Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesTop Five: Emo Revival Lyrics That Remind Us of High School

It's been almost 18 months since the Village Voice ignited the Emo Revival brushfire; since then, the internet's musical commentariat has found time to go to some shows, churn out some clickbait, and even debate whether or not the "revival" is actually reviving anything. While the journalists have been occupied, the bands themselves have continued knocking out more of the records that make scene kids sad and thirtysomethings nostalgic. This week's Top Five brings young and old together, pairing lyrics by five Emo Revival bands with some cringeworthy situations that many of us might've gone through the last time this music was popular.
 

1) A Great Big Pile of Leaves - "Ambiversion"

The line: "I get so extroverted/ But only when no one else is looking"
Emo level: Low
Might remind you of: Nervously eating a Taco Bell burrito in the backseat of a Pontiac Grand Am while the couple in the front argues about the Promise Ring.

2) Modern Baseball - "Broken Cash Machine"

The line: "Home alone on Friday night/ No better time for exercise/ And wishing you were still my girlfriend"
Emo level: Intermediate
Might remind you of: Running a Dungeons & Dragons campaign in which the main villain is a thinly disguised version of your ex (who is also a dragon).

3) You Blew It! - "Award of the Year Award"

The line: "You can always consider me a friend/ Just strictly in the past tense"
Emo level: High
Might remind you of: Copying Chris Carrabba's tattoos onto your forearms in Sharpie right before your friends call to say they don't want to go as Dashboard Confessional for Halloween.

4) The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - "Heartbeat in the Brain"

The line: "I know a few chords that could make you miss me/ They ring and decay in this garage every few days"
Emo level: Intense
Might remind you of: Pounding a Mickey's and filling your ex's voicemail box with messages containing nothing but audio of the Anniversary's "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter"

5) Joyce Manor - "Heated Swimming Pool"

The line: "I wish you would've died in high school/ So you could be somebody's idol"
Emo level: Deadly
Might remind you of: Almost passing out at a church-basement hardcore show and having a youth pastor in a Relient K t-shirt offer to call your mom.

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