Dashboard Confessional is a genre of music that is often referred to as 'emo'. The term 'emo' is an abbreviation for 'emotional hardcore', which is a style of punk rock music that is characterized by its confessional lyrics and melodic, emotional sound. Dashboard Confessional is a band that was formed in 2000 and is credited with popularizing the emo genre. The band's music is known for its intimate, introspective lyrics and acoustic guitar-driven sound.