Screamo

I'm a big fan of screamo music. However like with other music, I have some pretty tough standards that bands need to live up to in order for me to listen to and like them.

The most important aspect in selecting a good screamo band is the scream/sing ratio. I myself favor a 30/70 ratio. In other words 30% screaming and 70% singing. Any more than that and you'd better have some dang good lyrics and music or I'm not listening to you. Believe it or not there are bands out there with a 100/0 scream/sing ratio and I just can't see how anyone can listen to that. They have these wicked awesome riffs and then they just scream over them. It gets really old about half way through the first song. People who like anything more than a 50/50 scream/sing ratio are either trying to be hard, or just plain deaf.

An example of a 40/60 band that I love is Thrice. Yes they scream a little more than I like, but they make up for it with their hard A drum beats, old school metallica melodical guitar duets and some of the best lyrics out there. Please note- Thrice's new album Vheissu is much more mellow on the drums and guitar, but the lyrics are still rad. Also in the new album they have morphed into a 30/70 band. I liked the old, and I like the new.

Moving on- The band must have positive lyrics. Extra points for poetic ability here (see Poetic Ability below). I can't get into songs that are super depressing. Sing something positive. The Used is about as negative as I can get. And they aren't that negative. They are from Utah too so that's a plus. Their first album rocked hard. Second was ok but nothing like the first (self titled). Plus sometimes the lead singer throws up on stage from screaming too much, so that is cool.

An interesting side note: Finch, who is the band that turned me on to screamo in the first place, had a very positive uplifting first album. It's got to be one of the all time best screamo/punk albums. Their second album is quite a bit darker, though still good. Once again, this shows that a band can change their attitude as albums go on. Where Thrice's most recent album is more mellow and mature, Finch's more recent is super dark and weird. I attribute the change in Finch's style to the use of some serious mushrooms.

Poetic Ability: This crucial in any musical genre. It's the same reason I like hip hop and not rap. The lyrics have to be well thought out. Brand New is a great example of this. I hesitate to call them screamo since they have a 20/80 ratio if that. They'd be a great gateway band for someone wanting to get into screamo. Observe the lyrical quality of "Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't" (yes, screamo bands often like long titled songs).

we are the best at what we do.
and these are the words you wish you wrote down.
this is the way you wish your voice sounds,
handsome and smart.
oh my tongue's the only muscle on my body
that works harder than my h-h-heart.
and its all from watching tv,
and from speeding up my breathing.

It's almost like they are rapping here. And it rocks. They rock. Check out "Deja Entendu" first since their earlier album "Your Favorite Weapon" isn't nearly as genius.

The thing is folks- it will really benefit you to get into screamo even if you don't think you like screaming. More and more mainstream artists like Fall Out Boy and Anberlin are using a little bit of scream in their songs, and the trend is not going to end.

If you're interested in screamo music, and would like to learn more, contact your local screamo affiliate or check out these bands:

• A Thorn for Every Heart

• AFI

• Dead Poetic

• The Receiving End of Sirens

• Silverstein

• Taking Back Sunday

• Thursday