Weezer

What happens when you combine the power pop sound of the Knack, a Kiss-esque love for gnarly riffs, and the Beach Boys’ undeniable gift for melodicism? Well, sprinkle in a bit of quirky humor and relatable lyricism and you get something approaching Weezer, the undisputed kings of “geek rock” and pioneering figures of the genre we now call emo. Beginning with their classic debut Weezer (aka “The Blue Album”), the band released some of the most beloved and infectious hits of the ‘90s, including “Buddy Holly,” “Say It Ain’t So,” and “Undone-The Sweater Song.” Since then, the band has continually reinvented themselves with albums ranging from the dark and introspective cult classic Pinkerton to the recent baroque-pop of OK Human. Despite the dizzying diversity of their discography, Weezer’s sound remains easily distinguishable and undeniably influential, inspiring bands from Blink-182 to Panic! at the Disco.