Never mind the bollocks... here's (some of) the greatest punk albums of all time.

I have noticed that "Top 10" or "Top 5" or "Top 100", etc lists are quite a popular feature on most blogs and I realize why, because they're fun!  I enjoy sharing my opinions on the best examples of stuff I like.  Plus, it allows me to tell little stories about why each item that made my list earned its spot and it's a good palate cleanser, gets me out of a cynical or sarcastic rut and freshens me up for a new batch of caustic political ranting or mocking of ridiculous social trends or hating Belgians... you know, whatever I'm all about these days.  So, I was sitting at my computer, staring blankly at my Facebook page and trying to think of a blog post topic, because that's how I roll, I just wait until I click "New Post" each day to actually start thinking of something to write about.  As you can see, it's the secret recipe to brilliance.  So, there I was, sitting there, reading about dumb shit my friends are doing today that I don't care about and checking out the latest, amazing photo uploads from my good friend Shawn O'Brien who's photography I want to dedicate a whole post to if he will allow me because the stuff he's doing is just awesome, and as is typically the case when I'm trying to find my creative muse, I was playing random youtube clips of different songs I like.  Well, it occured to me that I was on a punk tear today, every song I was picking was a classic punk song, and that's when a flash of light appeared before me and I said fuck it, I'll do a list of my all-time favorite punk albums, that will kill some time and put content in this space.  So, without further ado, here - in no particular order - are my favorite punk albums ever.  By virtue of my exemplary taste in all things music, this makes them the best punk albums period.

Ramones/Rocket to Russia/Road to Ruin - The Ramones

  

I had to pick 3 of the Ramones first 4 albums because most of my favorite Ramones songs are spread out on these 3 albums.  "Ramones," the groundbreaking debut album, contains "Blitzkreig Bop," "Beat on the Brat," "Judy is a Punk," and "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue."  Their third album, "Rocket to Russia," featured "Cretin Hop," "Rockaway Beach," "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker," and "Teenage Lobotomy."  The Ramones fourth album, "Road to Ruin," holds the legendary "I Wanna Be Sedated," which is one of my all-time favorite punk songs ever.  All 3 of these albums were released from 1976 to 1978.  It's crazy to think that I was 3 years old when these guys were recording songs that would still be such a huge part of my life today, but that's pretty much true of all the pioneers of punk rock.  They were so ahead of their time in some ways, but then they were so perfectly timed as well, because punk rock is what music needed to make the transition from the quagmire of 70's disco pop garbage to a counter-culture alternative to heavy metal that wasn't surrendering to radio-friendly bullshit.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a metal head through and through and you'll definitely be seeing a "Top Metal Albums of All Time" post soon enough, but there was a void in music between metal and pop and punk rock filled it perfectly and at the perfect time to influence what we now call alternative rock today.  At any rate, the Ramones fucking rule and they're pretty much the undisputed fathers of American punk rock, and in particular New York punk.

Never Mind the Bollocks... Here's the Sex Pistols - The Sex Pistols

Released in 1977, Never Mind the Bollocks... is unquestionably one of the greatest and most influencial punk rock albums of all time.  The Sex Pistols influenced countless imitators and set many of the cultural punk rock stereotypes, from style of dress to attitude and especially wild, anarchistic excess.  This is as close to a perfect punk rock album as you can get.  Every song is a classic, from their most popular track, the seminal anthem "Anarchy in the UK," to the controversial "Bodies," and the socially driven "God Save the Queen" and Holidays In the Sun."  This would be the only official studio album released by the Sex Pistols while Johnny Rotten was in the band, and only the song "Bodies" featured legendary bassist Sid Vicious, with the bass tracks on the rest of the album having been played either by guitarist Steve Jones or former bassist Glen Matlock.  In fact, the Sex Pistols had basically completely disbanded within about 3 months of the album's release.  Twelve studio tracks, countless live and bootleg albums and repackaged compilations are the extent of the Sex Pistols musical legacy, but their influence on the industry is still being felt today.  The Sex Pistols are like the Led Zeppelin of punk rock, often imitated, never duplicated.

Cameo by Mark Zuckerberg on guitar...

Damaged - Black Flag

Although Black Flag originally formed in 1976, their first official studio album wouldn't be released until 1981.  During that time, the band had 4 lead singer changes, 2 bass players and 2 drummers.  Lightning finally struck when Henry Rollins joined the band at the urging of Minor Threat guitarist Ian McKaye, and the group went into the studio to record their epic debut album.  "Damaged" would set the bar for west coast hardcore punk that arguably was never equaled by another So-Cal punk band.  Though ex-members of Black Flag would go on to bands such as The Circle Jerks, The Descendents and Danzig, Black Flag would reign as the undisputed kings of west coast hardcore.  Their legendary, ceaseless touring schedule and infamously violent audiences made them underground heroes, but their dark, ever-evolving and decidedly un-commercial sound would make commercial success elusive, and after nearly 6 years of non-stop touring and recording, the band was still living in poverty.  Eventually, their constantly changing lineups, interpersonal conflicts and failure to achieve the commercial success that so many of their contemporaries enjoyed would lead to the breakup of the band.  However, their legacy on the punk rock scene, and in particular the legitimacy that they gave to west coast hardcore, would cement the band as one of the greatest punk rock acts of all time.

Walk Among Us - The Misfits

One of the most original and innovative punk albums ever released and a clear contrast to the socio-political lyrical constraints and neo-homeless junkie fashion queues that had at first defined punk rock but had grown to confine it into a rather close-minded pigeonhole.  The Misfits defied the punk rock standard and pioneered a new sub-genre, "Horror Punk."  They were theatrical and gothic, their lyrics were dark and reflected the bands obsession with campy horror and sci-fi movies and the macabre.  The 1982 release "Walk Among Us" would be the defining album for The Misfits and their most critically-acclaimed as well.  So many amazing, legendary Misfits songs are on this album, "I Turned Into a Martian," "Hatebreeders," "Skulls," and the blistering live version of "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?" just to name a few.  Although some of my other favorite Misfits songs like "London Dungeon," "Attitude," and especially the amazing "Where Eagles Dare" are found on other albums and compilations, "Walk Among Us" is without question The Misfits best album.  It was as well-produced as any punk album at the time and launched the band full-steam into underground success.  Along with fellow So-Cal artists Black Flag, The Misftis would embark on a relentless touring schedule that helped the band achieve a loyal following and influenced a whole new generation of gothic punk, metal and experimental artists, and continues to influence bands today, such as Avenged Sevenfold.  Ultimately, those annoying interpersonal conflicts and artistic differences would break up the legendary foursome of Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, Doyle and Arthur Googy.  Danzig would go on to form Samhain, which he would later retool to become Danzig, while Only and Doyle, after settling legal disputes with Danzig, would reform The Misfits with a revolving lineup of musicians.  The Misfits continue to this day, with Jerry Only (ironically) as the sole founding member, along with former Black Flag guitarist/singer Dez Cadena and former Murphy's Law drummer Eric "Goat Arce. 

Generation X - Generation X

A decidedly more "pop" album than the other punk albums I've listed, but no less influencial or bad ass.  Generation X was the eponymous (oh fuck I love using that word in a sentence) debut album by the British punk band featuring Billy Idol on vocals.  Released in 1978, and charting in the UK thanks to the single "Ready Steady Go," Generation X helped launch the band to a degree of commercial success that was fairly rare for punk rock artists.  The notably higher talent level of the musicians, as well as the much more commercial-friendly quality of Idol's voice elevated Generation X above the rest of the bands on the scene at the time and would lead to them being one of the first punk bands to appear on the BBC program "Top of the Pops."  The band would only last 3 years after releasing their debut album, as that son of a bitch "Interpersonal Conflict" would claim yet another great punk band.  Billy Idol went on to have huge commercial success as a pop artist and the other members of the band would go on to form their own projects, notably Sigue Sigue Sputnik or join bands such as Gene Loves Jezebel and The Cult.  The song "Kiss Me Deadly" would receive renewed attention when it appeared on the soundtrack for the movie SLC Punk in 1999.

London Calling - The Clash

Largely regarded as "One of the greatest rock albums of all time," the third studio album by The Clash would also be their biggest commercial success.  It also represented a significant change in the bands sound, which had evolved from a fairly straightforward, albeit eclectic punk sound to incorporating elements of ska, pop, reggae and jazz.  The title track "London Calling" would be The Clash's biggest single.  Although many diehards in the punk scene regarded The Clash as sellouts after they signed an infamous $100,000 contract with CBS records - a contract that band members would later refer to as a "Deal no band should ever sign," as it required them to essentially pay for all their own expenses, from touring and promotion to remixing and album artwork - the band always stayed true to it's strongly politically conscious lyrics and image.  CBS records refused to release some of The Clash's more controversial songs in the U.S., saying the tracks weren't "radio friendly" enough, but after the UK versions of those albums became the highest selling import albums in the U.S., they changed their tune.  "London Calling" was a tremendous double album and would be a huge influence on punk artists who sought to expand their sound beyond 3-chord noise and breakneck drumming.  Good ol' "Interpersonal Conflicts" would get the best of The Clash eventually, with the famous lineup breaking up in 1984 and subsequent recordings being largely handled by studio musicians, left incomplete and later being largely disowned by guitarist/songwriter Joe Strummer.  Singer Mick Jones would go on to form the successful alt-pop band Big Audio Dynamite and would collaborate with Joe Strummer on various projects, including other B.A.D. albums.

Complete Discography - Minor Threat

Fortunately, Minor Threat put all it's greatest songs on one incredible album, so I can use that as my pick for the best MT album ever.  Minor Threat was formed in Washington D.C. in 1980 and is heralded as the pioneers of the "Straight Edge" movement.  "Straight Edge" is a sub-genre of the punk scene which promotes a clean and sober lifestyle, and for some includes veganism and refraining from sexual promiscuity as well.  The band often professed their "straight edge" ideals in their lyrics and image.  However, it was Minor Threat's music that would set them apart from the rest and make them one of the most influencial bands in the hardcore punk scene.  Minor Threat's music would influence a host of hardcore punk, crossover and grindcore bands, their brutal, fast-paced rhythms and intense vocals pushed the envelope and would help lay the foundation for where post-70's punk rock would evolve and continue forward into the angry Regan era.  The band would only survive for 3 short years, breaking up due to conflicts over where the band should progress musically, as well as vocalist Ian McKaye's growing dissatisfaction with the increasingly violent hardcore scene.  McKaye would go on to form the experimental post-punk band Fugazi, most notably, while guitarist Lyle Preslar would form Caroline Records and eventually become a lawyer.  The other members also continued to work in music, bassist Brian Baker joined Bad Religion and drummer Jeff Nelson would work with the bands own Dischord Records, producing other artists as well as working on compilations and reissues of Minor Threat music.

Bad Brains - Bad Brains

Along with fellow DC artists Minor Threat, Bad Brains are widely hailed as the founders of "hardcore punk."  Though the band is reluctant to accept the label, believing it confines their eclectic and experimental sound, they undoubtedly pioneered the trademark fast and brutal sound that defines the genre.  Bad Brains was also groundbreaking for the fact that they were an all-black punk band, something that is still rare in the scene even today.  As such, the band's lyrical content was very socially conscious.  Having initially formed as a fusion band called Mind Power in 1975, Bad Brains had far more musical talent than the average punk band at the time, and incorporated complex rhythms and solos in their music, both a rarity in punk rock.  Cited as an influence by bands as diverse as The Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine, Living Colour and Sublime, Bad Brains also has the unique distinction of being one of the few great bands from the golden age of punk rock that is still playing today.  Though the band has gone through many lineup changes,  they continue to record and tour and their music continues to influence both extreme bands as well as experiemental and socially conscious artists.

Milo Goes to College - The Descendents

The album that defined the "other" branch of So-Cal punk, the melodic yet still hardcore sound that is unquestionably the biggest influence to the modern incarnation of "pop-punk" acts like Green Day, Sum-41 and countless others.  Where Black Flag was an intense and progressively dark hardcore punk band, The Descendents were more "upbeat", with a sound and lyrical content that was more angst than rage.  They were definitely a fast, aggressive band, but they also embraced cheesy pop sensibilities and songs about love and heartbreak and other fare that were definitely not present in the darker music of fellow So-Cal bands like Black Flag and The Misfits.  The album art and title are both a reference to singer Milo Aukerman - a self-professed nerd, who left the band briefly to study Biology at UC San Diego, where he would eventually earn a Ph.D in Biochemistry.  This album is fucking epic.  I first heard it sometime during my junior year of high school and it was one of my soundtracks to weekend shenanigans.  I can't even count the number of mailboxes that got baseball-batted while this album blasted out of Shawn O'Brien's Nova in the Fresno County countryside during the summer of 1992.  It's still on heavy iPod rotation and remains one of my all-time favorite punk albums from start to finish.

Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies

Released in 1983, Suicidal Tendencies self-titled debut album would mark the transition of punk rock from the earlier hardcore sound of bands like Black Flag to a style heavily influenced by the emerging thrash metal scene that would be referred to as "Skate Punk."  Almost from the beginning of their existence, Suicidal Tendencies would be surrounded by controversy.  From the dubious gang-affiliations the band members embraced, most notably the famously bandanna-festooned vocalist Mike Muir, to the controversy surrounding the band's name, to the gang affiliations of their fans and inevitable violence it brought to their early shows.  The chaos and controversy surrounding the band would eventually lead to them being banned from playing shows in their hometown of Los Angeles, a huge blow to the band that dogged them for years, even long after they had progressed beyond their gang-related imagery and violent beginnings.  Although Suicidal Tendencies would progress towards an increasingly metal sound, due in large part to lineup changes that replaced less talented, more punk influenced founding members with highly skilled, strongly metal influenced members, notably guitarist Rocky George and current Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, their debut album still ranks as one of the top punk rock albums and is a hugely influencial album in both the skate punk and crossover genres.  The most famous track on the album, "Institutionalized," was featured in the cult classic film "Repo Man," has been referenced in countless songs and recently was released in Guitar Hero 2.

So, that's a brief selection of what are, in my opinion, some of the greatest and most influencial punk albums of the "golden age" of punk rock, the period from 1975-1983 when punk rock was fast, aggressive, angry, controversial, terrifying to the establishment, confusing to parents and a voice of a generation of increasingly disenfranchised youth, jaded by the turmoil of the late 70's and ostracized by the rampant corporate greed and growingly oppresive establishmentary regime of the 80's.  This is only a small fraction of what was one of the greatest eras in music, and I know I'm probably forgetting a ton of bands and albums that I will undoubtedly remember a day or two from now as I'm re-reading this post and kick myself for not including, so mea culpa if any glaring omissions stand out.  At least, this is a good primer for people who aren't huge punk rock fans to give you some artists to go out and listen to and hopefully appreciate.  In some ways it's kind of sad that the golden age of punk was so relatively short-lived, but like all hugely influencial eras of music, it had to burn out at it's peak, or else face the far worse fate of being commercialized into generic, soulless pablum, like so many of the "pop punk" and "alternative pop" acts of today that shamelessly pilfer the sound and style, pantomime the attitude and yet capture none of the energy, passion and brilliance that made this music so amazing and immortal.  Now, FUCK OFF!