Choose Your Champion: Emo Introspection or Gypsy Punk Celebration?
Kill Them With Kindness vs. Super Taranta battle for 2000s deep cut supremacy
The suggestions are in from our Discord crew, and we’ve got four absolute gems battling it out in our latest 2000s Rock Tournament. Our Union members have dug deep into their collections to nominate these overlooked treasures—and the winner gets featured on the podcast!
Let’s break down what makes each of these albums special. Time to vote for your favorite sonic companion from the decade that gave us everything.
The Jealous Sound - Kill Them With Kindness (2003)
Suggested by Keith Tasker
The Jealous Sound emerged from the ashes of beloved 90s emo outfit Knapsack, led by Blair Shehan’s introspective songwriting and understated guitar work. This Los Angeles supergroup also featured Pedro Benito from Sunday’s Best and Adam Wade, who’d drummed for Jawbox.
Think Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American filtered through a more literary lens—melodic emo-rock that balances raw emotion with sophisticated pop sensibilities. Shehan’s palm-muted rhythms interweave with shimmering lead guitars, creating what one critic called “aural therapy rather than popular anthems”.
The album took three years to complete due to major label shenanigans—they were signed, then their label got acquired, forcing them to escape and return to indie Better Looking Records. Despite this chaos, it landed at #31 on Rolling Stone’s “40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time”.
While never achieving mainstream success, Kill Them With Kindness became a critical darling with a 77/100 Metacritic score. The band’s music appeared in Volkswagen and Apple commercials, helping them steal some radio-friendly thunder from bigger names in the emo scene.
Scott Weiland - “Happy” in Galoshes (2008)
Suggested by Darren Leeman
The Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman, one of grunge’s most distinctive voices, released this as his second solo effort ten years after 12 Bar Blues. By 2008, Weiland was exploring more experimental territory while dealing with personal upheaval.
A sonic departure from his band work, blending indie-rock aesthetics with David Bowie influences (Bowie was cited as a major inspiration). The album features guest appearances from No Doubt members Adrian Young, Tony Kanal, and Tom Dumont, plus a Paul Oakenfold collaboration on a Bowie cover.
The songs were inspired by deeply personal tragedies—the death of Weiland’s brother Michael (who played drums on one track) and his separation from his wife of eight years, Mary Forsberg. Despite the heavy subject matter, the title reflects Weiland’s attempt at finding happiness during dark times.
Debuted at #96 on the Billboard 200 with 10,500 first-week sales—modest numbers that reflected Weiland’s more experimental, less commercial approach. Critics were divided, with Rolling Stone giving it 3.5/5 while Entertainment Weekly awarded it a C-.
Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta! (2007)
Suggested by Patrick Testa
Eugene Hütz’s gypsy punk carnival, a multicultural eight-piece that combines Eastern European folk traditions with punk energy. Hütz, a Ukrainian-born refugee who landed in NYC’s Lower East Side, built the band from acoustic sets in Ukrainian bars into an international phenomenon.
Imagine The Clash colliding with a Romani festival—accordion, violin, and punk guitars creating what Hütz calls “relentlessly hardcore celebratory” music. This album leaned more heavily into their gypsy/Eastern European roots compared to their punkier previous work.
The album was recorded at Long View Farm Studios with producer Victor Van Vugt, and Robert Christgau gave it an A+ rating, calling Gogol Bordello “the world’s most visionary band.” The title track “Ultimate” made Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Best Songs of 2007 at #82.
Their biggest commercial success to date, hitting #67 in the UK, #115 on the US Billboard 200, and charting in seven countries. Rolling Stone ranked it #14 on their Top 50 Albums of 2007, cementing their status as punk’s most joyous misfits.
Maxïmo Park - A Certain Trigger (2005)
Suggested by Darren Leach
Newcastle’s post-punk revival darlings, formed when frontman Paul Smith was spotted in a bar singing Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” The bookish quintet stood apart from their contemporaries with literary smarts and Paul Epworth’s crisp production.
Wire and The Fall meet modern indie-rock urgency—jagged guitar lines, nervous energy, and Smith’s passionate vocals tackling themes of youth, love, and displacement. Songs like “Apply Some Pressure” and “Going Missing” became indie disco essentials.
They were signed to electronic label Warp Records (home to Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada), making them outsiders in the guitar band gold rush. The album title comes from the lyric “once, a glimpse” in the track of the same name.
Achieved Platinum status in the UK, sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, and earned a Mercury Prize nomination. Five singles were released, with “Apply Some Pressure” appearing in FIFA 06, Burnout Revenge, and SSX on Tour. It peaked at #15 on UK Albums Chart and #1 on Independent Albums.
Which album deserves the podcast spotlight? Cast your vote and let’s see which DMO Union suggestion takes the crown! 🏆