Joan of Arc

Darlings of the Chicago Emo scene, Joan of Arc helped define emotional Post-Punk music in the late '90s. They formed shortly after the hugely popular, incredibly innovative Punk/Emo band Cap'n Jazz broke up -- three members helped found Joan of Arc. They pushed the adventurous ambitions of their earlier bands to new levels, bringing a jazzy, arty, electronic-supplied sound to their dense, dynamic atmospheres. Tim Kinsella's perpetually off-key vocals work as well in Joan of Arc as they did in Cap'n Jazz, though the mood is much more sedate. The band also constantly pushes the boundaries of their own music, edging farther from their Punk roots and closer to Experimental Jazz. Some people find their music indigestibly pretentious, others think they're the most sincere people to ever pick up instruments. Whichever side of the fence you fall on, it's undeniable that they're incredibly talented.