Wrapped in a Knapsack...

In the current era of where radio is filled with mostly worthless and disposable pop/punk or faux emo music, it's hard to imagine anything with that label being anywhere remotely worth listening to. However, years ago before this trend hit like an atom bomb on the US mainstream radio markets, bands were playing good tight pop/punk and borderline emo in almost complete obscurity. A good example of such would be Day Three of my New Life by a small band called Knapsack, who were formed in 1993 by two college buddies. Put out in 1997 on Alias records, this album borrows from the likes of indie vets Superchunk by dealing up a fat slab of catchy indie rock/pop, with a bit of an emotional edge. You couldn't really label this an emo record, however, it's obviously somewhat rooted in the genre.

The record isn't anything to write home about in terms of originality, cause this has been done a thousand times over. However, the key difference is that it's a solid album that just feels like a truly honest piece of work. If this were released right now, it wouldn't surprise me if it received a lot of attention. However, instead it remains hidden and serves as a timeless record that shows just how good something CAN be if it isn't taken and made into some huge marketing juggernaut for the Hot Topic youth. Take a listen if you want, it's definitely worth it. You can actually still pick this up new from most major online retailers.

Knapsack - Thursday Side of the Street [MP3]
Knapsack - Decorate the Spine [MP3]