"Existentialism on Prom Night" by Straylight Run from the album Straylight Run (2004)

Straylight Run was a departure for John Nolan, formerly of Taking Back Sunday. On 2004’s homonymous debut, SLR took angsty TBS lyricism to a mature level, with slower-pace piano rock and Nolan’s sister Michelle on vocals/piano. “Existentialism on Prom Night” became one of Long Island emo’s most celebrated ballads, one of four MP3 demos released shortly before their first show on the Island in September 2003, and even then, every kid at the venue sang along.

_Liz Pelly