Criteria
High-octane indie rock with surgical precision and shouted melodic hooks. It is the sound of midwestern urgency and restless, intellectual energy.
High-octane indie rock with surgical precision and shouted melodic hooks. It is the sound of midwestern urgency and restless, intellectual energy.
Criteria is the primary creative vehicle for Steve Pedersen, a founding member of Cursive who famously left the music industry to pursue a law degree before returning to Omaha to form this project. This biographical arc informs the band's sound: a hyper-articulate, high-energy fusion of indie rock and post-hardcore.
Formed in 2003, the band became a staple of the Saddle Creek Records roster during the label's mid-2000s peak. Their sound is defined by Pedersen's distinctive vocal delivery - a melodic shout that conveys immense urgency - and a dual-guitar attack that utilizes intricate, math-rock influenced counterpoint. Unlike the more experimental or folk-leaning acts in the Omaha scene, Criteria maintained a focus on anthemic, driving rock. After a long hiatus following 2005's 'When We Break,' the band surprised fans with the 2020 release 'Years,' proving their signature brand of high-tension, precise rock remained intact. They are critically regarded as one of the most technically proficient and energetic acts of the second-wave emo and indie rock crossover era.
Shares energetic, defiant, urgent (moods); studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style)
Shares emo, post-hardcore, alternative rock (subgenres); basement_show, urban_night, road_trip (atmosphere)
Shares post-hardcore, emo, alternative rock (subgenres); intense, belting (vocal style)
Shares alternative rock, post-hardcore, indie rock (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style)
Shares alternative rock, post-hardcore, indie rock (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style)
Shares basement_show, urban_night, road_trip (atmosphere); studio_polished, dynamic_range, layered_dense (production style)
Shares indie rock, alternative rock, emo (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style)
Shares studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style); energetic, restless, urgent (moods)
Shares indie rock, emo, post-hardcore (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style)
Shares studio_polished, layered_dense, dynamic_range (production style); basement_show, urban_night, road_trip (atmosphere)
Shares urgent, emo, post-hardcore, cathartic (signature)
Shares urgent, emo, post-hardcore, dynamic_range (signature)
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