As you’ll no doubt notice, all of the below are albums released prior to Green Day’s debut in 1991. Actually, nothing released after 1985 was punk, in my humble opinionated opinion. Nothing against Green Day or any of the countless others, but they were never punk. They lack(ed) the originality, the angst, of the originals.
The Stooges, Raw Power. There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about the Stooges and their importance on the punk movement of the mid 1970's. Truthfully, I could have picked any one of their albums, all great.
The Sex Pistols, The Great Rock And Roll Swindle. I always thought this was much more punk than Never Mind The Bollocks, in the sense that it was more sloppy and more thrown together. Plus, it was more fun!
The Ramones, Rocket To Russia. I waffle between this and the debut. Both excellent, but this one had better cover art…
SNFU, If You Swear You’ll Catch No Fish. These guys took North American hardcore to new extremes. Crunching guitar attacks and a tiny Asian lead singer who did back flips a-la David Lee Roth (albeit with WAY more energy and fury) named Mr. Chi Pig!
Forgotten Rebels, In Love With The System. Canada’s answer to the Pistols. Note to Mickey DeSadist: Get yer effin’ albums on itunes, maaaan!!!!!!!!
Dead Kennedys, Plastic Surgery Disasters. Jello Biafra takes on Jocks, republicans, organized religion and Winnebago’s, sometimes all in one song!
Black Flag, Damaged. Southern California anger at it’s absolute purest. The definitive LA hardcore band, with no less a cult figure than Henry Rollins fronting.
Buzzcocks, Singles Going Steady. Punk goes POP!
The Clash, The Clash. Before the polish of London Calling and international stardom, these four guys released a seminal punk album at the dawn of 1977.
The Meatmen, War Of The Superbikes. Stupid, fun and totally brainless punk from Michigan.
DOA, War On 45 (Expanded Edition). Canada’s favorite and most influential punk band, this is a compilation of, in my opinion, their finest and most furious moments.
Minutemen, Double Nickels On The Dime. An all time classic, 43 songs and not one longer than 2:45. An absolute classic!
The Misfits, Legacy Of Brutality. Glen Danzig, before he took steroids and became a parody of himself. Alice Cooper? Meet The Ramones!
Suicide, Suicide. Not one guitar, bass or drum kit on this album, but these guys and this album were the very definition of punk.
NOMEANSNO, Wrong. Punks version of RUSH. Complex time changes done very very VERY fast.
New York Dolls, New York Dolls. The Rolling Stones if they were transvestites.
The Damned, Damned Damned Damned. Contained New Rose. Do I need to say any more?
The Stranglers, Rattus Norvegicus. The punks answer to the Doors. They were too old and played their instruments too well to be called punk, but their attitude and ambitions were pure anarchy at the time.
Thom, who’d I leave off?
2 hours ago
5 comments:
Excellent selections, though I would've gone with the Ramones debut, myself. Eh, to each their own.
How about X - Los Angeles? One of my all time favorite.
(And I agree with you about 90s bands being more tribute than authentic. Kind of like the 80s rockabilly groups._
Don't know how I could've left off X, Matt. Thanks for the reminder!
Yeah, dude X. And the Ramones.
I'd toss on Angry Samoans and Social D from SoCal and 1978, as well as NOFX. Hey, they formed in 1983, so they beat your timeline.
Oh and Television and Richard Hell and the Voidoids.
And Fear.
That about covers it.
Angy Samoans Back From Samoa, yes. And maybe SOD and the Dayglo Abortions as well. Memory is fading fast.
Stiff Little Fingers - Immflamable Material
X Ray Spex - Germ Free Adolescents
Dead Boys - Young Loud And Snotty
Angry Samoans - Back From Samoa
Circle Jerks - Group Sex
Great call on the DOA.
But I might go with Machine Gun Etiquette from The Damned.
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