat/Lookout! style pop punk and Drive Like Jehu style post-hardcore, then their next album sounds like Christie Front Drive by way of Sunny Day Real Estate. This is a far cry from the hyper simple power pop of Weezer, who unlike Jimmy Eat World have never even heard of labels like Equal Vision and Revelation, let alone the likes of Doghouse and Ebullition. Triggered.

[@LabGoats]

Yeah, I think it's all just about that. He could have been a little more clear with the category. Didn't bother me personally, but I'm not a big Jimmy Eat World fan.

[@proposalsmusic]

My guy has never listened to Clarity

[@cwvachet4825]

Big 4 of Midwest emo: American Football, Sunny Day Real Estate, Cap n' Jazz, Mineral

[@howitusedtobe]

Sdre is from Seattle my good man that is the northwest

[@cwvachet4825]

@@howitusedtobe Midwest emo is a genre more so than a geographically defined style of music

[@honestalex5790]

Actually yk what ? That's a very agreeable list. AF being the big name (metallica) , sdre being also a big name but personally I think they are meh (megadeth), capn jazz being the more chaotic one on the list (slayer), then welp Mineral seems to be fitting to the Anthrax spot as well

[@taurusgump]

I like the way you think. I like SDRE as Slayer, because I actually esteem the Slayer roles more in Finn's Thrash 4.I don't think AF had the longevity for the #1 slot, although we do have an AF/Cap'n Jazz link with Mike Kinsella. I like Jimmy Eat World for the Metallica spot, if you can squeeze them into the subgenre. I do, because they toured with so many of them. Also, JEW started as a Metallica cover band, so....

[@DaveKillebrew]

A respectable list.

[@k0brakai]

I'm always surprised that nobody ever mention Finch. Their "What it is to Burn" album is great and still one of my favourite record ever. Their carreer was not so successful but, for me, they were part of those bands that started it all

[@burghsportsfan17]

Finch, along with The Used, pretty much opened my ears to that sound. Really wish Finch could ever figure out their issues

[@1999tenorio]

oh yeah! Finch was awesome

[@stoph224]

that album was a banger! after that...

[@burghsportsfan17]

@@stoph224 Say Hello To Sunshine was ok, the self-titled EP was pretty good I thought and I really like Back To Oblivion

[@gazomusic]

The first two Finch albums are magic. Yeah wish they kept it together and released more full albums.

[@Swollen_Goat]

SO GLAD you put THE Used on the list!! They have CONSISTENTLY been putting out banger albums and I would say EVERY album is amazing to me. Especially their latest one, Heartwork. THe album that came out a few years ago is my absolute favorite though. The Canyon is such a unique album compared to anything else they did and has some some of the best drum sounds on it. They recorded all of the drums on tape.

[@theduckening]

Totally agree. Like if someone asked me my favourite The Used album I’d straight up panic. They’ve consistently release bangers and there’s nothing that’s really made me feel like it aged horribly

[@MrCoolguy1632]

Omg same. When he said The Used I was so surprised, not because they don’t deserve this spot, but because they are so underrated that I thought he wouldn’t have even brought them up.

[@Galactic_rats]

I would argue that MCR is the Metallica of emo, I think the fact they can sell out a stadium show in the U.K. in under 5 mins almost 10 years since there last U.K. show and album release. They may not have released more music but from a fan base dedication alone they are the Metallica of emo. Although otherwise I don’t disagree and i would buy my ticket for the emo big four headline tour in a heartbeat.

[@waynekerr2687]

nah MCR didn't release duds like metallica did. FOB has released some pretty bad albums b/c of big stylistic changes

[@Yixdy]

@@waynekerr2687 save rock and roll was meh, everything after is garbage. But folie a deux and everything prior is a masterpiece of a discography

[@lunatikkrazieazylum6226]

My Chemical Romance never made a bad album, unlike Metallica. So even though I like MCR more, FOB fits the Metallica slot more and MCR fits the Slayer slot more.

[@zackakai5173]

@@waynekerr2687 in that sense sure, but in terms of being the single biggest name associated with the genre, it's DEFINITELY MCR.

[@Sexiraina1993]

The fact that the MCRmy is so dedicated actually puts them firmly in the Slayer spot though. Think about it. Out of the big 4, Slayer fans are the most dedicated to their band. Slayer came to my town like 4 times on their farewell tour and I went to every show cause I love Slayer. The fans are manic. MCR dropped “a summoning” when I was at work and I nearly threw up from excitement and sat in the hallway buying my tickets. As a HUGE fan of both I gotta agree with Finn, MCR is the Slayer. They aren’t the biggest commercially but they have the best music and the biggest superfans.

[@jasonmizuno6117]

Saosin, Thursday, Taking back Sunday are the top three imo. Paramore was awesome ,before the brothers left, but I doubt you will have any emo kid say they are emo. Good rock but not emo. The used is a worthy add though. Thursday was the most quoted, worshipped, mimicked in our scene here. I still consider them the fathers of emo.

[@Meltonater]

Yes!!!

[@unbroken1010]

We know it's your opinion. 😂

[@Uruguay182]

Exactly!

[@matuskokoska312]

I think that Brand New could be the “Megadeth” here, their frontman might be just as controversial as Dave is :D But I do agree, that they were probably not that big and Paramore had to be on the list somewhere.

[@tommykern2336]

If Brand New is the Megadeth, does that make Taking Back Sunday the Metallica? Brings the controversy between the bands and between former members of Taking Back Sunday as well.

[@birthdaybatter815]

Brand New’s live shows were the most beautiful disasters I’ve ever had the privilege to see. They were almost always a chaotic mess, but it fit the aura of the band perfectly. It’s such a shame the band ended the way they it did.

[@fairy6126]

YES BRAND NEW IS AMAZING

[@DigitalBath306]

i love brand new so much

[@willpeters3855]

Dude I agree I was waiting for him to say Brand New as Megadeth!

[@brattymetalhead4040]

I get MCR isn't for everyone, but I also think they often get dismissed for just how talented they are, given that most people really only know like three songs off Black Parade and maybe two off Three Cheers. Where I think people get confused with their "style" is that they don't really have one--Gerard Way has said himself he doesn't identify with the "emo" label, and all of their albums have concepts to them; they follow a story that makes more sense if you listen to the album in its entirety. And each of those albums has a lot more good tracks on it than just what got mainstream radio play. I HIGHLY recommend Danger Days (even though that's considered a "controversial" opinion), and the same goes for their first album, I Brought You My Bullets, Your Brought Me Your Love. Bullets had way harder stuff on it, definitely more punk or metal core. And Danger Days was a really good mix of different things they were known for. Again, definitely not the type of music that's for "everyone", but I think they deserve more credit than just "that one weird band with the goth marching band".

[@nickudeschini4812]

Fallout Boy are absolutely like Metallica, right down to the part where they make a bunch of alienating albums their fans hate

[@EctoMess]

L

[@matthewsanford4171]

The Used being on this list made my heart happy af. Thank you. 💕

[@fridz66]

Same. I love the early albums. Still listen and scream my lungs out to Maybe Memories.

[@muzicdominator524]

My guy obviously didn't notice when MCR's reunion tour crashed ticketmaster and was damned near impossible to get tickets for. It was chaos. They are the Metallica of emo. Hands down.

[@luke_cohen1]

They’ve been on hiatus for half a decade and are only well known for 2 albums max. Metallica has 5 landmark, classic albums released in the span of 8 years. Sorry, bud, but that spot goes to Fall Out Boy.

[@muzicdominator524]

@@luke_cohen1 Valid point, but those two albums are massive landmark albums that defined the mall emo generation of music. When people think of classic thrash in the mid 80's, you think Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning, and when people think of that era of emo, it's The Black Parade and Sweet Cheers. FOB was a huge influential band, but nobody else from that generation touches what MCR was able to achieve with those albums.

[@lunatikkrazieazylum6226]

Fall Out Boy has more of a Metallica like career, right down to the fact that their 5th album is the moment they "sold out". MCR has a more devoted fanbase, just like how Slayer fans are insanely devoted.

[@creepofreako]

@@lunatikkrazieazylum6226 kinda agree though.

[@muzicdominator524]

@@lunatikkrazieazylum6226 I would say that MCR is the same as Metallica simply because they went from 'I brought you my bullets' (which was more underground and less produced) to 'sweet cheers' (which was much better produced, and the album that started to get attention in the mainstream), to 'black parade'(which shot them to the stratosphere), and 'danger days' (which was divisive and not loved by quite a few of their die hard fans). Yet, years later, they have people selling out stadium shows just to hear them play the hits. Does Slayer sell out shows like that??? Noooooo. It's cool that they made it to the list either way, but the placement isn't quite right. They are the Metallica of emo. It's just facts.

[@Dratro]

As a Canadian I wonder your opinion on Billy Talent, I've always viewed them as emo-ish, maybe more post-hardcore/alternative. Definitely a few songs crossed into pure emo. So maybe not a big four, but honourable mention?

[@Historypunk86]

He needs to do a Video on Billy Talent, it’s so odd that they are huge in Canada, Europe and Australia but aren’t that big in The USA, same with Alexisonfire.

[@b.w.22]

It’s weird for me as an American to think Billy Talent is this big band anywhere when I think of them as this band I love that nobody’s heard of. I’m so unsure at this point what the dimensions of emo or post-hardcore really are, but dude definitely has some emotion in his voice and lyrics and good grief are they excellent musicians who write genuinely interesting music.

[@thefinalcountdown19]

@@b.w.22 Billy talent was big in michigan, but in detroit our best alternative rock station is canadian haha

[@b.w.22]

@@thefinalcountdown19 Never considered it, but of course it was! That’s kind-of a trip to get radio from another nation and probably exposed you to a ton of random, good music.

[@ReaperHunter23]

Oh man, I've been diving through Billy Talent's discography for the past few weeks. Its been a great time.

[@scotttill3847]

All I know is that Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate, The Fire Theft, solo) is the Neil Young of Emo...the Godfather! Certainly, my 20's were in the mid-late 90's/early 00's, so SDRE, Far, Knapsack, Mineral, Cursive, Camber, Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil, Braid, Finch, Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever, Jimmy Eat World, and TBS were my mainstays.

[@hadleypersons41]

You just might be the only person in this entire comment section who knows what emo is.

[@wheelzr57]

I’ll always go see Jeremy Enigk play anytime he’s within a 90 minute drive in NYC. The stories that man can tell from decades in the underground, with arguably the best voice in Rock since Chris Cornell. He’s the first singer at small shows I saw start utilizing drum shields and really bring down stage volume in order to let his voice be the crashing cymbals. That man’s voice is a force of nature.

[@ESOLeroyJenkins]

I got to see sdre on that 2009 reunion tour in Atlanta. Gotta add promise ring, Texas is the reason, American football, angels in the architecture and braid to the list.

[@swatchcovers5401]

Make damn sure blew my mind as a kid, and after listening as an adult. It’s still so good.

[@markjames8664]

Great discussion here, despite the inevitable arguments. MCR is an interesting case because The Black Parade transcends sub genre in many ways. At least that album influences a lot of rock bands of many flavors, but not necessarily “emo”. And I don’t think that album sounds dated now at all.

[@kidamnesiak1]

Most people would still call MCR emo, even though they hated that label and I agree The Black Parade (and Three Cheers) are better albums than that label gives them credit for.

[@darthbigred22]

Ray Toro was paying homage to Queen before Lady Gaga made it a thing. But the emo look was essentially Gerard Way that's why they'll keep it even though they denied it. Plus they are the only ones to take themselves that seriously.

[@xjohnnygrimmx]

We need more time to solidify which Emo bands will form the big four of Emo, but we can all agree that My Chemical Romance will be one of them.

[@zuko3282]

Bro. MCR is the Metallica of emo. No debate! Their 2019 show in Los Angeles proved the power and longevity they still have!

[@birthdaybatter815]

They sold out a stadium tour in minutes. They’re the Metallica, and it really isn’t debatable.

[@zuko3282]

@@birthdaybatter815 Exactly!

[@zuko3282]

Also, I would like to address this opinion. I feel like emarosa are the Megadeth of emo. Think about it...since we're looking to point fingers at an annoying ginger front man...Jonny Craig fits that mold perfectly. He got kicked out of DGD, formed a new band, and still acted like an annoying piece of shit LOL 😂 come on Finn, you could do better no offense! Still respect your opinion though!

[@AportesKike]

MCR the Gateway band to a Lot of us I started to like shouty vocals because of them

[@Bob.Loblaw]

Absolutely. No question.

[@vliegpaul]

The Used is very underrated and belong in the top 4 for sure. When I was in my mid 20s in 2007 going to No Fear to buy my Metal Mulisha shirts I would always hear their songs playing!

[@Flatcetera]

Listen, as the sucker with 2 fob tattoos they’ll forever be the first band that made me fall in love with punk/rock/alternative adjacent genres

[@ericxpenner]

My friend has two and he got them 7-8 years after he started listening to punk and later emo music. They weren't even close to being one of the first 25 bands that got him into alternative music haha.

[@wideblue4231]

I agree with you

[@RDS-d9c]

FOB tattoos. LMAO!

[@brittanybutlermusic]

lol i have a fob tattoo as well 💀

[@jeshuavega4846]

I feel sorry for you all...

[@ryanlarson2692]

If we kick FOB and Paramore out (going by stricter definition) the big 4 is: MCR=Metallica TBS=Megadeth The Used=Slayer Brand New=Anthrax

[@GuyOnTheInternet53]

Afi js def more punk in my eyes than emo

[@TheoVoidTV]

What about Bright Eyes ? I never hear them brought up in EMO conversations but I feel like Conor Oberst was one of the pioneers of Emo and one of the best song-writers of the generation. I guess Bright Eyes went in a more folk-ish direction. But for real, listen to the record "Fevers and Mirrors" and tell me that's not about as Emo as it gets. It came out in 2000.

[@peacebone420]

I put them in my honorable mention with armor for sleep, emery, senses fail even tho they are more heavy those are just the bands I listened to in that genre when I band blows up and gets famous I loose interest

[@brianschneck3423]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@SweetXNytmare]

The moment he said that MCR is not the TOp 1 I'm about to leave the video but the explanation is kind of legit which tells me to finish the video and SUBSCRIBED 🏴‍☠ 🖤🦇 🖤

[@lexidarling]

I can't disagree with the picks here, FOB and Paramore were the stars that rose to the top, even though my personal picks for most iconic and representative of what I always considered the classic 2000s emo sound would be MCR, TBS, The Used and Hawthorne Heights. Honorable mentions to FFTL, Silverstein, Saosin and Senses Fail.

[@Theogvineofthedead]

Where is Bayside on your list? :p

[@lexidarling]

@@Theogvineofthedead I limited it to my big four and four runners up, I can't include every band. Bayside is legendary for sure tho

[@Theogvineofthedead]

@@lexidarling lol Ik just had to say it 😋

[@yoruageha]

Now, this is a good list

[@laneboygoner]

Same. Mcr, tbs, hh and the used.

[@awookieandagerman]

The way I see it, people always talk about the "big three" of this style: My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco. Those are definitely the most successful bands, and quite influential as well, so I don't really dispute it, except to say that it should be a big four and Paramore needs to be on that list. If you look at career arcs, Paramore follows same model as the other three by starting more underground and punish and gradually becoming more pop and getting more outside their comfort zone. If I'm comparing to the thrash big four, I'll put Paramore in the Anthrax position, because they often get left out when people are talking about the other three bands, and I'd put Panic in the Megadeth position, because FOB basically discovered them and signed them allowing them to become much more successful because of that connection. Plus Panic is basically just Brendan, and Megadeth is definitely just Megadave. All that said, your list makes a lot of sense. The Used are sick and I need to listen to more of them. Plus any list that acknowledges Paramore as one of the greats is okay by me.

[@creepofreako]

I recommend Lies For The Liars album of The Used. Definitely killer album.

[@SM-gt9vg]

The Used is fantastic and not talked about enough these days when people talk about emo bands. Like you said, everyone considers those 3 as the big 3. PATD really hasn't even been emo for a long time, so I hate that they get that title. I heard some probably young kid say that The Used was an off-brand MCR and like, that doesn't even make sense. Both bands were hitting the peak of their careers at like the same time. The Used never get enough credit for how good they are. Their self-titled album, In Love & Death, and Lies for the Liars are all fantastic albums. I'm ashamed I haven't kept up with their music as much after that. I would also put Taking Back Sunday and Brand New way higher than FOB or PATD. Even though Brand New's frontman is a huge POS, their whole catalog of albums is great. Even the last album Science Fiction was life altering for me, it is so good.

[@SM-gt9vg]

So my top 4 emo bands would be My Chemical Romance, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, and Brand New.

[@awookieandagerman]

@@SM-gt9vg The thing about "the big" anything is it's not "the best" anything. Just "the big." Panic, FOB, and MCR are pretty consistently getting those spots because they're just much more popular than The Used, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, or anyone else you throw out there. It ends up not even mattering that Panic was "emo" for only about one album (and even on that album they were screwing with genre conventions and trying to get out of that box). That's the sub genre they came out of, and it still influences their melodies and aesthetic (even if only on a surface level) through Death Of A Bachelor (Pray For The Wicked is pretty straightforward pop all around, hard to make a case aside from some occasional pop punk melodic instincts).

[@creepofreako]

@@awookieandagerman but remember that these bands never wanted to be labeled as EMO. Especially MCR. They hated the term that's why they changed their styles to get away.

[@welltrev]

The Used were the Slayer, they were really heavy back in the day

[@Floating_Thoughts]

Agree, songs like "I'm a fake", "Sound effects and over dramatics" or "A box full of sharp objects" are basically post-hardcore songs

[@bludgeonstickog]

@@Floating_Thoughts Maybe Memories and Box of Sharp Objects are so heavy. Definitely the Slayer of the Big 4. You got a bunch of pretty boys and Bert over here is throwing up onstage from going so hard. Or maybe it was heroin withdrawal. But they were the most aggressive for sure.

[@gazomusic]

Yeah would totally swap out My Chemical Romance for the Used as the Slayer. Another underrated but super popular for a brief period was Finch.

[@deadriseMayhem11]

I thought they would make a good slayer adjacent as well!

[@bunnyallanpoe]

Yeeessss

[@FerretLineage]

Can we now get a post hard-core big 4. I really appreciate the subtle nod to my favorite band Thursday.

[@Meltonater]

Thursday is absolutely amazing. One of my favorites!!

[@joebobhenrybob2000]

No. Post-hardcore is Fugazi and Husker Du.

[@dcfromthev]

Someone needs to make a meme of Finn playing basketball and call it the Punk Rock NBA

[@dragonheadgaming111]

YES

[@brokehalo7]

while this might be biased, as a huge huge HUGE fall out boy fan, i have to completely agree that fob is most definitely the “metallica of emo”. or tbh, i don’t listen to metallica , as that is probably obvious by the fact i am a huge fob fan lol, but i believe they are/were the face of the 2000s scene and had the most impact. no one else in their contemporary quite came close, in the sense that pete wentz to this day still has paparazzi following him. he was an a-lister, dating it-girl legends like ashlee simpson and lindsay lohan, collaborating with the biggest names in music like jay-z and kanye west, and plastering the walls of teenage girls everywhere ,whether or no they were even into rock music, in the forms of J-14 magazine pull out posters. while that is one aspect, he also had a hand in literally almost every big warped tour band in one way or another. decaydance records had panic! at the disco, gym class heroes, cobra starship, the academy is…, etc. as well as kickstarting bebe rexha’s career when they were in black cards together, and being one of the biggest inspirations to taylor swift which is quite evident within her lyricism. they’ve had a career span of twenty years and has been able to release hit after hit throughout, whether or not you like mania, which i do btw LOL, and even with natural sound changing (because lets be real do you really expect 42 year old pete wentz to still write likes he’s a suicidal heartbroken 25 year old) fall out boy has been able to keep a steady and loyal fanbase without it dwindling. all in all, i am very happy to finally see fob getting the recognition they so rightfully deserve as one of , if not the biggest emo band this side of the century.

[@nathanglennie]

Don’t agree with FOB or Paramore, I wouldn’t consider them emo at all. More pop punk with a hot topic image

[@P-Bok]

Yeah, if they can be considered EMO, then Blink-182 can be EMO cause of thier Untitled album.

[@ryanlarson2692]

If we kick them out the big 4 is: MCR=Metallica TBS=Megadeth The Used=Slayer Brand New=Anthrax

[@nathanglennie]

@@ryanlarson2692 perfect

[@FairyCRat]

Yeah I think FOB, MCR, Paramore and PATD are the big 4 of emo-pop. Not to sound like the guy from the copypasta, but I think they should be excluded from the conversation on "real" emo.

[@LiveFreeOrDie626]

Finch will always be my favorite emo band. I remember the first time I heard "Letters To You" on Fuse TV and got hooked immediately and "What It Is To Burn" blew my mind. I also had a massive addiction to Story of the Year's "Page Avenue" album and to this day I think it still holds the #1 spot for single album I've listened to the most times. I think I listened to 'Until the Day I Die" on repeat for about 12 hours the first time I heard it, no joke. Another influential emo song that stuck with me was "Take It Away" by The Used. It was so intense and Bert's screaming just resonated with me at the time. Also, MCR's first album ("I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love") will always be my favorite album of theirs. The line "oh how wrong we were to think that immortality meant never dying" from the song "Our Lady of Sorrows" has stuck with me for over 15 years. Great video man, a nice trip down memory lane for me.

[@darkinertia2]

holy shit i totally didnt expect you to give the respect to the used! theyre literally the first emo band i ever saw, i was watching mtv and they were doing a concert or something and it blew my mind

[@v0idk1tty]

Saosin didn't feel as big as the other bands. Me and my friend were the only ones who listened to them in HS. I introduced him to them.

[@randybobandy9828]

Anthony Green saosin?

[@matthewmartindelcampo5418]

I feel the same way, Anthony Green or Cove Saosin never got the credit they deserved. But they are extremely influential. They are your favorite bands favorite band.

[@saranoelle3927]

I agree ☝🏻 with all the points and rankings here. 👏🏻 Not an easy one to do, you applied sound logic. Love you busting out The Used in the end. Bravo

[@brett9121]

I agree with adding The Used

[@kevenscan]

agreed!

[@syndicate5357]

Definitely The Used

[@dookiedukes666]

I would agree, if he had gone for a big four that didn't use thrash bands as a template. Thrash is nothing like emo bands. Sure emo kids could very well have listened to Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer; however that doesn't make them comparable to emo bands. Emo bands should be compared to punk bands as they share very similar principles in writing. That being emotions, darkness, or even lust of kinds. Thrash is literally all about f***ing sh*t up to go against traditions and patriarchy (also a punk writing style, but not in the presence of self love or self torture). Emo bands aren't as heavy (more punk like), more somber tone, with highlights of brighter pastures through the darkness. TERRIBLE LOGIC AWFUL OPINIONS. Under this logic a majority of Green Day could be emo. The Dookie album was mostly written about being an outcast that didn't fit in due to personal problems. 21st Century Breakdown could also be considered emo because it was written as a love ballad where no one wins.

[@saranoelle3927]

@@dookiedukes666 We have received your dissertation for Committee consideration. Marking and defense of the dissertation to follow. You will be notified of the next steps by the Committee Chair.

[@ideiasradicaispt9772]

I absolutely love TBS and The Used, but I'd have to agree with you that The Used is worthier of that 4th spot. Either way, I would've been happy to see them both get more recognition than they did, because they're both awesome bands!

[@gramble968]

Real Emo" only consists of the dc Emotional Hardcore scene and the late 90's Screamo scene. What is known by "Midwest Emo" is nothing but Alternative Rock with questionable real emo influence. When people try to argue that bands like My Chemical Romance are not real emo, while saying that Sunny Day Real Estate is, I can't help not to cringe because they are just as fake emo as My Chemical Romance (plus the pretentiousness). Real emo sounds ENERGETIC, POWERFUL and somewhat HATEFUL. Fake emo is weak, self pity and a failed attempt to direct energy and emotion into music. Some examples of REAL EMO are Pg 99, Rites of Spring, Cap n Jazz (the only real emo band from the midwest scene) and Loma Prieta. Some examples of FAKE EMO are American Football, My Chemical Romance and Mineral EMO BELONGS TO HARDCORE NOT TO INDIE, POP PUNK, ALT ROCK OR ANY OTHER MAINSTREAM GENRE

[@m.9212]

Here we go 😊

[@jayzonedc6474]

Great copypasta 10/10

[@gramble968]

@@jayzonedc6474 He mentioned it so I had to post it

[@creepofreako]

Lol. MCR never wanted to be labeled as EMO that's why they changed their sound with Danger Days. Fans only called them Emo because of their looks and the meaning of the songs. Plus, MCR isn't about self-pity. Their albums were called, "CONCEPT ALBUMS" which talks about a certain topic like you're reading a comic book or watching a movie. Finn was right that there will always be an insufferable nerd who would always argue about the "REAL" Emo which we can do nothing about. Lol

[@joebobhenrybob2000]

What about the Planes Mistaken for Stars EP? Surely that's legit Emo and they're from Peoria IL

[@MrJoshDrums0490]

I am so glad you mentioned The Used. The Used is one of my all time favorite bands, to me they are the best of the Big Emo 4 you mentioned. They have maintained relevance and are overall awesome songwriters.

[@HermitOfFallowfield]

Not to be that guy but American Football, Cap’n Jazz, Jawbreaker and Rites of Spring

[@Mika-Fresh]

Solid.

[@adamg.manning6088]

Okay, Boomer.

[@LuciusGeronimo]

American Football, Rites Of Spring, Jimmy Eat World and Sunny Day Real Estate.

[@HermitOfFallowfield]

@@LuciusGeronimo I’ll allow it

[@chaseschwinn8826]

Big four not best 4

[@macintalkshow]

When it comes down to it, there are really three separate genres that all get called "emo": - 90s OG emo - 00s pop-punk emo - 10s Midwest emo All three are related, but they're pretty distinct genres at the same time. That makes it virtually impossible for me to pick a "big four" of emo. Which emo are we talking about?

[@FairyCRat]

2010s Midwest emo is a revival, Midwest emo also has its origins in the 90s.

[@lite0221]

The late 90s & y2k, had the best emo songs IMO. Saves the Day comes to mind

[@SM-gt9vg]

I completely agree with this. It took me a long time to accept the bands like Pierce the Veil, Falling in Reverse, and Black Veil Brides being labeled as "emo" bands because it was so different from previous emo. There really is like 3 distinct decades of emo.

[@kage6613]

This is so wrong, lol. This is why I so hate the Pitchfork "waves" narrative that rewrites history so that all their favorite indie bands are the only thing people associate with "real emo." When emo started in the mid 80s, it referred to a huge variety of bands from the DC area: Dag Nasty, who laid the foundation for all of modern pop punk and 'melodic hardcore' Rites of Spring, who combined Hüsker Dü style alt rock with their previous efforts in The Faith to create riffy, punchy, but also slightly catchy and melancholic hardcore Embrace, the band of Ian MacKaye after Minor Threat broke up, which channeled the punk rage into a new direction Beefeater, a band taking influence from funk rock with insane slap bass lines and a big sense of humor Gray Matter, who's anthemic hardcore would evolve into anthemic danceable rock music, setting the precedent for emo to pop pipeline from the jump The Hated, a band from neighboring Maryland town Annapolis who started out making fun of the self-serious DC scene but ended up taking from their post-hardcore experimentation and creating the template for several styles of indiemo and post-emo rock Emo has NEVER in history referred to one genre. In the early 90s "emo" meant stuff as different as Indian Summer and Iconoclast; anything from Born Against to Boilermaker fit under the umbrella. It was and still is just its own little corner of the punk scene which has spawned several pretty huge derivative alt rock styles (mallcore, scenecore, twinklecore, math rock, post rock, etc) which have become "scenes"/market demographics unto themselves. The spirit of emo/punk/hardcore lives on in the underground DIY scene as it always has. In this video Finn is talking about mallcore emo, aka the biggest, most popular, most highly profitable style.

[@literalwho9017]

@@kage6613 good dissertation but I disagree with the whole waves narrative being detrimental to the discussion of emo, if anything it prevents such misconceptions as the one OP has made with their comment, as it gives a bit of historical context some people here severely lack "waves" is not an exclusive thing to le damned p4K hipsters >:(, I use it too and I love all the bands you've just mentioned in your post, the truth is I make the whole system a bit more flexible so everything can fit evey wave is defined by a pivotal band that shaped the sound of the genre, 1st wave is SST type of punk, 2nd wave is the kind of Indie the SST punks ended up doing, 3rd wave is the scene era and 4th wave is a revival •1st Wave (~85-93): *Rites of spring,* HÜSKER DÜ-LIKE EMOTIVE HARDCORE (all the bands you cited: The Hated, Gray Matter, Dag Nasty, Moss Icon, Embrace, Verbal Assault) •2nd Wave (~93-99): *Cap'n jazz, I hate myself...,* MIDWEST EMO AND EARLY "PROTO" SCREAMO (Mineral, all Kinsella related, The promise ring, Jimmy Eat world, SDRE, Braid, Penfold, Rainer Maria, Mock orange, Boys Life and Lync, Shotmaker, Indian Summer, Portraits of past, Hoover, Breakwater, Jawbreaker, Plunger, and hundreds of other bands you can find on KZbin nowadays) •3rd Wave (~99-08): *Thursday, Orchid,* MALLCORE ERA (you have pure Screamo like pg. 99, Jeromes Dream, City of Caterpillar, Saetia, Envy, Funeral diner, Off minor or Raein; mallcore pop-punk vocals Screamo/Emocore like early Saosin, early MCR or every "Metalcore" crossover scene band; Emo pop-punk like FOB, Say anything, Saves the day, The used; and then some dissident Indie rockers going underground ignoring the scene •4th Wave (~08-?): *Snowing, Brave little abacus,* REVIVALS EVERYWHERE AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO LIKE AMERICAN FOOTBALL (TTNG, TwiabpaInlatd??, Algernon Cadwallader, Modern Baseball, Merchant Ships, Dads, Glocca Morra, Clash of rhinos and the whole "5th Wave" because it doesn't actually exist)

[@clytemnestra]

It’s so funny how fast the term emo has become accepted to describe these bands. I remember back on Tumblr in 2013 there were people still fighting about the emo label. I guess maybe the change came after kids who didn’t have negative associations with the term got into these bands?

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

People are still fighting over the emo label, but it's not as bad as it was in the 2000s/early 2010s

[@FairyCRat]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure back then these bands were more classified as pop-punk or emo-pop, while emo would refer to Saves the Day, Get Up Kids, the Midwest bands, and maybe some of the heavier "pop screamo" bands.

[@aixide]

@@FairyCRat I think the term emo-pop is stupid for these bands. American Football is poppier than any of 2000s mall-emo bands (and imo their last two albums have barely any emo influence).

[@FairyCRat]

@@aixide I have to admit I don't know much about them, but aren't American Football known for math rock stuff?

[@aixide]

@@FairyCRat Yeah, they're often seen as basically the quintessential midwest emo/math rock band and they definitely helped popularize open tunings common in both genres. Most of that comes from the first album tho.

[@M1dny9ht]

This is 100% spot on. I love this list! Speaking of TBS, you should reach out to Fred for an interview! He has his own youtube channel and has some awesome videos about what the scene was like back in the day!

[@hefd]

I didn't really hear the word "emo" until dashboard came around. I know there were other bands that were considered that before like Sunny Day Real estate etc. But, I think he really if not started/pushed it. I never understood what was so emo about Paramore

[@alli_cozic]

This. When I hear “emo” Dashboard is the first band that immediately comes to mind

[@zeelbeno]

I think it was because Haley Williams was one of the 'poster girls' of emo.

[@blckout20]

Dashboard was certainly more definitive to “emo” early on when Paramore and Fall Out Boy still seemed more pop punk/emo. Obviously Paramore and FOB got much bigger, but Dashboard was a cornerstone of singer songwriter driven emo.

[@wheelzr57]

I mean so was Katy Perry, she just cut the band loose before Hayley did. Katy Perry was huge with the mall core kiddies.

[@jacoba2901]

idk how dashboard didn't make the list.

[@AxelPierre713]

Jimmy Eat World isn't emo but Fall Out Boy are?? Man that's an interesting take

[@EctoMess]

FOB definitely was

[@literalwho9017]

interesting? nah more like plain wrong

[@TomMcMorrow]

I feel so scene! I came of age (aka went through high school) during what I believe to be the big emo explosion of 2003-2007. I used to be a total MCR fanboy, dressed in Hot Topics finest, you know the drill. These days I'm a 34 year old financial analyst who dresses like a prep. Maturity is weird. I still listen to most of them daily, and one day I look forward to being the senile old man in the nursing home belting out songs from Three Cheers.

[@ibanezprestigeboy]

It’s like I’m reading my biography, lol.

[@shadehunter]

Taking Back Sunday is the Alice In Chains of emo (at least in the aspect of the dual lead vocalist thing).

[@dcfromthev]

14:13 YES I was waiting for you to mention the Used. Now I'm happy! Their first two albums are absolutely perfet from start to finish! And I saw them last year and their latest album SLAPS too. Thanks Finn good call!

[@theduckening]

I saw them when they were doing their tour of the first two albums and holy bats it was so fucking good!

[@moss3779]

Artwork by the used is what introduced me to heavier music, I have never heard anything with screaming before and I’ve loved them ever since

[@mcrfreako1011]

extremely underrated album

[@nothingelse1520]

MCR is the Metallica of Emo. The website broke when I tried to buy tickets to see them in 2019. They sold out in the UK in 5 minutes.

[@nicolej7808]

Loved the Used getting a spot. They were my actual introduction to emo when an older neighbor who went to my middle school gave me a burned copy of In Love and Death

[@munboy]

Same here, except the Used was my intro into heavier stuff. I'm sad to say, I missed their first 2 albums until the local alterative rock station started playing pretty handsome awkward. Until then, I was into what I call fluff punk... Yellowcard, New Found Glory, etc...and pop punk like Blink and Green Day, along with pop rock like Matchbox20, and grunge before that. To this day, my top 3 bands are 1. the Used 2. Breaking Benjamin 3. BMTH.

[@Bren]

I'm actually seeing the emo cover band "Taking Back Emo" tonight so this is timely. Now can we get a collab between you and The Cozy Representative? 😁

[@Pirategod23]

Ducking love cozy

[@moresoysauce5489]

Man I got the chill when you said the used, I don't know why I totally forgot about them but they were completely defining of my middle school years so well done

[@topflightcards94]

I like to think Brand New is deserving of a Mount Rushmore spot. So overlooked. No, they’re not scene or a part of that Hot Topic culture at all. But sonically and lyrically, they’ve always resonated with the dissociative people like me and have always been relatable.

[@gdaeeadg]

This. Brand New is the Radiohead of Emo.

[@joebobhenrybob2000]

@@gdaeeadg Appleseed Cast is the Radiohead of Emo.

[@bbellomusic]

When you got to #4, my first thought was “it has to be TBS,” but you made some valid points. I agree The Used deserves that spot. Related, the clip of the TBS song you played from Tidal Waves sounded like a mid-career Against Me! song, which kinda proves your point.

[@android521]

Taking Back Sunday is my favorite band and I totally agree with Finn here. They haven’t made emo music in years now. Solid alternative rock at best.

[@android521]

@@saviorofs0ng amazing album! I love all their stuff but the emo energy and dramatics that were present on their first 3 records is definitely toned way down. Eddie was the main emo hardcore guy in the band and he left after Tidal Wave too. Adam tries to sound like a country singer now too which doesn’t fit the old music at all anymore lol.

[@kage6613]

@@android521 yep, good call on Eddie Reyes. Have you heard his new stuff with Fate's Got a Driver? Great reference to old midwest emo in Split Lip/Chamberlain and some darn fine tunes.

[@annabibby5029]

10/10 rankings here, I don't think I would have changed anything! Extra kudos for including The Used as well, I've rediscovered my love for them recently and they're such a solid band.

[@johnkoch9315]

That Tidal Wave album was basically just Taking Back Sunday going “Hi, we’re Against Me!, now.”

[@nayfehn89]

Too true

[@android521]

Yeah definitely far from an emo album. Solid alt rock though.

[@williampusey8266]

That video Finn played sounded like a Dropkick Murphys song without the bagpipes.

[@Beckaj5446]

Wow, you completely shocked me at the end there. When you decided not to go with Taking Back Sunday I couldn’t think of who you’d pick. Of corse, all the while thinking throughout the entire video that there’s no way he will pick The Used for any of these spots, not really even sure why I assumed that, maybe because they were never as huge as the bands you had picked. So, when you said The Used I was very pleasantly surprised and might have had a tiny fan-girl moment of celebration. I have loved that band for 18 years (holy shit 😳) and always felt they never got the recognition they deserved.

[@Beckaj5446]

I just had to add how much I love seeing so many comments appreciating your addition of The Used to this list.

[@MilitantMe]

You made solid arguments for every band you listed, cuz I agreed with each of the initial bands you brought up then you had me convinced once you listed the follow up bands. At this point you might be able to convince me of anything now. Wondering if this is how my parents feel when listening to angry talk radio. "Yep, yep, God bless him, wow what a great point, oh my God that's so true."

[@tonyengardio8413]

00’s big 4 emo. FOB. Paramour. MCR. The Used 10’s big 4 emo. BMTH. AA. PTV. BVB.

[@graydenday3760]

I've put a lot of thought into the big four of skramz (traditional screamo). Portraits of Past, Saetia, Orchid, Page 99.

[@bengaunt3505]

Whenever anybody talks about Emo as a subculture, nobody ever mentions the period from around 2008-2012 where certain artists managed to create unity between rock fans and non-rock fans by fusing it with other genres. I feel like this scene was more prevalent in the UK than anywhere else. We had the legacy of 90s rave/big beat artists to pull from. Certain artists infused these with big, loud rock guitars and production. The most prevalent of these artists was Pendulum, but there were others too. Chase and Status, Enter Shikari, the quemists and Hadoukken! immediately spring to mind. If you were a British teenager circa 2010 and went to a party or to get drunk in a park, you were almost guaranteed to hear something by one of these artists at some point. For a while they really brought down social boundaries and helped get people into other types of music. I was there. it was glorious.

[@DjDolHaus86]

As a british teenager of the previous generation (circa 2000) I can say this crossover culture goes back at least another 10 years before my generation. We were fed a diet of both rock and electronica at alternative venues (ie. nightclubs that didn't just play pop/house) and it was great. My friends older brothers and sisters who grew up in the rave scene of the 90s said it was pretty similar back then as well. I think that's the great thing about the music culture in Britain, it was only exclusive if you wanted it to be

[@videoghost]

Yes! While you were talking about TBS, I was thinking "This spot should go to The Used", and then you literally said it in the next sentence. Great video!

[@aliciasirena8104]

The fact that MCR is next to the Used, brings old memories hahaha. The funny thing is that Bert is in one of MCR's songs, and they had a history; it makes me giggle a little bit while remembering those days. 😆

[@antiembishop07]

Finn made this list knowing he was gonna start shyt. Lol. Good effort.

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Anything involving emo attracts insufferable nerds who want to argue about every detail. Nothing i can do about that.

[@clownworldcitizen3505]

@@ThePunkRockMBA Except make clickbait videos and profit off it. Not saying that's a bad thing.

[@BeachDreamere]

@@ThePunkRockMBA I really want to know your thoughts on Twenty One Pilots and what genre would you put them in? Blurryface was huge, but I liked Vessel (before Blurryface), Trench not so much but it has some songs I love including "Chlorine" love the new album Scaled & Icy which stands for scaled back and isolated (2020 much). Anyway, I like how they do music how they want to do it, every album has a distrack to the record industry lol, and they have a lot of fun upbeat songs. I still think "Migraine" should have had radio play even if it is off Vessel.

[@BeachDreamere]

@@clownworldcitizen3505 The problem is, The Punk Rock MBA is going to have people fighting it out in the comments agreeing and disagreeing with him not matter which genre he's creating a top 4 list. I'm sure his metal had a lot of feedback and if he did one for 80s big hair bands not everyone would agree. But isn't that part of the fun? Listening to his list and reason for his list, his breakdown. Others here, explain why they agree or do not. He also mentioned in another comment that their are basically sub-genre's of emo like punk emo and I've never thought of it in those terms. I understand what he's saying and what he means. I just think maybe we need to cut down the amount of subs, we officially have 41 genres of music an 337 subs. That's a lot to cover and you could probably have controversy over who is what genre and sub. 🙃

[@21redsox21]

*screamed* when you said the used. The only one I’d put in front of tbs. the used was SUCH a massive influence in my life

[@waynekerr2687]

Metallica: FOB Megadeth: Brand New Slayer: MCR Anthrax: Jimmy Eat World

[@pantsnjacket381]

This

[@atrainbrady3208]

Jimmy eat world isn't all that much emo.

[@pantsnjacket381]

@@atrainbrady3208 listen to Static Prevails

[@youhavetogoback8449]

@@atrainbrady3208 They're more emo than MCR, MCR sounds like Queen. FOB sounds like Jonas Brothers. Jimmy Eat World is the literal definition of emo. Listen to Static and Clarity.

[@atrainbrady3208]

@@youhavetogoback8449 they're not more emo than my chemical romance or Hawthorne hights.

[@northernxdarkness]

Yeah The Used is one of the best and coolest Bands in the world, their creative vision and style is like nothing else. Heartwork is really the album that has everything I love from all the other records before, especially the deluxe edition. There is no band that can match The Used imo, they don't need to be big.

[@creepofreako]

The Used is as influential as MCR. So it makes sense that they are on the list.

[@JuiceStainz]

Haven't even watched it yet but I needed this comment to relieve my stress. Glad they made it lol

[@creepofreako]

@@JuiceStainz glad that you are a fan of the Used too. Glad that Finn let take the used take the big 4 of emo.

[@satesup4353]

I want Alesana to be mentioned, at least. They're the ones converted me back in high school. (Comment before watching the video.) Edit: After watching the video, yeah they're too underrated than the big 4, hhe... .

[@june9265]

the emptiness changed something in me fundamentally

[@apcspan]

I rmemeber finding them and akissforjersey when purevolume was the place for music back in 04 05

[@FairyCRat]

Also they're way closer to the post-hardcore scene I think.

[@Bloods2006]

I think many people would label alesana as post hardcore

[@shanobian]

@@june9265 hands down my favourite metalcore Album to this day

[@TheJpyne518]

here in philly, when they do emo night, they advertise the big 4 as: MCR, FOB, Panic!, and Paramore

[@loompy1440]

Awe the used are super underrated. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up writing pop chart hits in their old age. The bird and the worm hits so hard with those orchestrals (that song is about Bert’s schizophrenic brother) ❤️

[@creepofreako]

Fave song of all time. Inspired me a lot.

[@loompy1440]

@@creepofreako me too. Very beautiful message and surprisingly high studio quality/ fucking incredible emotional power in Bert’s vocal delivery. I think it’s kinda my chemical romance vibes… in a good way

[@creepofreako]

@@loompy1440 and i like the crippling voice of Bert on the verses of the song. Reminds me of Get Scared a looot.

[@jevinday]

I was literally holding my breath for like 11 minutes because when I think of emo I immediately think of The Used, I have loved them since all that I've got was playing on MTV2. My big 4 of emo is probably The Used, Brand New, Sunny Day Real Estate, and MCR. but that's mostly because those are the emo bands that shaped my understanding of emo though. For me, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! Are not emo at all, they are like new age pop punk (now they are all pop), but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because they are all tied into the mall emo craze. Good stuff Finn!

[@ryanlarson2692]

Initially MCR was my choice for Metallica, but I do agree that musically and aesthetic wise, they fit the Slayer mold more. I also considered Panic for Megadeth because they're basically FOB's younger brother and Brendon has also been very controversial like Dave Mustaine, but they were never an emo band.

[@no_hemo5397]

Damn, Bayside didn't even make the honorable mentions list. That's a bummer. Their first 3 albums are so amazing.

[@wide-awake]

no one in real life knows who bayside are lol

[@no_hemo5397]

@@wide-awake Yeah you're right. I think Alkaline Trio and Bayside have more of a cult following than mainstream success. Lol

[@margaritomireles6508]

@@no_hemo5397 bayside is a cult but they are so so good I saw them live and I cried

[@no_hemo5397]

@@margaritomireles6508 Saw them with Alkaline Trio awhile back. What a show!

[@jefflaclaire2206]

So… Can we get a big 4 for post hardcore? 👀 But only if you put DGD on the list.

[@velhomiguel]

I'm curious, why do a lot of people hate on DGD?

[@newacc6065]

Im not one to worry about sub-genres but I think Dance Gavin Dance fall into the more “math-rock” category like Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! etc.

[@cookingman8709]

@@newacc6065 chunk no captain chunk...? Math core????

[@kage6613]

@@newacc6065 people really just be out here saying sht smh

[@newacc6065]

@@cookingman8709 some of their songs on pardon my french and others sound like math core, was the closest band I could think of at the time like DGD

[@Jinni_SD]

The Used has been my favorite band pretty much since their first album dropped, and it was nice to see a nod for them here. 2017's The Canyon helped me through a really rough time, and Heartwork is def as good as advertised.

[@amirofthedesert]

I must be missing something I was never able to find something about the canyon to pull me in where as I’ve loved all their other albums with heartwork and imaginary enemy being right there with s/t and lies for the liars as their best work.

[@BenPuckett]

Kinda bummed Emery didn't get a name drop here, I don't think that you could argue against everything that they've done even if they didn't blow up like these others. Woulda liked them to be honorable mentions at least.

[@scotttill3847]

Props for mentioning Emery...they are underappreciated!

[@android521]

Emery is amazing and probably one of the most creative bands musically. While their latest records have definitely been big on the emo side of things, they’re still a post hardcore band overall.

[@BenPuckett]

@@android521 if bands like Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, and Hawtorne are mentioned Emery should be as well. Especially when you factor all the forms of Emo subgenres they mix with.

[@android521]

@@BenPuckett hopefully he makes a screamo /post hardcore list soon!

[@beautifullyx3broken408]

Emery is right up there with Thursday, possibly even more consistent, but they’ve always been underrated…

[@toberichmoe]

My top 4 of mainstream emo 1. Fall Out Boy 2. My Chemical Romance 3. Taking Back Sunday 4. Brand New

[@geoffcasias9367]

Great logic and discussion when deciding on the big four, cannot really argue with your choices. Honorable mention I'm surprised I didn't hear (or missed it) is From First to Last. I felt like in my my neighborhood and scene, they were definitely the biggest and most popular for a few years

[@jacoba2901]

fftl was one of the greatest! (sonny era)

[@madisonj7421]

THANK YOU for bringing up Taking Back Sunday. One of my favorite bands of all time, and yes, they constantly get left out of the 2000s mall emo group! I'm a bit sad you gave it to the Used, but agree to disagree. I do want to add though that you easily picked the worst track on Tidal Wave to showcase- Death Wolf (a much heavier song), Fences, Call Come Running are all amazing tracks. Also, they haven't put out anything since 2016 due to the pandemic (they were set to start recording again just when it first hit), but they're super active- they had these zoom calls of all four members just sitting down and hanging out that they would upload to youtube lol

[@android521]

My all time favorite band but I agree with Finn. They haven’t cranked out any emo music in 10 years. Solid alternative rock for sure.

[@aestheticbeatz5700]

Good call. That was interesting about Saosin. Some emo bands are post hardcore, but not all post hardcore is emo.

[@ChristopherJames1993]

That's true. That's the difference between scene and emo. All scene bands are post-hardcore but not all emo bands are.

[@craigroberts2302]

When translating the name came out everybody I knew that were into them called them screamo

[@brittanylittke5931]

I know I'm way late but I'm deep into a Finn-a-thon at the moment and I have to say while watching the final 2 spots, I kept saying out loud "it's gotta be the Used". So I was thrilled to see them included. The early 2000s wouldn't have been the same without their self-titled, In Love & Death, Lies for the Liars and Artwork. The Berth documentary was also revolutionary. And their live performances are the best I've ever seen. 100% effort and commitment to every song. They have consistently kept their original sound while maturing into heavier topics. I've been a fan for 19 years now and got the chance to meet them in 2015. Everyone was so nice and down to earth. You can tell they really do it all for the fans. I hope to see them again on the upcoming tour!

[@isaachinkey8951]

So glad The Used made the list. Never heard a single song until I saw them this year and yeah I now feel like ive been listening to them my whole life. I agree that the new Heartwork album is totally solid too. Its a long album but very creative and keeps your attention the whole time

[@ChristalJ]

Everyone knows Fall Out Boy is the Metallica of emo. Not controversial at all.

[@dasenase]

would have absolutely put MCR as the Metallica, what were you thinking?!

[@MullilluM]

Because MCR hasn't really been a band for over a decade now. FoB makes more sense. They stayed around, and stayed successful.

[@dasenase]

@@MullilluM i don't know of any band in their genre that was more commercially successful and still has massive relevance with today's youth on TikTok. You don't really see fans stanning FoB like you do MCR

[@ryanlarson2692]

Unlike Metallica, MCR never released a bad album. FOB have Mania and American Beauty/American Psycho.

[@lunatikkrazieazylum6226]

MCR never released a bad album, unlike Metallica and Fall Out Boy. Fall Out Boy are the Metallica of the big 4 right down to the fact that they're sometimes called "Sell Out Boy" the same way Metallica is called "Selloutica".

[@creepofreako]

@@MullilluM for a decade? They broke up back in 2013 and came back in 2019. It's just 6 years.

[@alexsallade6635]

Yo, I was so stoked that you put the used on this. You're so good at these lists, love these videos.

[@kyleicp4206]

The Used is the only band in this big 4 that's worth listening to. They rocked! Saw them at Ozzfest and they fucking ripped!

[@derringera]

Damn. The Used is the only one mentioned I didn't think belonged in the top 20 emo bands lol.

[@startervisions]

For some reason the first wave of Taking Back Sunday is really appealing to me because it still has that late 90s vibe...almost every other band of this era could not be more early to mid 2000s...something about that one nostalgia factor makes the difference for me.

[@diamandidiamandiev3547]

Saying Megadeth is being terrible since 1990 is absurd, they won a grammy with their last album and the album itself is a masterpiece

[@clothbooster]

Exactly, they are still releasing solid albuns.

[@TheSharkAnt]

Not saying I don't like Megadeth, but a band winning a Grammy doesn't automatically make their music good.

[@tylerbasham1491]

Taking back sunday, Brand New, MCR and then the used

[@ljtinney]

You at least mentioned every band I would have considered for my top 4. A+

[@F34rANDl4ught3r]

I really appreciate you mentioning The Used on this video. So many times I've talked to people about this era of music and aside from "the bird and the worm" no one knows them really. They've been my favorite bend for almost 18 years now and I appreciate them getting recognized by a show that I respect the opinion of. I would also like to mention that I think it's a shame that Rise Against didn't even get an honorable mention.