Emo is a tricky genre; the kids loved it but the critics hated it. It is one of the most derided phenomena of the past century (ranking slightly behind Nazism but ahead of Gallagher), but there also exists a small but stellar cadre of albums that, while regarded as “emo” are also, at least in my mind, fantastic. I’m thinking of Brand New’s Deja Entendu, of early Get Up Kids, and emo forefathers such as Lync, The Wrens, and Weezer’s Pinkerton. There are also many, many, many emo bands that show an abject deficiency of overall….goodness. As I said, it’s a tricky genre.

I would classify Look Mexico [Official Site, MySpace] as an emo band (though I bet they would disagree). Their EP, Gasp, Asp, has the loud ringing guitars and the stereotypical overwrought, yet strangely endearing “emo” vocals (thankfully sans screams). The songs feature frequent tempo changes and are vaguely punk-ish (though several degrees removed). To their credit, much of the over-the-top excess favored by most emo bands (looking at you, My Chemical Romance!) is absent. Yes the song titles are long and make frequent use of punctuation, but Look Mexico is almost a quasi-emo; an emo for indie kids. Songs move with focus and show a willingness to move beyond clichés.

Though Look Mexico formed in 2004, they feel like a young band on Gasp, Asp. They sound to me like a band that has the skills but are still unsure or unknowing of how to put them to good use. Much like the first Husker Du albums, which were hardcore punk almost by default but with the hints of something deeper, I believe that Look Mexico is “emo” almost by default. I see a band here that could grow far more interesting on future albums (not that Gasp, Asp is not worthwhile; it is) and produce something much more lasting than most bands with “emo” leanings. Something that both the kids and the critics will love.

Score: 3/5

“You’re Not Afraid of the Dark Are You” [mp3] (from Gasp, Asp)
“You Come Into My House, While I Sleep” [mp3] (from This is Animal Music)
“Whose Ship Is This” [mp3] (from The Crucial Collection)

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