Reviews
"Deep Elm really should be praised for this series of comps. Not only do they bring a lot of new bands some much needed attention, but all the tracks are previously unreleased. The album includes the rather Jawbreaker like Slowride, a great track from The White Octave, the screamed anger of Cast Aside and expansive soundscape that Benji produce -- all of which get the thumbs up from me. Another essential purchase for all you emo kids." - Scanner
"The first two volumes in the Emo Diaries series were instrumental in introducing me to the style and so many excellent bands. Those two compilations are still some of my favorite albums. Deep Elm always manages to pull together some great bands for this series. But this time around on Emo Diaries Five 'I Guess This is Goodbye,' the batch is probably the most diverse we've heard since the first two. Powerful and hardcore-powered songs mix with more mellow and quieter songs. It's a great group of songs that really showcase the style that is emo. The White Octave contribute one of their unique blends of indie rock, math rock, and disjointed noise. Slowride's "Daydreams of a Future" is one of those post-punk rocking tracks with lots of driving guitar and melody. Reubens Accomplice is one of my favorite new bands here. The UK's Sunfactor has an older Braid-like sound combined with a nice sense of melody and precision. Their song, "Frostbite," is another of the gems on this release. Kerith Ravine remind me of the softer side of Jejune, with a female vocalist and some fantastic guitar. Cast Aside's "Racecar Theory" is my favorite track here. Starting off quiet and pretty with a female vocalist, suddenly a male singer starts screaming as the sound intensifies. The two rip out alternating shouted/screamed vocals, interspersed with very moody, powerful spoken parts. This track is just so damn cool. Chapter Five is probably the best in this series since the second volume. Instead of containing twelve similar bands, this volume pushes the envelope. This is emo in its traditional and more well-known style as well as styles focused on math-rock, post-rock, hardcore, and other sounds. And that's why these songs are so good, so impressive together. Even better, all but a few of these bands were unknown to me." - Delusions of Adequacy
"More quality emo from Deep Elm who prove with this record, yet again, how good they are at finding fantastic up-and-coming bands before anyone else gets the chance. The twelve tracks here are of a consistently high standard with standout tracks from Chapel Hill's The White Octave, London's Sunfactor, and Houston's Eniac, whose beautiful I'll Never Get Home is probably the best of the bunch. Expect dramatic guitars, crashing drums and a combination of melody, raw energy and emotion. On the whole this is a very strong compilation with the vast majority of tracks being a joy to listen to." - Kerrang
"One of my favorite labels come out tops again with another amazing chapter to their ongoing Emo Diaries series. This one's just as good as the last one but has The White Octave on it who are absolutely stunning. Other bands rocking my world and this comp are Sunfactor, who always amazes me how better they seem to get, Eniac, who play the emo thing for a while before jumping up and grabbing you with an absolute stunner of a hook, and Cast Aside, who manage to sound emo yet scary at the same time with dueling male and female vocals with screams and growls popping up all over. As you should already know these comps feature exclusively unreleased tracks and are well worth your money. I should say something bad about this, otherwise everyone's going to think I'm on the Deep Elm payroll!" - Waxface
"Chapter Five of The Emo Diaries is an excellent compilation of passionately committed, challenging and genre defying music. I Guess This Is Goodbye contains twelve very fine bands from America, not a bad one amongst them and all worthy of further investigation. Thoughtful, creative songwriting, this is how a compilation should be - compiled with a love for genuinely moving music and a desire to share those bands with anyone who cares. A fine documentation of some very fine bands, each with the ability to stir emotion and the desire to challenge themselves musically rather than just wanting to sound like their heroes. It's difficult to single out any of the bands but I do need to go and find out more about the post rock sound of The Walt Lariat, the pure emotion of Eniac and the delicate fragile edginess of Karith Ravine...everyone of these bands are in need of further investigation with their passionately stirring guitar-based emo delight. This is an excellent compilation that shall be played again and again. A big thanks to those excellent people at Deep Elm for taking the time and caring so much. One of the finest albums of the year in a year that's throwing up some treasures. Very highly recommended." - Organart
"The Emo Diaries is probably one of the best series of all time. It documents the progression of a movement. All songs are previously unreleased which makes the Diaries even more special. Each chapter in the series concentrates on new bands, not hype, just music. On I Guess This Is Goodbye: Chapter 5, The White Octave is amazing, Sunfactor and The Walt Lariat are quality bands as well. There is already a Chapter 6 in the works, and I see no reason to stop. If it ain't broke, don't fix it." - Interference
"Any one of the songs on The Emo Diaries Chapter 5: I Guess This Is Goodbye would prove to be an excellent background score for any motion picture about failed relationships. You can almost see the doors being slammed in faces, or the quintessential two in the morning, drunk and screaming in the front yard final argument. All of the bands are undeniably punchy, strong and drenched in emotional sweat. Most are a brilliant coupling of intensity and pain and are strongly fueled by suggestively heart felt lyrical content. Standouts include Sunfactor with an almost perfectly crafted power pop anthem, The White Octave's Looking Past Sky and its crushingly compact anger driven bass riff and stabbingly strong guitars and The Walt Lariat with one of the greatest insomnia songs ever written." - Salt For Slugs
"One of the longest-running compilation series just keeps on chugging along. As the Deep Elm line-up shows, the definition of emo keeps changing. The songs on this set bear a familiar resemblance to the ones on the first, but the lines of descent aren't exactly clear. Which is what makes this series so valuable from a historical standpoint. This disc is also valuable simply from the musical standpoint. The songs, as always, are great, which is enough of a reason for me." - Aiding And Abetting
"Deep Elm has managed to put together yet another strong collection on this, the fifth instalment in its very dependable series The Emo Diaries. Does this album rock? Yes, it does. It opens with a couple of great hook-driven tunes, the Pavement-esque 'Looking Past Sky' from The White Octave and the full throttle punk of 'Daydream of a Future' by Slowride. The sophomore fun of 'You Do It Awfully' by Reubens Accomplice (warning: this song will get stuck in your head) slides seamlessly into the moody instrumental jam, '6:00 AM In Cortona' by The Walt Lariat. There's raw emotion all over these tracks and the tempo shifts of fast/slow, build/release are well utilized. Fans won't be disappointed." - Jagged
"Whatever it is that Deep elm has tapped into, they consistently put out quality music. Chapter Five offers twelve unreleased tracks of solid music by some great bands. Deep Elm has managed to assemble a strong assembly of quality music throughout their Emo Diaries series, and this is chapter is no exception." - Media Reader
"This is the fifth installment in Deep Elm's Emo Diaries series that documents an extraordinary and powerful style of music that possesses the ability to stir strong emotions like no other. Consider it a success because, for the FIFTH time in a row, Deep Elm has released an excellent compilation of bands. But these aren't just emo bands. There's indie rock and punk and hardcore and experimental all thrown in, all emotionally charged." - Impact Press
"I had no idea The Emo Diaries were up to Chapter Five. I remember Chapter Two so well. And who can forget Chapter Three? Chapter Five is as good as any of the others. If I had to pick favorite tracks from this collection I'd have to say that Walt Lariat's five plus minute instrumental '6:00am in Cortona' is quite nice, as is Eniac's 'I'll Never Get Home.' - Splendid
"I Guess This Is Goodbye: The Emo Diaries Chapter Five captures all of the best sub genres of emo, somehow managing to save the brightest young talent in the pool from drowning. From Reubens Accomplice's geekiness, The Walt Lariat's instrumentation, Sunfactor's radio friendly sad pop, to Eniac's arpeggios, these bands set themselves apart by doing something different. We can still count on The Emo Diaries to provide the newest sparks in the genre." - Lollipop
"Moving along in a continuing series, Deep Elm is doing a remarkable job at capturing and documenting the essence of emo music. Chapter 5: I Guess This Is Goodbye features The White Octave beginning the comp, immediately followed by the powerful Slowride. Reubens Accomplice takes a more down-to-earth Superchunk approach, continuing down the line with a dimming song by Eniac. Of course, this is the tip of the iceberg, but what you get are some powerfully creative tunes that are worth sifting through." - Readyset...Aesthetic
"This compilation does exactly what compilation are supposed to do...introduce you to new bands. The Emo Dairies Chapter Five fills you with a fluidity like passion that stirs in your stomach and attempts to leap out of your throat." - Wonka Vision
"In my humble opinion these compilations are the best around. All unreleased tracks from the likes of The White Octave, Sunfactor, Cast Aside and The Walt Lariat. This is really worth investing some money in, as they really are top quality. What else would you expect from the ever dependable Deep Elm?" - Mass Movement |
