Leucadia

Boilermaker was the foundational band for many in the mid-'90s emo movement. To help capture that sentiment, Better Looking Records has released a wonderful compilation of highlights from their three albums, as well as two new songs, recorded in 2001 to establish the band's re-emergence. The older material is splendid, and for those unfamiliar with Boilermaker, it requires some patience to become familiarized with the more challenging genre of emo which many pop-influenced youngsters may not be familiar with. This material emerged right after the DC explosion, and is, in many regards, the bridge between the roots of emo music and early '00s overindulgence of emo-pop artists in the market. Soaring, disturbed guitars, ready drumbeats, and a hidden bass combine with vocals that sing as though they're out to make a difference and still show the roots of emo within hardcore (think somewhere between grunge and Snapcase). The newer material is slower, less angst-ridden, yet not without its morose bite. If the band continues along this path, the release of an upcoming album will be welcome indeed.