Sputnik Music Forums - View Single Post - Top 100 Punk Albums

sketchyjoe · 03-24-2005, 05:38 PM

11. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks
Put simply, if most people were asked to name one band, and one album that was the definition of "punk", this would be it. The only full length release from the band, The Sex Pistols were the original band that drove the establishment up the wall, famously having their single God Save The Queen banned from being top of the charts on the week of Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee, thanks to it's incendiary content. Although this is a highlight of the album, the same basic themes run through the album, including on other highlights Anarchy In The UK, EMI, and No Feelings. Even though the Sex Pistols, in particular bassist Sid Vicious, simply couldn't play their instruments, and have recieved criticism for being manufactured, this album remains punk's most enduring classic album to the general public and as such deserves to be thought of as a classic of the genre, and essential listening to anyone who either likes, or wants to understand punk music.

12. Rancid - Let's Go
Released in 1994 as their second full lengh, lets go is full of tight melodies and hooky choruses. A great album for people getting into rancid or punk. Lars frederiksen, Matt freeman and tim armstrong are at their best vocally. Although there are songs that stand above others(salvation, st mary, nihilism) this album goes strong until the very last song.

13. Black Flag - Damaged
Released in 1981, it was the first Black Flag album with Henry Rollins on vocals. It was also their most famous, most popular, and arguably the best Black Flag album. It is one of the most important and influential albums in punk and hardcore. The album kicks off the with absolute classic, Rise Above. From there, it goes onto classic after classic like TV Party, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Six Pack, and Thirsty and Miserable. The album ends with the haunting, intense, and almost scary Damaged I. It is in many ways the perfect end to this excellent album.

14. The Specials - S/T
The late 70s and early 80s in Britain were a time of social and racial unrest but during this time The Specials led by Jerry Dammers created this punk-influenced ska classic that confronted the issues facing the youth of the time. Mixing the bluebeat sound enjoyed by their mod elders with the uncompromising punk ethic The Specials created one of the era's defining albums. With the stark beauty tracks such as the anti-racist Doesn't Make It All Right or the singalong Dawning Of A New Era, the dual, contrasting vocalists, Hall and Golding sum up the feelings of a generation while referencing the last one with songs like stupid Message and A Message To you Rudy over the incessant ska created by a group of hugely talented musicians.

15. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come
This 1998 album from late great Swedish Hardcore band Refused was somewhat of an experimental record, incorporating different instruments and styles, including a violin in "Tannhauser/Derive" and included an acousticsong to finish the album, "The Apollo Programme Was a Hoax". But this record also included some greats such as "New Noise" and "Deadly Rhythm"

16. Bad Brains - Bad Brains
Defined by many as the quintessential hardcore release of all time, Bad Brains exploded on to the hardcore scene with the release of their S/T. While not their first recordings, the tracks on this album held nothing back as opposed to their demo releases. On their S/T disc, Bad Brains released some of the most un-relenting hardcore to date. But this album is not just another strictly hardcore release. There are dub tracks on this album that are stunning such as "Leaving Babylon". The hardcore songs are done so perfect and combine what all is good about the original hardcore style. The energy? Amazing. The talent? Extraordinary. The album? Timeless.

17. Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose
Starting off with a simple, quiet, drum roll that gradually gets louder, this album doesn’t use loud guitars or standard punk drum beats to get their music heard. Instead, they vent their emotions through poetic lyrics, incredible lead and background vocals, and plenty of musical talent. This album is sing-a-long paradise, and remains fresh with each track. Tackling personal and global politics, Tom, the lead singer/guitarist will leave chills down your spine as he screams his heart out. Some tracks to watch out for this are “The Politics Of Starving,” “Jordan’s First Choice,” and “Walking Is Still Honest.” We also mustn’t forget the awesome choruses that lie songs such as “Baby I’m An Anarchist.” The album ends perfectly with the song “8 Full Hours Of Sleep,” which fades out into feedback. Mixing hardcore, punk, anarcho, and folk, this album really shows the punk community what it is really capable of nowadays.

18. Choking Victim - No Gods, No Managers
The first and only full length record from this New York City Ska core band. The album mixes the ska sounds of guitar and bass with the distortion, heavy drum beat, and vocals of a hardcore punk band. Sturgeon's vocals grate against any one's ears who can't handle his hardness, and the quick somewhat distorted upstrokes from Ezra and Sturgon's guitars contrast the gritty vocals. Alec's bass is true to ska fashion in some songs, and hardcore in others. All combined with the quick drum beat that makes Choking Victim skandable and moshable.

19. The Ramones - The Ramones
The album many say started punk, along with The Clash's self-titled and Sex Pistols' Nevermind the Bollocks. This album establishes the fast and fun sound of punk rock. The album focuses on the mind of a bored teenager, one who is obsessed with horror movies and hanging out with their friends. Songs like 53rd and 3rd describes what the streets of New York were about for Dee Dee. The album mixes love songs like I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend and Listen to My Heart with songs about sniffing glue and covers of old classics like Let's Dance. This truly is a classic album and influenced what punk rock is about today.

20. Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters
Moving away from the thrash they had experimented with on In God We Trust Inc DK and expanding on their Fresh Fruit sound whilst attacking everyone from Frat Boys to Federal Agents. Full of witty metaphors and barbed sarcasm Jello's lyrics were backed up by Klaus' bouncy basslines, Ray's demented surf-guitar and DH's driving drumbeat. From the sublime pop-punk Moon Over Marin to the masterpiece that is Riot. Plastic Surgery Disasters proved DK one of the best punk bands of all time

03-24-2005, 05:38 PM	#2
sketchyjoe GREAT GOOGA-MOOGA! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Desolation Row, London Posts: 16,271	11. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks Put simply, if most people were asked to name one band, and one album that was the definition of "punk", this would be it. The only full length release from the band, The Sex Pistols were the original band that drove the establishment up the wall, famously having their single God Save The Queen banned from being top of the charts on the week of Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee, thanks to it's incendiary content. Although this is a highlight of the album, the same basic themes run through the album, including on other highlights Anarchy In The UK, EMI, and No Feelings. Even though the Sex Pistols, in particular bassist Sid Vicious, simply couldn't play their instruments, and have recieved criticism for being manufactured, this album remains punk's most enduring classic album to the general public and as such deserves to be thought of as a classic of the genre, and essential listening to anyone who either likes, or wants to understand punk music. 12. Rancid - Let's Go Released in 1994 as their second full lengh, lets go is full of tight melodies and hooky choruses. A great album for people getting into rancid or punk. Lars frederiksen, Matt freeman and tim armstrong are at their best vocally. Although there are songs that stand above others(salvation, st mary, nihilism) this album goes strong until the very last song. 13. Black Flag - Damaged Released in 1981, it was the first Black Flag album with Henry Rollins on vocals. It was also their most famous, most popular, and arguably the best Black Flag album. It is one of the most important and influential albums in punk and hardcore. The album kicks off the with absolute classic, Rise Above. From there, it goes onto classic after classic like TV Party, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Six Pack, and Thirsty and Miserable. The album ends with the haunting, intense, and almost scary Damaged I. It is in many ways the perfect end to this excellent album. 14. The Specials - S/T The late 70s and early 80s in Britain were a time of social and racial unrest but during this time The Specials led by Jerry Dammers created this punk-influenced ska classic that confronted the issues facing the youth of the time. Mixing the bluebeat sound enjoyed by their mod elders with the uncompromising punk ethic The Specials created one of the era's defining albums. With the stark beauty tracks such as the anti-racist Doesn't Make It All Right or the singalong Dawning Of A New Era, the dual, contrasting vocalists, Hall and Golding sum up the feelings of a generation while referencing the last one with songs like stupid Message and A Message To you Rudy over the incessant ska created by a group of hugely talented musicians. 15. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come This 1998 album from late great Swedish Hardcore band Refused was somewhat of an experimental record, incorporating different instruments and styles, including a violin in "Tannhauser/Derive" and included an acousticsong to finish the album, "The Apollo Programme Was a Hoax". But this record also included some greats such as "New Noise" and "Deadly Rhythm" 16. Bad Brains - Bad Brains Defined by many as the quintessential hardcore release of all time, Bad Brains exploded on to the hardcore scene with the release of their S/T. While not their first recordings, the tracks on this album held nothing back as opposed to their demo releases. On their S/T disc, Bad Brains released some of the most un-relenting hardcore to date. But this album is not just another strictly hardcore release. There are dub tracks on this album that are stunning such as "Leaving Babylon". The hardcore songs are done so perfect and combine what all is good about the original hardcore style. The energy? Amazing. The talent? Extraordinary. The album? Timeless. 17. Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose Starting off with a simple, quiet, drum roll that gradually gets louder, this album doesn’t use loud guitars or standard punk drum beats to get their music heard. Instead, they vent their emotions through poetic lyrics, incredible lead and background vocals, and plenty of musical talent. This album is sing-a-long paradise, and remains fresh with each track. Tackling personal and global politics, Tom, the lead singer/guitarist will leave chills down your spine as he screams his heart out. Some tracks to watch out for this are “The Politics Of Starving,” “Jordan’s First Choice,” and “Walking Is Still Honest.” We also mustn’t forget the awesome choruses that lie songs such as “Baby I’m An Anarchist.” The album ends perfectly with the song “8 Full Hours Of Sleep,” which fades out into feedback. Mixing hardcore, punk, anarcho, and folk, this album really shows the punk community what it is really capable of nowadays. 18. Choking Victim - No Gods, No Managers The first and only full length record from this New York City Ska core band. The album mixes the ska sounds of guitar and bass with the distortion, heavy drum beat, and vocals of a hardcore punk band. Sturgeon's vocals grate against any one's ears who can't handle his hardness, and the quick somewhat distorted upstrokes from Ezra and Sturgon's guitars contrast the gritty vocals. Alec's bass is true to ska fashion in some songs, and hardcore in others. All combined with the quick drum beat that makes Choking Victim skandable and moshable. 19. The Ramones - The Ramones The album many say started punk, along with The Clash's self-titled and Sex Pistols' Nevermind the Bollocks. This album establishes the fast and fun sound of punk rock. The album focuses on the mind of a bored teenager, one who is obsessed with horror movies and hanging out with their friends. Songs like 53rd and 3rd describes what the streets of New York were about for Dee Dee. The album mixes love songs like I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend and Listen to My Heart with songs about sniffing glue and covers of old classics like Let's Dance. This truly is a classic album and influenced what punk rock is about today. 20. Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters Moving away from the thrash they had experimented with on In God We Trust Inc DK and expanding on their Fresh Fruit sound whilst attacking everyone from Frat Boys to Federal Agents. Full of witty metaphors and barbed sarcasm Jello's lyrics were backed up by Klaus' bouncy basslines, Ray's demented surf-guitar and DH's driving drumbeat. From the sublime pop-punk Moon Over Marin to the masterpiece that is Riot. Plastic Surgery Disasters proved DK one of the best punk bands of all time Last edited by sketchyjoe; 03-25-2005 at 01:02 PM.