"Rites of Spring prides itself as one of the great hardcore punk bands, but many professional music critics and punk historians claim this beloved Washington D.C. outfit to be the first emo band. Mainly because the band's lyrics were more personal and in-depth than any of its hardcore punk contemporaries. Though Rites of Spring didn't want anything to do with the emo label, the band's only studio release has stood the test of time and got the ball rolling on a movement."