While the rest of my peers were excited about the return of Backstreet Boys in 2005, I was jammin' to Green Day's newest album, "American Idiot". My circle of friends adjusted accordingly, exposing me to other like-minded individuals and, eventually, other bands that are now prime examples of the emo phase many people went through in the awkward years of secondary education. My first show was Paramore in 2006, before they blew up with "Misery Business." I recall being picked up early from middle school to attend the "Taste of Chaos" tour, featuring The Used, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and other emo favorites.

As the scene started dying down and all of my favorite bands either started breaking up or just getting bad, it took a while for my tastes in music to recover. Luckily, mainly thanks to help from my sisters and my attendance of music festivals, I've encountered some new bands that encompass all that I loved about the music I listened to as a prepubescent emo kid, but in a more mature, sophisticated way. Ranging from high-energy punk to genre-bending progressive rock, these artists are a great way to go back to your emo roots without the judgement you may get from admitting you still like Hawthorne Heights.

1. Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties

Led by pop-punk band The Wonder Years' Dan Campbell, this folk rock project follows the fictional story of a man, Aaron West, and the struggles he faces after his partner inexplicably leaves him. The story line definitely doesn't reinvent the wheel or anything, but the way the journey of this heartbroken man plays out not just through the lyrics and vocals, but the stellar musical arrangements of the songs, definitely brings a refreshing take on a traditional tale of heartbreak. If you were into emo bands, chances are you enjoyed the raw emotion of it all. This album encompasses all of that, but in a more sophisticated way, weaving the psychological struggle of heartbreak into every aspect of its construction, rather than simply using questionably poetic words and whiny voices to get the point across.

Suggested song: "St. Joe Keeps Us Safe"
Suggested album: "We Don't Have Each Other" (Buy it here!)

2. From Indian Lakes

Upon first hearing From Indian Lakes, I categorized them as Hawthorne Heights for intellectuals. Packaged in every song is a powerful vocal performance, as well as an instrumental intricacy, despite the apparent lack of any unconventional instruments for a rock band. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the band is the storytelling quality of the songs. Although each song tells a different story, as opposed to numbers 1, 4, and 5 on this list who benefit from conceptual work, the themes of their songs are much deeper than your average emo tale of heartbreak or complicated love. They flawlessly take internal and psychological struggles and bring them to life through their music, which makes them much more than just a modern-day Hawthorne Heights.

Suggested song: "Stay Outside"
Suggested album: "Able Bodies" (Buy it here!)

3. PUP

Definitely the most lighthearted group on the list, this band is great for when you want less (notice I said less and not no) emotional stimulation and more of a genuinely fun experience. As my sister described it, listening to Pup is like "going down a really fun waterslide." A punk band with an instrumental lineup of your average drums and guitars, their music is more along the lines of "let's get you pumped" than "let's impress you with our intense musical abilities." However, by doing just this, it makes the music all the more impressive. Plus, in gems like my song example below, the lyrics are actually more complex than the band's persona may lead you to believe.

Suggested song: "Dark Days"
Suggested album: "Self-Titled" (Buy it here!)

4. The Venetia Fair

I was actually introduced to these guys during my emo phase (that is, two of the members cornered me at Warped Tour and sold me their debut album, a concept album of sorts entitled "The Circus", in the late 2000s). However, their evolution as a band that culminated in the album "Every Sick, Disgusting Thought We've Got in Our Brain" is what truly makes them a good listen. Similar to From Indian Lakes, the band is skilled in storytelling, but in a fairly different way. Their songs are more directly confrontational to the stories they're trying to tell, whether it's about an old lover or a battle with the concept of divinity. All of this is complimented by the beautifully discordant simultaneous conflict and harmony between instruments. They're my proof that good can actually come out of being forced to listen to bands you don't want to listen to at music festivals.

Suggested song: "(II) The Dirt Won't Keep Your Secrets"
Suggested album: "Every Sick, Disgusting Thought We've Got in Our Brain" (Buy it here!)

5. The Dear Hunter

Fronted by Casey Crescenzo, former member of The Receiving End of Sirens, of the emo era, we have what is undoubtedly the most complex artist on this list. Whether you're discussing a non-conceptual EP or any of the 4 current installments in their 6 part series of concept albums, there is no shortage of heart and passion. There's no shortage of anything, really. Engaging stories? Check. Mind-blowing instrumental prowess? Double check. A song to suit any possible mood? Triple check. All I can say is, the sooner you expose yourself to the wonder of The Dear Hunter, the sooner you can face the remorse you'll feel for not having discovered them earlier. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that, after listening to every song of theirs more times than I or any technology can count, I still find myself discovering new things every time.

Suggested song: "City Escape"
Suggested albums: the Acts (I, II, III, & IV-- Buy them here!)