She just released her documentary The World’s A Little Blurry and unveiled that she wrote an entire album in quarantine with her brother and producer FINNEAS.

Read more: 10 musicians who used weird samples in their songs without you knowing it

So far, Eilish has unveiled a few previews into her next album. Back in July, she debuted her emotional single “my future” along with an animated video. Then, in November, she treated fans to her carefree video for “Therefore I Am.” More recently, she dropped her highly anticipated collaboration with ROSALÍA, “Lo Vas A Olvidar,” which premiered during a new episode of Euphoria. The tracks follow up 2019’s “everything i wanted” as well as her James Bond theme “No Time To Die.”

Despite the new music she’s released so far, FINNEAS previously revealed that fans shouldn’t expect to hear her full new album during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Billie’s album, and my album, they won’t be a bummer COVID record,” he says. “I have a desperate desire not to release them during COVID-19. It’s the vaccine record! I want it to be the album everyone’s out dancing in the streets to.”

Read more: QUIZ: Which Avril Lavigne album era matches your personality?

Then, at the end of last year, Eilish seemingly verified that her new music era may be on the way. In December, she shared a series of Instagram Stories about the status of her new album and her iconic hair color.

As it turns out, Eilish is preparing to change her hair after the release of The World’s A Little Blurry, which will mark the end of her WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? era.

And most recently, Eilish seemingly confirmed how many songs are on her next album. She recently answered a few fan questions on Instagram, including one that asked how many songs are on the next LP. Eilish then cryptically wrote out 1-16 on the post.

In honor of the upcoming record, we decided to dig up 10 crazy fan theories about Eilish’s sophomore album that might end up being true. You can check those out below.

She will channel Avril Lavigne in the next record

Billie Eilish said that her next album will be sound like Avril Lavigne ?? pic.twitter.com/TwTty36H8r

— Avril Lavigne Daily (@ARLavigneDaily) February 27, 2021

I hope in AL7 or BE2 ??

— That Clown Girl (@hahaharleyquinn) February 24, 2021

Eilish hasn’t been shy about her absolute love and admiration of Avril Lavigne. She’s previously said that the next album will sound like Lavigne’s Under My Skin, so some fans think she will take the concept and run with it. There are also hopes that the two will finally collab someday, and Eilish’s sophomore album feels like the perfect place. 

There will be several star-studded pop collabs

Prediction: The sophomore Billie Eilish album is going to be good, but bogged down with its insane celebrity features. I’m sure being on the next album is like the “it” thing and every single rapper or singer she’s admired wants to be on it. It’ll be hard to resist.

— ⤤ The Sweet Snob ⤦ (@thesweetsnob) December 1, 2020

A trusted Insider confirmed that on Billie Eilish’s next album there will be a collab with Ariana Grande, he also confirmed that the song will be called “Dreams”. pic.twitter.com/IQxWD4PIze

— Ana ⌲ꓸ ໍ₊̣۫ ˿ՙ⇣ (@billievibes__) January 29, 2021

Given Eilish’s popularity, particularly among chart-topping artists, it wouldn’t be surprising if the next album is full of collabs. Aside from Lavigne, people have mused about her working with Ariana Grande, Post Malone and more. And whether you love the idea or hate it, we’ll all just have to wait and see. 

And possibly a few scene collabs

What would you like to see in album 2? from r/billieeilish

In the depths of Reddit, fans have been discussing what they’d like to see from her next album, with many saying that they’d love for Eilish to venture into more alt-rock collabs. Artists mentioned include Bring Me The Horizon, Poppy and Green Day.

The album will be called Over Party

I think “Over Party” would make a great name for @billieeilish‘s next album, a reflection on the ups and downs of fame in the age of social media. Billie Eilish’s Over Party. It has a ring to it.

— Justin Archie ?‍? (@justinarchie) March 29, 2020

Twitter user @justinarchie had the idea that Eilish’s next album would be titled Over Party. We have to admit, it’s a pretty badass idea. Eilish is highly conceptual in her work, and the title gives her plenty of room to drop Easter eggs in her lyrics and completely wow us with music videos. 

She will go full-on jazz with the record

If Billie Eilish is going through like, a jazz club crooner phase on this next album all I’m saying is I will not be even a tiny bit upset about it. my future is the optimistic soulful jam I need right now.

— tor | witchy bitch ?| chaotic good reigns supreme (@_torie) August 12, 2020

Whether you’re an Eilish fan or not, it can’t be disputed that she truly has a beautiful voice. She has shown us her alt-pop dark side, and some people think that she might go full-on jazz crooner with the next record. It’d be a major switch-up, but with that voice, we know it would sound good. 

She will drop the record this summer

Fans on Reddit have theorized that Eilish will make more announcements about the record this spring and release it in the summer. And by that point, coronavirus vaccines will have been more widely distributed, so it would fit FINNEAS’ comment about them wanting it to be the vaccine record. 

The album will pick up where her debut left off

Some people on the internet have brought up the idea that Eilish will connect her two albums in some way, whether it’s through the track titles, the dark/horror themes or a huge concept. Given Eilish’s artistic style, we could totally see her making an anthology series out of her albums, having fans dive deep to find the connections throughout. 

“Therefore I Am” is part of a bigger sentence within the tracklist

okay so i have a very wild theory but hear me out. you know how we have a sentence in the debut album? listen before i go, i love you, goodbye? “therefore i am” seems like it’s part of a sentence for BE2. what if the two albums were somehow connected with those sentences? pic.twitter.com/C4Ez017aYJ

— clarisse (@bilslonely) November 9, 2020

And with some people theorizing that she will connect the records through track titles, one Twitter user believes that “Therefore I Am” is part of a bigger sentence that will make more sense once the full tracklist drops. It definitely fits the style of the song names on her last album, so we can’t count this out.

Her hair is a countdown to the album release

Theory: Billie Eilish’s hair is currently a loading bar. When it finally becomes all green, we’re gonna get a new album.

I will not be taking any criticism at this time

— Clark Kent (@Claire_Kaede) September 2, 2020

There has been plenty of chatter about Eilish’s hair and how she plans to change the color in 2021 to signal the next era of her music. However, some people think that Eilish’s green roots are like a loading bar. When her hair becomes completely green, she will drop the album. It’s a little far-fetched and definitely would take a lot of hair maintenance, but it’d be sick as hell if this was her countdown clock. 

She will go red for the next album

@billieeilish now that #TheWorldsALittleBlurry is out you can take off the wig and show us your new gorgeous red hair bestie ♡♡♡

— ???? ??? ??? ???? (@enenfermonange) February 28, 2021

Along with the hair theories, many fans believe that the next era will be marked by the color red. The cover art for “Therefore I Am” is red, and recently she’s been posting a lot of photos on Instagram with red accents. And red is a completely different vibe than green, so who knows what that could mean sonically for the record.

Produced by John Feldmann and MOD SUN, the 2000s alternative icon’s upcoming record is reportedly a return to her roots. Needless to say, we’re now swimming in a mixture of anticipation, nostalgia and fervent curiosity—and we’re about to dive in deep.

Read more: The eerie first look at Tim Burton’s ‘Addams Family’ reboot is finally here

While it would be easy to point to her mainstream hits as demonstrations of the singer-songwriter’s unique talents, we prefer to take a different approach. Read on for 10 of the most underrated tracks from Lavigne’s discography.

“Too Much To Ask”

It’s easy to be overshadowed while sitting on a tracklist with the likes of “Sk8er Boi” and “Complicated.” That said, “Too Much To Ask” is definitely deserving of a revisit if it’s not already in your rotation. The moody anthem is peak early 2000s Lavigne, winding up some seriously poignant pop-punk energy with some of the most painfully relatable lyrics of the decade.

“Unwanted”

“Too Much To Ask” isn’t the only tack on Let Go that’s vastly underrated, though. “Unwanted” boasts a much different, sharp-edged tone. Lavigne’s powerful, angst-laden vocals cut right through incendiary guitar riffs, propelled by some of the most intriguing hooks the album has to offer. This is one of those songs that’s bound to get you thrashing around, whether you’re in the mood to move or not.

“Together”

We’re willing to bet that you just read “Together” in Lavigne’s ever-passionate voice. That’s because this is one of those tracks you’re not prime to forget, even 15-plus years later. With its punchy but evocative energy, it’s honestly a surprise that this song doesn’t get the same degree of nostalgic attention as “My Happy Ending” or “Nobody’s Home.”

Read more: QUIZ: Which Avril Lavigne album era matches your personality?

“Who Knows”

“Who Knows” is right up there with “Together” in terms of memorability. The track is a standout display of Lavigne’s rousing spirit, which says something significant in the context of a discography teeming with punk-rock girl power. It’s a ride from start to finish, bouncing between high and lows with an ever-present air of inspiration that could drag you out of any mood.

“Contagious”

We’d probably go so far as to characterize the entirety of The Best Damn Thing as underrated. That is if “Girlfriend” and “When You’re Gone” didn’t yield more attention than most alums ever even see as a collective unit. We’ve got to spotlight “Contagious” here, though. In just two minutes, the song will give you a head rush that takes a week to shake. It’s vibrant, catchy and lyrically sweet as hell. Classic Avril…

“Everything Back But You”

Listen to the first 20 seconds of “Everything Back But You” and you’ll think you’re about to dive headfirst into a ’90s punk track. Honestly, though, it’s not that far off. The song packs a seriously excitable kick into an only vaguely pop-rock package. It’s a pretty big swing, coming right on the heels of “When You’re Gone,” but we’re here for the whiplash.

Read more: Avril Lavigne channels her inner Mark Hoppus while in the studio—watch

“I Don’t Have To Try”

We might as well just cover the whole spectrum of eclecticism brought by way of The Best Damn Thing. Right up there with the preceding underrated tracks is “I Don’t Have To Try.” In what might just be the pinnacle of upbeat and confrontational Lavigne sass, this song is like the less-popular little sister of “Girlfriend.” If it didn’t soundtrack your teen years, you probably wish that it did.

“Stop Standing There”

We’ll be the first to admit that Goodbye Lullaby marked a serious divergence from what we’d come to expect from Lavigne. Sonic progression is never a bad thing, though, and “Stop Standing There” exists to prove that point. As vividly relatable as any previous release, the song trades edge for a vibrant lightheartedness. It’s a bit of a contrast next to The Best Damn Thing, but we’re happy to have seen this side of the pop-punk princess.

“Hush Hush”

Think of Lavigne’s self-titled era and your mind probably goes straight to “Here’s To Never Growing Up” or “Hello Kitty.” We can’t fault you for that one. They’re jams, to say the least. Let’s not overlook the record’s masterful, highly emotional closing track, though. “Hush Hush” truly ends the album on a high note, navigating through a sea of moods that pull the listener in.

Read more: 10 acoustic renditions of 2000s songs that are better than the original

“Souvenir”

When Lavigne returned from hiatus with her 2019 album, Head Above Water, the anticipation was palpable. It’s safe to say that both the title track and “I Fell In Love With The Devil” met and exceeded expectations. But we’d argue that “Souvenir” should join the ranks of the album’s most iconic tracks. A showcase of not only talent but maturity, the song beautifully demonstrates Lavigne’s progression through her near-20-year tenure.

Which Avril Lavigne tracks do you think are criminally underrated? Let us know in the comments below!

Before the rise of streaming services, instant downloads and damn near limitless music collections, B-sides and other limited releases were like gold. If you were lucky, you’d find them on physical albums or iTunes. Otherwise, you were forced to scour the web for sketchy downloads to collect your favorite band’s discography.

Read more: This rare photo gives a new look at My Chemical Romance’s return show

Often, the harder they were to find, the better they were. In many cases, we were left wondering how such awesome tracks hadn’t made the official tracklisting in the first place.

Here are 10 of our favorite 2000s bonus tracks that totally should’ve been part of their corresponding albums.

“Until I Get Caught Red Handed” – Every Avenue

If you ever listened to Every Avenue‘s Picture Perfect on your iPod, you may remember a different closing song. Don’t worry, you’re not losing your mind. “Until I Get Caught Red Handed” was an iTunes bonus track that appeared at the end of the album. Unfortunately, it’s likely not available for listening on today’s streaming services.

“Decoy” – Paramore

If you’re a dedicated Paramore fan, you may have heard this song in a live recording or as part of their B-sides collection. “Decoy” was initially written for Riot! but ultimately failed to make the final cut. While it’s disappointing that there’s no studio version of this high-energy track available to stream, it does make for a cool addition to performances.

“40 Steps” – The Academy Is… 

Another fleeting iTunes bonus track, “40 Steps” was an evocative addition to the Academy Is…‘ sophomore album, Santi. The song even had its own dedicated tour video from the era. As luck would have it, the track was published to streaming services via the Warner Archives in 2019. Now, if only we could get that unreleased album, too…

Read more: QUIZ: How normal are your emo opinions compared to everyone else?

“Boomerang Theory” – Gym Class Heroes

We won’t fault you if you had no idea that Gym Class Heroes‘ “Boomerang Theory” even existed. The song was released on the Japanese version of The Papercut Chronicles and remains largely inaccessible in most regions, even today. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing it performed live, though, you probably wish that the song had made the original tracklisting.

“Under The Gun” – The Killers

We can’t complain too extensively about “Under The Gun” only being on the limited edition and Japanese releases of Hot Fuss. The song did ultimately get its opportunity to stand as a static track on the Killers‘ compilation album, Sawdust. Still, it’s so exemplary of the band’s early sound that it feels like a loss to have not heard it in 2004.

“Rabbits Are Roadkill On Rt. 37” – AFI

AFI frequently drop killer B-sides (see also: “Carcinogen Crush” and “Jack The Ripper“). “Rabbits Are Roadkill On Rt. 37” is a rather significant fan favorite, though. While this song was ultimately released as a bonus track on Decemberunderground, it was actually originally recorded for Sing The Sorrow. We’d argue it should’ve stayed there to foreshadow the band’s diversion into a more pop-punk sound.

Read more: Here’s how Hatebreed rediscovered their purpose on ‘Weight Of The False Self’

“Music Or The Misery” – Fall Out Boy

All we can say is, “Thank the alternative gods that this one didn’t end up on the (metaphorical) cutting room floor.” While we couldn’t have imagined in 2005 that Fall Out Boy‘s From Under The Cork Tree could get any better, they certainly showed us the following year. The track ended up appearing on the album’s limited “Black Clouds and Underdogs” edition.

“Don’t Tell Me It’s Over” – blink-182

blink-182‘s Take Off Your Pants And Jacket might have had one of the coolest release strategies of all time. The album initially came in three different versions corresponding to the colors on the cover art. While all the versions had the same basic tracklisting, they each included two unique bonus tracks. “Don’t Tell Me It’s Over” definitely made the “Green” version stand out, but we’d argue that it deserved a more concrete spot.

“Take It” – Avril Lavigne

No, we didn’t mean “Take Me Away.” Avril Lavigne actually had a similarly titled track written for Under My Skin. While the song was released as a B-side for the single version of “My Happy Ending,” it never joined its counterpart on the full album. We’ll just “take it” as a blessing that the track is available to stream on Spotify.

Read more: 10 emo songs from the 2000s that sounded surprisingly upbeat

“Hipbones And Microphones” – Cute Is What We Aim For

If you were a Cute Is What We Aim For fan back in the day, you may remember “Hipbones And Microphones” popping up periodically on social media. We argue that the raw, melodic sound would’ve fit in great on The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch‘s tracklisting. However, the song was only officially released with the DVD version of the album. That is until it got published to streaming services by the Warner Archives in 2019.

Which bonus tracks do you think should have been included on the albums they were released with? Let us know in the comments!

There’s a reason that the pop-punk princess’ relevance is so persistent. She’s pretty much the only uniting commonality across the larger scene. With a diverse discography spanning six albums and eras, there’s truly something for everyone—whether they want to admit it or not. And what that “something” is can be quite telling about a person.

Read more: ‘Umbrella Academy’ star Elliot Page files for divorce from Emma Portner

So which Avril Lavigne era does your personalitybest align with? Take the quiz below to find out!

More on Avril Lavigne

Despite being well known as a pop-punk icon, Avril Lavigne actually has her foundations set in country and folk music. It was only after she signed to Arista Records that she decided to change course and take on her signature punk-rock style.

The reorientation turned out to be a life-changing decision for the aspiring musician. Her chart-topping debut album, Let Go, earned her immediate mainstream success following its release in 2002. To this day, “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi” remain her two most popular tracks, according to Spotify streams. The latter even landed her a musical guest spot on Sabrina The Teenage Witch in 2002.

Read more: 10 acoustic renditions of 2000s songs that are better than the original

Fulfilling a two-album deal with Arista Records, Lavigne quickly set to work on her follow-up release. Under My Skin dropped in 2004 and received widespread critical acclaim. “My Happy Ending” was a particularly successful hit, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following the closure of her contract with Arista, the singer then joined the roster of Sony‘s RCA Records. Under this new label, she released her third album, The Best Damn Thing. Though now a popular point for 2000s nostalgia, the record’s bubblegum-pop style significantly divided fans at the time.

Read more: 10 lyrics from the 2000s that you definitely used for a Facebook status

Lavigne proceeded to release two more albums, Goodbye Lullaby in 2011 and a self-titled effort in 2013, prior to going on hiatus. The break was reportedly necessitated due to health complications associated with her Lyme disease diagnosis. However, that didn’t stop fans from baselessly drawing up conspiracy theories. The most notable suggests that she was replaced by a clone following her untimely death.

Of course, the rumors didn’t stop Lavigne from coming back full force. Despite some setbacks, she resurfaced (no pun intended) in 2018 with lead single “Head Above Water” from her sixth studio album of the same name. While she was able to complete the American leg of her world tour, the coronavirus pandemic unfortunately cut the run short.

Read more: 10 alt Kidz Bop covers from the 2000s that are so bad, they’re good

Now nearly two decades into her mainstream success, Lavigne remains as relevant as ever within the alternative scene. In addition to collaborating with We The Kings’ Travis Clark and MOD SUN, she serves as a continuous source of inspiration.

Last March, Machine Gun Kelly demonstrated this fact with a “Sk8er Boi” cover. YUNGBLUD took it a step further, creating a poignant mashup between “I’m With You” and Taylor Swift‘s “Cardigan.” But perhaps Pale Waves vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie posed the most telling tribute when she identified Lavigne explicitly as a “childhood hero.”

Which Avril Lavigne era do you best align with? Let us know in the comments!

The opportunity for success in the genre was made possible as scene bands started signing to major labels and their tours broadened past the United States. This type of music went worldwide, and there was nothing stopping it from continuing to grow. With the combination of the onset of the social media boom and going mainstream, scene bands set the tone in 2004 for the years to follow. Here are the best scene albums from that year. 

Read more: See what Mark Hoppus had to say about Tom DeLonge rejoining blink-182

Alexisonfire – Watch Out!

Debuting their second album, Alexisonfire took the opportunity to make Watch Out! their own thematic free for all. Topics range from drug addiction (“White Devil”) to Linda Blair’s role in 1973 horror favorite The Exorcist (“That Girl Possessed”). The band utilized a slew of topics to establish an emo and post-hardcore sound that wasn’t entirely personal. Alexisonfire showcased that scene music could be about everything and anything, including your past, favorite film or even go-karting. 

Avril Lavigne – Under My Skin

In her second album, Under My Skin, Avril Lavigne showed an all new side to her music. Much more complex than her first album, it featured darker concepts of feeling lost and alone, such as “Nobody’s Home.” With deeper emotional lyrics and a punk-rock sound, Lavigne moved beyond her teenage pop-punk persona and matured into a fully fledged alternative music icon. 

Bayside – Sirens And Condolences

Bayside’s debut Sirens And Condolences took influence from their emo predecessors in their lyrics with the added prospect of hope. With soft melodic tones, they established a new form of reflection that offered an upward look toward a bright future. While maintaining 1990s emo tonality, they created music that flawlessly blended emo with pop-punk elements. Bayside’s first album based its sound in internalized thoughts, resulting in an unforgettable record. 

Bowling For Soup – A Hangover You Don’t Deserve

Veterans of the music scene Bowling For Soup released their fifth album, A Hangover You Don’t Deserve, in 2004. The album features classic pop-punk sounds that they had spent years perfecting. Bowling For Soup became known for mixing comedic lyrics with melodic pop to produce albums that challenged the status quo. With songs such as “Almost” and “1985,” A Hangover You Don’t Deserve is an album we’ll never forget. 

Read more: Bowling For Soup give “Girl All The Bad Guys Want” hilarious 2019 update

From First To Last – Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count

From First To Last debuted their post-hardcore and emo sound with Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has A Body Count. Before he was known as Skrillex, Sonny Moore fronted the angst-driven band and used his vocal talents to express feelings of heartbreak and anger. They quickly became known for their intensity in songs such as “Emily” and emotionally devastating ones such as “Note To Self.” With their use of emo lyrics, post-hardcore sounds and bitter screams, Dear Diary became a blueprint for the scene. 

Good Charlotte – The Chronicles Of Life And Death

In 2004, Good Charlotte went full throttle with their darkest album to date, The Chronicles Of Life And Death. If the title didn’t give it away, the album focuses on the concept of life’s beginning, its in-between and end. They utilized the sounds of British punk rock, goth rock and emo mixed with their pop-punk background to create an album with songs to dance to such as “I Just Wanna Live” and ones to cry to such as “We Believe.” Good Charlotte’s third album was a fully realized body of work that recognizes the good, the bad and the mundane aspects of life in a way that pleases sonically.

Green Day – American Idiot

Punk veterans Green Day released their seventh album, American Idiot, as a concept album. It follows the story of a lower-middle-class adolescent as he comes of age during the Iraq war.  A tour de force of a record, it put Green Day on the map as a band who will go down in history as one of the greats. Featuring songs that span anywhere from three minutes to nine minutes such as “Jesus Of Suburbia,” American Idiot is an integral album to the history of alternative music. 

Hawthorne Heights – The Silence In Black And White

It’s undeniable that the first album from Hawthorne Heights, The Silence In Black And White, is integral to the history of scene music. Iconic songs such as “Ohio Is For Lovers” and “Niki FM” set them apart from any other band at the time. Their sound was deeply entrenched in elements of the gothic and emo, but Hawthorne Heights were much more than that. They offered components of hardcore with breakdowns in the middle of JT Woodruff’s vocals that declared feelings of yearning. Then abrupt screams would intertwine with them to establish true commitment behind the lyrics.

Read more: Here’s video of Tom DeLonge talking about Matt Skiba in 2004

Jimmy Eat World – Futures

On Futures, Jimmy Eat World explored feelings of hopelessness with songs such as “Pain” and “Kill.” The album represented the band’s desire to move past their old sound toward one that was more emotional and raw. They used elements of punk, emo and alternative rock to capture the future of their sound.

The Killers – Hot Fuss

The Killers made an unforgettable entrance into the alternative music scene with their debut album, Hot Fuss. They were influenced by new wave and post-punk when conceptualizing their sound, and it shows. With singles such as “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me,” the Killers became an instant success. Their lyrics were self-reflective and accompanied by dance-worthy instrumentation, making it one of the most influential and creative albums of the century. 

Midtown – Forget What You Know

Midtown’s third and final album, Forget What You Know, reflects where the band were at in their career. The sounds are virtually all over the place to establish a moment of disorder that accompanies an abrupt change. Midtown were losing momentum, and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta was ready to move on. Regardless, they went out with a bang on their final record. They embraced their emo roots by emphasizing the harshness of reality but with amplified momentum and intense energy. 

My Chemical Romance – Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge

Following the success of their first album, My Chemical Romance took the alternative community by storm with their second record, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. It demonstrated the growth the band made both lyrically and sonically as they merged emo, punk and post-hardcore to create one of their most iconic albums. Gerard Way conceptualized the album as a horror story with music videos for “The Ghost Of You” representing the terrors of war and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” as the emotional hell of high school. Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge has stood the test of time for its inventive storytelling and a unique sound only My Chemical Romance could create.

Read more: Gerard Way and Bert McCracken’s isolated vocals will take you back to 2004

New Found Glory – Catalyst

With aggressive, heavier sounds, New Found Glory released their fourth album, Catalyst, which represented everything they were and wanted to be as a band. Hardcore punk heavily influenced the record. The band pulled on this in songs such as “All Downhill From Here” and “Failure’s Not Flattering.” While giving the guitar parts a bigger sound, they also implemented new instruments into the lineup such as the keyboard. Overall, Catalyst was a power-packed album charged with personal drive toward creating tracks that represented the band as a whole. 

Senses Fail – Let It Enfold You

Senses Fail’s first album, Let It Enfold You, was heavily inspired by literature and poetry. Charles Bukowski’s poem of the same name even influenced the record’s title. At the time, they were heavily influenced by emo’s fervent lyrics and post-hardcore’s explosive vocals. By mixing the two together, Senses Fail’s debut album showcased the band’s sensitivity toward intense topics alongside their carefree attitude. 

Simple Plan – Still Not Getting Any

The second album from Simple Plan, Still Not Getting Any, proved that the band could carry their youthful rowdy sound over from the first album while providing listeners with a desire to grow beyond it. With a mix of pop-punk and emo, the record offers somber reflections on loss with “Untitled” and takes a turn toward the carefree nature of youth in “Jump.” Half of the record is composed of upbeat pop-punk essentials alongside sorrow-filled songs that make its entirety a roller coaster. 

Sugarcult – Palm Trees And Power Lines

Conceptually, Sugarcult’s Palm Trees And Power Lines represents the beauty of the world juxtaposed with harsh realities. With pop-punk and power-pop elements, they created upbeat tempos with thoughtful lyrics about traveling, touring, relationships and mental health issues. Palm Trees And Power Lines is a deep meditation on how even light can shine through dark days. 

Read more: Watch Saosin’s 2004 Warped Tour set (ft. Story Of The Year’s Philip Sneed)

Sum 41 – Chuck

Before their third album, Chuck, Sum 41 were known for their rowdy personas and classic pop-punk sound. When they released this album, though, it showcased a newly evolved band who were more mature. Chuck featured darker themes and was heavily influenced by heavy metal, punk and alternative rock. With songs such as “We’re All To Blame” and “Pieces,” Sum 41 showed the world every aspect of their range and talent. 

Taking Back Sunday – Where You Want To Be

Taking Back Sunday’s Where You Want To Be expanded their musical stylings. They introduced more pop punk into their emo roots and melodic hardcore sound as well as amplified vocals that intensified feelings of yearning. The album produced two successful singles with “This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)” and “A Decade Under The Influence.” Overall, it was a powerful record that set the tone for where emo was and where it planned on going. 

Underoath – They’re Only Chasing Safety

While other bands were developing their own sound, Underoath were working on maturing theirs. Their fourth album, They’re Only Chasing Safety, highlights how they were able to perfect a post-hardcore sound while shifting toward screamo and melodic hardcore. Nearly every song on the album discusses concepts of death, dying and the anxieties that accompany the fear of life’s end. With vocals from Aaron Gillespie and Spencer Chamberlain, songs such as “It’s Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door” perfectly encapsulate acceptance and fear as they ping-pong between soft vocals and all-out screaming. They’re Only Chasing Safety established the band as virtuosos.

The Used – In Love And Death

The Used’s second album, In Love And Death, is deeply emotional and personal. The album’s title and lyrics were all inspired by the tragic death of Bert McCracken’s pregnant girlfriend. With brutally honest and emotionally raw energy, In Love And Death became their most successful album. It ranges from acceptance, regret, remorse and reflection with stylistically emo lyrics and rock sounds.