Rites of Spring

"Rites of Spring" is the only album released by the American post-hardcore band of the same name. It was recorded in February 1985 at Inner Ear Studios and released on vinyl in June of the same year by Dischord Records #16. Produced by Ian MacKaye, the album has twelve tracks.

The album was reissued on CD and cassette in 1987, featuring an additional track from the same recording session called "Other Way Around" and the four songs from the Rites of Spring's follow-up EP, "All Through a Life", which was recorded in January 1986 and released in 1987. The album cover is the same as the debut album.

Musically, the album shows influences from The Faith, and Rites of Spring's songwriting combines introspective lyrics with melody-tinged angry sounds, moving further away from hardcore punk.

The album has received critical acclaim and recognition, ranking number 30 on Kurt Cobain's list of favorite albums, and Pitchfork ranked it number 96 on its list of the Top 100 Albums of the 1980s. It has also appeared on several "best of" emo album lists, including those by Consequence of Sound, Kerrang!, LA Weekly, and Rolling Stone. The album has been described as the first emo album and one of the greatest, with Guy Picciotto's screaming lyrics adding to the volatile nature of the album.