2000s

Add this to the list of 2000s problems: song titles so long that your Myspace music player cut them off. Seriously, how could it disrespect your favorite tracks like that? Trivial frustrations aside, novel-length titles were a pretty defining characteristic of 2000s alternative music… Even if their general misalignment with actual lyrical content made them incredibly […]

If the sonic leanings of new alternative bands are any indication, pop punk isn’t dead and neither is punk rock. Be it through the continued influence of traditional groups or experimental infusions by genre-bending outfits, the punk sound is still ever-prevalent in the modern scene. While not all of the emerging bands harness the sound from […]

If you grew up in the 2000s, rocked band T-shirts almost daily and decorated your locker top to bottom with clippings of Kellin Quinn and Oli Sykes, you’re definitely a child of the post-hardcore era.  Now, post-hardcore, while being a specific genre, is a very gray area where bands such as Bring Me The Horizon […]

How many unsigned emo bands can you remember from the 2000s? Probably few enough to count on one hand, right? Well, fortunately, times are changing. Long gone are the days when all of our favorite music came through labels such as Fueled By Ramen. Now, streaming services give us an unlimited assortment of new music at our disposal. […]

2011, like the years that preceded it, gave us a number of great alternative albums. But can you believe that 2021 is going to bring their 10-year anniversaries? Just like the 2000s came to pass in the blink of an eye, so did the last decade. And so we’re left soaking in nostalgia and wondering where the […]

What is pop punk without its guitarists? Really just some angsty spoken word over punchy drums and a bassline. Let’s be honest: We’d still probably listen to it, but it wouldn’t be nearly as good.  We may like to focus on vocals and lyrics when it comes to channeling our 2000s nostalgia. However, the guitarists […]

Did anyone else spend the bulk of their scene days meticulously adding album art to their iTunes catalog? No, just us? Album covers are particularly poignant sources of 2000s nostalgia—and not just because our screen obsessions started around that time. Rather, they gave us visuals (and even characters) to associate with the music that we loved most. […]

Many bands take maintaining the same lineup quite seriously, even if it’s one of the most difficult things to pull off. Especially if longevity is also high up on their list of priorities.  Those who have accomplished it wear it as a badge of honor, such as U2. Frontman Bono often says they are who […]

The 2000s scene nostalgia is real. However, while our “phases” may have never ended, we tend to look back on the era with a limited scope. It’s no wonder that popular tracks by favorites such as Three Days Grace and Linkin Park stand at the forefront of our memories. After all, we could barely turn on […]

There are certain opinions that all former emo kids hold. Like how listening to sad, confessional songs is the best way to feel alive or… OK, maybe that’s it. Truth be told, there’s no one commonality between every emo phase. Don’t believe us? Just look at the small fraction of dislikes on Matt Cutshall‘s YouTube videos. Seriously, if […]

When you think of emo songs, you probably recall heart-wrenching tracks that you sing-scream all the words to. And you probably think of those tracks you turn to when you’re really going through it.  But the genre isn’t just filled with breakup ballads and screw-the-world anthems.  Read more: Gym Class Heroes’ “Cupid’s Chokehold” chorus came […]

If Fearless Records’ Punk Goes Acoustic series is indicative of anything, it’s that alternative artists can’t resist the opportunity to pick up an acoustic guitar. While a number of our favorites have opted for the occasional soft track, none are more jarring than those by heavy artists. As it turns out, the intricate melodies of […]

The incorporation of electronic sounds into alternative music is hardly a new phenomenon. In the mid-2000s, bands such as Cobra Starship and 3OH!3 made names for themselves in the scene with their synth-heavy infusions. And while the resulting “neon” era seemed to be short-lived, these artists were largely ahead of their time. With the mainstream […]

The alternative music scene can be home to some serious differences of opinion. Case in point: Just look at the reactions to Machine Gun Kelly‘s chart-topping album, Tickets To My Downfall. These divisions aren’t unique to the modern era, though. Fall Out Boy’s 2008 record Folie à Deux, which is celebrating its 12th anniversary this […]

From low-rise jeans to flashy Myspace themes, the 2000s was an era defined by flamboyancy. While the majority of those embarrassing trends naturally faded with time, one product of the ’00s has overstayed its welcome. The infamous brand Kidz Bop has been churning out family-friendly compilation albums since 2001 sung by kids, for kids.  But […]

This year has been utter and total chaos, so it’s more than acceptable to wish we were back to the times when Funeral For A Friend were still together. And it’s totally fine to wish Jared Leto from Thirty Seconds To Mars was wearing eyeliner instead of being a Hollywood A-lister. Sometimes we just need […]

Remember the days of rushing home and turning on MTV to catch the latest alternative hits? How about debating which music video you should buy with the remaining balance on your iTunes gift card? Anyone engaged in the 2000s scene knew how important music videos were to it. From artist discovery to the aesthetic, those […]

What’s better than a new track by one of your favorite artists? That’s easy: a collaboration between multiple favorites. Despite all odds, 2020 has proven to be the year of collabs. From MGK and Halsey‘s shared pop-punk debut to FEVER 333 and Run-DMC‘s “ANIMAL“ remix and merch line, we’ve been consistently surprised by some great team-ups. […]

If you’ve ever needed a knowledgeable pop-punk band to answer all of your burning early ’00s pop music questions, State Champs have you covered. Or if you need a couple of guys to rank pop-punk legends, they can do that too. And they’re not afraid to stir up some controversy or crank out some choreography […]