Labels and terminology are two of the most complicated, frustrating, impossible things about underground music. Nowadays, you can look up a band on Bandcamp or Last.fm to see how they categorize themselves, but even then there are about half-dozen tags, at least.

When I was trying to choose words to describe the style of my radio station, it took me weeks. I settled on calling my show: “Your home for progressive, emotive, hardcore student radio.‰” Since this is my first post for WVAU, I figured I‰’d explain what I mean when I use these words.

The first term I tend to use a lot is emo which is an abbreviated form of emotive. The word emo has a lot of negative connotations due to its absorption into pop-culture with the Hot Topic “scene kid.” The most important thing to know is the pop-culture lifestyle term emo and the musical style emo are homonyms; The words are the same but mean completely different things.

When I use the term emo, I am referring to the content, style and influence of the band. Content-wise, emotive music is, as the name entails, centers primarily on emotions (usually angsty, despondent, or aggressive). Of course, most music has a hefty emotional element, so despairing vocals and lyrics must also be accompanied by style and influence. Emo is a spin-off of punk and hardcore that focuses more heavily on melodic construction and powerful feelings. The emo music I most enjoy is when it incorporates mathy, noodly, twinkly elements (technical terminology, of course). What I mean by that is bands that have complex and quick melodies. These bands tend to sound like Algernon Cadwallader, Cap‰’n Jazz or Duck. Little Brother, Duck!

Emo started (like many great things) here in D.C. with Ian MacKaye in the hardcore-punk scene. Nowadays, emo has separated itself from hardcore. Emotional, melodic, complex bands take sounds from groups like Death Cab For Cutie or Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) although loudness and power are still common factors. If emo music is loud and screamy enough, it is dubbed screamo; although mallcore bands such as Of Mice And Men or Asking Alexandria have ruined this term.

True screamo bands have mostly converted to the terminology of skramz, which I commonly use. Skramz is a placeholder term that refers to a screamo band that is actually, well, good, such as I Hate Myself or pageninetynine.

The next common term: post-hardcore. Post-hardcore refers to music that has the loud and abrasive elements of hardcore music while also incorporating complex musicianship. I normally use this label when hardcore bands use stylistic elements of post-rock; This means long, ambient instrumental segments like Explosions In The Sky or This Will Destroy You.

I may have dug myself in deep by using more vague terms within my definitions, but the best way to understand labels is to look up classic bands who label themselves as such. Another easy way to think about it is through the work of aforementioned punk god, Ian MacKaye. MacKaye was the front man in many bands, but the important ones here are Minor Threat, Fugazi and Embrace. Minor Threat was a starter of hardcore punk, Fugazi was a starter of post-hardcore, and Embrace was a starter for emo/screamo.

I‰’m a kid like anyone else trying to label music that cannot be labeled. I am constantly learning and adapting my definitions. If I misuse a term, I try to see where I was wrong and change for the future. I hope this has been moderately helpful, and if you disagree, great! The great thing about music is that everyone‰’s input is relevant and helpful to its progression. Feel free to contact me at the-undercurrent.tumblr.com. I worked up a little “sounds like‰” key to further assist:

Eli’s “sounds-like‰” key

• • Emo – Sounds like: Snowing, Cap‰’n Jazz, Sunny Day Real Estate
  • Indie-emo Sounds like: Empire! Empire!, Death Cab For Cutie, Balance and Composure
  • Post-hardcore ‰ÛÒ Sounds like: Pianos Become The Teeth, La Dispute, We Were Skeletons
  • Skramz ‰ÛÒ Sounds like: pageninetynine, I Hate Myself, Old Gray
  • Mathy ‰ÛÒ Sounds like: Duck. Little Brother, Duck!, Ghosts and Vodka, Slint, This Town Needs Guns
  • Noodly ‰ÛÒ Sounds like: Piglet, Toe, Rooftops
  • Hardcore punk ‰ÛÒ Sounds like:Code Orange Kids, Minor Threat, Punch
  • Lo-fi ‰ÛÒ Sounds like: Single Mothers, Teen Suicide, Pity Sex
  • Melodic hardcore ‰ÛÒ Sounds like: Comadre, Loma Prieta, (see post-hardcore)
  • Twinkly ‰ÛÒ Sounds life: Algernon Cadwallader, Dads, You Blew It!