Making a “Best of” list for any artistic medium is inevitably a dubious endeavor given the inherently subjective nature of art. Nevertheless, it would seem our love for order has made them an enjoyable and entertaining staple in the Internet age (plus they’re so much fun to make). So, now joining the enviable ranks of lists such as “10 Best cat videos on YouTube” comes my list of the 10 best Punk albums of all time.
First, we must qualify what I mean when I say “Punk” and “Best.” Strictly speaking, Punk as an aesthetic movement only lasted roughly from 1976-1978. Therefore, most of the albums on this list might not technically be Punk, but as they were directly influenced they’ve been included anyway. If I had to define Punk in one word, I’d choose provocation. Punk seeks to force its listeners to question everything and define themselves by their own standards. This ethos of individuality and self-determination is a cornerstone of the genre, and all the albums on this list qualify.
Before I start waxing nostalgic (more than I already have) it should also be noted that there is a technical element to the genre. Musically, original Punk wanted to bring back the simple three-minute rock song without the gimmick of overproduced and overwrought Rock music. Since then Punk has amalgamated elements of nearly every genre, including Reggae, Ska, Hip-Hop, Folk and Electronic. This makes it hard to narrow down what qualifies, but beyond the aforementioned lyrical content, to make this list the album must retain a sense of rawness and speed (to some degree) found in the original style.
As for what is “Best”, personal opinion is the biggest factor, but more quantifiable aspects like influence and originality have been taken under consideration. When it comes down to it I’m no music genius, just a fan with a lot of passion. I hope this list introduces people to music I consider to be the best of its kind.
10. Dig Me Out - Sleater-Kinney (1995)
Kicking off the list is the feminist fury that is Sleater-Kinney’s third studio album. Dual guitars interlock with groove and aggression and the vocals rock with style and purpose. Most of the band’s music is great, but for me Dig Me Out stands as the greatest testament to their ability. The album holds up today in its righteous opposition to sexism and its head-bobbing sensibilities.
#9 Milo Goes to College – The Descendents (1982)
All of the Pop-Punk of the ‘90s owes a debt to this California-based band’s reaction against suburbia. Youthful enthusiasm permeates the album, even when the tone gets bitter. Milo Goes to College mixes poppy bass-lines and hardcore sentiment, making it a timeless escape for young malcontents.
#8 Pink Flag – Wire (1977)
This album was Wire’s debut, and it deftly navigates austere apocalyptic imagery and breezy, idiosyncratic fun. If the originators of the genre wanted to simplify songwriting, Wire took it one step further with tight, consistent patterns that sometimes lasted less than 45 seconds long. With this and their following albums, Wire helped craft Post-Punk, a catch-all term for bands that took the directness Punk and applied it to suit their own style and means. Perhaps the best compliment you can pay this album is its ability to sound fresh after nearly 40 years.
#7 Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols - Sex Pistols (1977)
Typically hailed as the official originators of Punk, The Sex Pistols’ only album finds its way onto almost every list of best Punk. But that doesn’t mean that I feel obligated to add it here (okay maybe I do a little bit). I mean how can you beat lyrics like “I am an Antichrist, I am an Anarchist?” Offensive in terms of sound, words and appearance, the Sex Pistols remain as one the defining examples of what it means to be Punk.
#6 Inflammable Material – Stiff Little Fingers (1979)
Bred during the political strife of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Stiff Little Fingers’ album is a crystalline indictment of sectarian violence, racism and hatred. From the raw defiance of its opener Suspect Device to satirical takes on racism in White Noise and its cover of Bob Marley’s Johnny Was, this album is pro-humanity and anti-senselessness in triple measures.
#5 F*** World Trade – Leftöver Crack (2004)
Leftöver Crack dares you to disregard their music as vacuous trash. From the horribly offensive album cover to their screamed diatribes about killing cops, this album could easily be a poster child for the decay of modern morality. But beyond the screeching vocals and Anarcho-Communist rhetoric lies meticulous, artistic intent. Their music is constantly dynamic, with cannibalized elements of Crust Punk, Ska, Metal, Hardcore, Folk and Classical being juxtaposed throughout. And offending you isn’t their only purpose; lyrics on social malaise encompass censorship, homelessness, depression, prison and inevitable death. A recurring motif added as a coda in several songs brings a sense of unity to this maelstrom of the horrible parts of modern life many of us would rather not think about. Regardless of whether you agree with everything they say (I certainly don’t) this album delivers unrivaled passion in its craft. Leftöver Crack is everything you are scared of and they are absolutely necessary.
#4 Minor Threat Full Discography (1989)
Hardcore was one of the most important developments in Punk, and Minor Threat’s collected works album serves as a symbol of that raw aggression. With every song averaging a little over a minute long, each is a burst of passion to be yourself in a society that compels you to conform. As a side note, front man Ian MacKaye would go on to make some of the most musically nuanced Punk in the Post-Hardcore outfit Fugazi.
#3 London Calling – The Clash (1979)
The Clash’s debut album may have better encapsulated the bluntness of Punk, but London Calling remains their most striking work. Innovative, Inspirational and timeless, London Calling ticks all the boxes for being a massively important Punk album (or an important album in general). Reactions to commercialism, racism and drug use fuel this singular artistic work.
#2 Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables – Dead Kennedys (1980)
Snide, sarcastic and critical, Dead Kennedys have been infuriating liberals and conservatives alike as long as they’ve made music. They also crafted some of Punk’s most defining anthems on this record, including California Über Alles and Holiday in Cambodia. An extreme musical provocation replete with fast, powerful drumming, bass and guitar work, Fresh Fruit… just misses out on my top spot.
#1 Energy- Operation Ivy (1991)
My #1 pick is assuredly personal, but it if I could only give one album to describe Punk I would pick Operation Ivy’s compilation album. Hugely influential, this California band essentially created the Third Wave Ska movement, which combined Pop, Hardcore, and Ska (a type of Jamaican dancehall music). Operation Ivy weaves poetic polemics against consumerism, mob mentality, bitterness and brutality into harsh and energetic (see what I did there?) songs. This is one of my favorite albums, and I hope this list compels you to seek out new music, question what you hear and define yourself.
