10 Best Albums of Punk
Introduction
What is the best punk album of all time? This post is all about the music. All will have their own opinions – and they are invited to share.
The ten albums below have made the list. Agree, disagree, smash a guitar, etc. – and enjoy.
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
After the death of Ian Curtis, the remaining members went on to become New Order. The songs call from a distance and were enveloped in dread. One can enjoy the last words of an extremely talented musician listening to this debut.
Black Flag – Damaged
Intense and loud, Rollins and the boys supplied us with fifteen songs of brilliance. With an underlying sense of humor, Black Flag inserted a serious and deranged message into the brains of those that would listen – and there were a lot of us.
Monks – Black Monk Time
This 1966 album by a group of GIs stationed in Germany during Vietnam is historical. The music was fresh, blunt, and angry. Maybe the world wasn’t ready for the truth at the time, but the message would soon be carried on by many others in the 70s.
The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
Full of guitar greatness and detachment from the world, White Light/White Heat was (and is) well respected by creators and appreciators of punk music. Lou Reed and company remained cool amongst a complete tirade of menace.
Radio Birdman – Radios Appear
By 1976, New York and London weren’t the only ports of punk. Radio Birdman, coming out of Australia, twanged sounds out of their instruments meant to cause discomfort and thought. Radios Appear has a timeless and distant quality to its sound causing its presence on this list and many others.
The Stooges – Funhouse
The boys from Detroit turned things up a notch on this album of madness, exigency, and disturbance. Funhouse delivers the feel of a focused maestro in front of a malicious and chaotic orchestra, but somehow the show is completed.
Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers – The Modern Lovers
Maybe this pick is biased because members of The Cars and Talking Heads came out of this coalition, but The Modern Lovers is a novel and distinctive album that you can’t place a finger on. Recorded in 1973, it did not really fit in at the time, and pleasantly does not fit in anywhere.
The Clash – London Calling
Strummer, Jones, and the rest of the dreary old band from London not only delivered punk, but they did it well. They had thought provoking lyrics delving into political and social unrest and played their instruments like trained musicians.
Ramones – Ramones
Even their name sounded punk enough to consume their debut title. Many claim the boys from New York not only set the tone for American punk, but for all of punk. The songs of the debut are trendsetting, innovative, and forever.
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks
Some say that the sound of the Sex Pistols becomes better with age, as if the world wasn’t prepared for them at the time, and it has taken us decades to catch up. The band has it all: the mystery, the legacy, and the indelible and priceless sound.
What do you think?......
What is the best punk album of all time? This post is all about the music. All will have their own opinions – and they are invited to share.
The ten albums below have made the list. Agree, disagree, smash a guitar, etc. – and enjoy.
Joy Division – Unknown PleasuresAfter the death of Ian Curtis, the remaining members went on to become New Order. The songs call from a distance and were enveloped in dread. One can enjoy the last words of an extremely talented musician listening to this debut.
Black Flag – DamagedIntense and loud, Rollins and the boys supplied us with fifteen songs of brilliance. With an underlying sense of humor, Black Flag inserted a serious and deranged message into the brains of those that would listen – and there were a lot of us.
Monks – Black Monk TimeThis 1966 album by a group of GIs stationed in Germany during Vietnam is historical. The music was fresh, blunt, and angry. Maybe the world wasn’t ready for the truth at the time, but the message would soon be carried on by many others in the 70s.
The Velvet Underground – White Light/White HeatFull of guitar greatness and detachment from the world, White Light/White Heat was (and is) well respected by creators and appreciators of punk music. Lou Reed and company remained cool amongst a complete tirade of menace.
Radio Birdman – Radios AppearBy 1976, New York and London weren’t the only ports of punk. Radio Birdman, coming out of Australia, twanged sounds out of their instruments meant to cause discomfort and thought. Radios Appear has a timeless and distant quality to its sound causing its presence on this list and many others.
The Stooges – FunhouseThe boys from Detroit turned things up a notch on this album of madness, exigency, and disturbance. Funhouse delivers the feel of a focused maestro in front of a malicious and chaotic orchestra, but somehow the show is completed.
Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers – The Modern LoversMaybe this pick is biased because members of The Cars and Talking Heads came out of this coalition, but The Modern Lovers is a novel and distinctive album that you can’t place a finger on. Recorded in 1973, it did not really fit in at the time, and pleasantly does not fit in anywhere.
The Clash – London CallingStrummer, Jones, and the rest of the dreary old band from London not only delivered punk, but they did it well. They had thought provoking lyrics delving into political and social unrest and played their instruments like trained musicians.
Ramones – RamonesEven their name sounded punk enough to consume their debut title. Many claim the boys from New York not only set the tone for American punk, but for all of punk. The songs of the debut are trendsetting, innovative, and forever.
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the BollocksSome say that the sound of the Sex Pistols becomes better with age, as if the world wasn’t prepared for them at the time, and it has taken us decades to catch up. The band has it all: the mystery, the legacy, and the indelible and priceless sound.
What do you think?......
The Dead Kennedys' "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables" was the US answer to "Never Mind The Bollocks". It definetly belongs up there.
Ah...have you heard any of these by the Radiators from Space (sometimes the Radiators) The get rave reviews, and the second one is considered a classic:
TV TUBE HEART
GHOSTOWN
TROUBLE PILGRIM
Do not miss any of them. Seriously good music
The Stranglers 'Rattus Norvegicus', their debut LP from Jan 1977 was a blistering, dark and powerful album.
Also Damned 1st LP should be there or thereabouts but their 1979 Machine Gun Etiquette is the one!
Musically brilliant!
Finally, the Ruts LP 'The Crack'. A hugely underated LP (and band!) that packs a punch! Sadly, Lead singer Malcolm Owen died soon after release of LP. Would have definately gone on much further to make their mark. A fantasric LP.
They also do strong reagae far better than the clash and thats saying something!
Mark Fairbank.
...And Out Come the Wolves... - Rancid
I am glad to see The Clash, The Ramones and The Sex Pistols! They are all amazing! I got a magazine a couple of months ago that was supposed to be all about bands who shaped punk and it did not mention any of them! I was a little dissappointed.
As for ...And Out Come The Wolves, it is my favorite Rancid album but I don't think it should be in the 10 best punk albums.
music genres are so hard to narrow down now and i think so much has inspired and been inspired by punk music..and even though it might sound trendy and adolescent but i wonder why Blink 182 never made this list. maybe it should be a longer list!! : )
I would have to think that there should be some Stiff Little Fingers somewhere on this list...how about some Vibrators? Or, our local heroes, The Forgotten Rebels? Screeching Weasel? Or, even though they have sold out now, The Donnas? And I definitely agree that there should be some Dead Kennedys on the list. The list is good and does contain some necessary classics (Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash) but is missing some of the "under-appreciated" punk icons. Like MC5? C'mon folks use a little more thought than just the ones you "hear on the radio"!
Blink 182 come on dude they said PUNK, not POP, and what about Green Day hahahah. As far as mentioning Joy Division, although they were great, I didn't know any Punks who listened to them, only Goths. There were definately differnt circles when I was growing up that all meshed together (goths, punks, skins, rude boys, mods - please don't confuse mod with goth), but Punk was Capitol Punishment, The Exploited, GBH, The Casualties, Black Flag, D.I., T.S.O.L., etc. Whatever, anyway, heres my pick:
The Adicts: Smart Alex
Seriously, get the Sex Pistols OFF of this list. A "glamour" band pulled together from pieces and parts of what would look good on stage?! That is NOT punk rock.
"Everything Sucks" by The Descendants
no one mentioned the exploited, the misfits, the casualties, crass or the germs these guys are very important punk artists
this is garbage. no misfits, no minor threat, no dead kennedys, no circle jerks?
nevermind those i could see overlooking them. but no bad brains?
Stiff Little Fingers??? They should have definately made it up there :(
The Dead Boys "Young Loud and Snotty" deserves to be on the list. Check out Sonic Reducer, I Need Lunch and High Tension Wire and you will agree.