I’ve always found myself looking back on music past rather than its present. What an odd metaphor to borrow from Christmas. I’m reminded of all these great emo bands from the 90’s and early 2000’s reading Tom Mullen’s Anthology of Emo Volume 1.
These bands seemed like missed opportunities while they were around. Texas is The Reason came into my life long after their run and first reunion shows. When my high school journalism and social justice teacher gave me Do You Know Who You Are? they became the biggest band in the world to me.
I couldn’t wrap my head around why they never became what I felt. Learning they had actually worked on a second album and songs like “Blue Boy” and “When Rock ‘N’ Roll Was Just A Baby” were intended tracks agonizes me even more. The Norman Brannon interview is quite insightful.
There’s a common thread with these early emo bands rejecting the potential for mainstream success. Kurt Cobain said it best. He enjoyed the getting to the cusp of “making it” but hated everything about making it.
Reading Anthology of Emo gives great perspective about bands like Texas, The Van Pelt, and Rainer Maria who I frankly never knew had gotten to the level they were at. There is a universe where they could have become a major mainstream success.
Tom Mullen also has a great podcast called WashedUpEmo, where all the interviews for Anthology came from. This week Buddy Nielsen from Senses Fails appeared and really surprised me with such a full history of the band and himself.
They’re still a band, with a new record out next week, but it’s basically Buddy’s solo project, writing all the music now. Surprisingly former band mates tried to kick him out during the band’s hay day. Buddy admitted to suffering from anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. I dug a bit deeper to learn he struggled with his sexuality and sexual addiction.
It’s nice to hear his life seems together now with a spouse and child. Senses’ new songs reflect Buddy’s personal recovery. “New Jersey Makes, The World Takes” speaks to his personal triumphs and paying back support to his loved ones.
“Double Crosses” sounds as strong as any song I’v ever heard from them. It’s contemporary yet there’s nothing lost from their Jersey days. They still have the aura of a band dreaming to play Geoff Rickly’s basement.
Disaesthetic 