Category: Punk
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Sum 41 ‘Half Hour of Power’ (2000)
Hate to be the old head hucking around hot takes, but Half Hour of Power is my favorite album by Sum 41. I’m not claiming that it’s their best album or the one I would recommend to folks listening to them for the first time (that would obviously be All Killer, No Filler). But Half…
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Fenix TX ‘Fenix TX’ (1999)
I went on a bit of a pop punk bender this weekend busting out some of the old classics like Blink-182 and Sum 41 which usually leads to a “Shirtless Saturday” type situation with my toddlers where we take our shirts off and dance around the house like crazy (I swear I’m a good dad…
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Viagra Boys ‘Cave World’ (2022)
My brother shared this band with me a few weeks ago and it’s a total trip. The concept of Cave World is simple yet brilliant– the band dove deep into the world of terminally-online conspiracy theorists and wrote an album based off the first-person perspectives of those they were mocking. The band explores these topics…
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Ramones ‘Animal Boy’ (1986)
I remember the first time I heard “Bonzo Goes to Bitburg”. I was about 14 years old, at home watching Jack Black’s classic movie School of Rock (an absolute favorite of mine). The song is playing during a montage scene that features Black showing the kids a history of rock genres and footage of some…
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Four Year Strong ‘Four Year Strong’ (2015)
It’s always funny to me when bands are like four albums into their discography, sit down to write a new album, and then someone in the room is like “Hey we never did a self-titled album, we should probably do that yeah?” and then they inevitably put it out. It was sort of commonplace for…
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Codefendants ‘This Is Crime Wave’ (2023)
Originally coined as their self-made genre, This Is Crime Wave evolved into a fluid fusion of punk, hip-hop, and reggae layered with dark, cinematic storytelling. With Fat Mike (NOFX) at the helm alongside Sam King (Get Dead) and Ceschi Ramos, the group embraced a raw, unfiltered sound reminiscent of The Transplants meets Days N’ Daze.…
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D.O.A. ‘Hardcore ’81’ (1981)
D.O.A.’s Hardcore ’81 not only helped define a genre but gave it a name—it was the first record to explicitly use “hardcore” to describe the raw, aggressive offshoot of punk rock. Hailing from Canada’s underground scene, D.O.A. blended the fury of classic punk rock a la The Ramones with the muscle of 1970’s rock ‘n’…
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Misfits ‘Walk Among Us’ (1982)
Walk Among Us marked the Misfits’ official album debut (although it was actually the third record they had recorded). A curious blend of 1950s pop sensibilities and blistering punk energy, the album reimagined doo-wop harmonies and rockabilly-inspired melodies through the chaotic, snarling lens of punk rock. Misfits have always had a knack for crafting infectious…
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Rancid ‘…And Out Come The Wolves’ (1995)
Released during a time when punk was flirting with mainstream acceptance, Rancid’s …And Out Come The Wolves stood out with its unapologetic grit and raw authenticity. Tim Armstrong’s sneering vocal delivery that just barely hits the right note is immediately recognizable for anyone who is even remotely familiar with punk rock, his raspy tone dripping…
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Dag Nasty ‘Can I Say’ (1984)
Emerging from the vibrant hardcore punk scene of Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980s Dag Nasty was a band that bridged the visceral intensity of their peers with melodic sensibilities. Formed by guitarist Brian Baker—who was already a hardcore legend from his days with Minor Threat—Dag Nasty’s sound on their first-full length 1986 debut Can I…
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Relient K ‘Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer’ (2007)
My love for pop punk isn’t a well-kept secret (it’s basically the genre that shaped my musical tastes in middle school as I’ve described in great detail over the past two years) and Relient K is one of those bands that have always held a special place in my heart. Their 2004 magnum opus Mmhmm…
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Brand New ‘Your Favorite Weapon’ (2001)
When Brand New dropped Your Favorite Weapon in 2001, few could have predicted the monumental impact the Long Island band would have on alternative music in the decade that would follow. At its core their debut was a fiery pop-punk record, drenched in youthful angst, sharp melodies, and Jesse Lacey’s piercingly personal lyrics. The energy…
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The Story So Far ‘Under Soil and Dirt’ (2011)
The Story So Far arrived in 2011 like a shot of adrenaline to a pop-punk scene that had grown relatively complacent in the late 2000’s. Recorded at the now-legendary Panda Studios in Fremont, California (which is about a 20 minute drive north of me), the album captured the Bay Area’s burgeoning pop-punk scene with anthemic…
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The Stooges ‘The Stooges’ (1969)
When The Stooges roared onto the scene in 1969 it was like a Molotov cocktail got tossed into the face of the flower-power era. Feral riffs, primal drums, and Iggy Pop’s unhinged stage presence were the recipe for success here, and by putting it together they waged a ferocious rebellion against rock’s growing polished side…
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Amyl and The Sniffers ‘Comfort To Me’ (2021)
Amyl and the Sniffers are a fiery throwback to the raw energy of 1970s punk rock. Frontwoman Amy Taylor commands attention with her ferocious vocals and unapologetic swagger, leading the charge on their sophomore album Comfort to Me, and delivering a no-frills blitz of snarling guitars, thundering rhythms, and fist-pumping anthems that channel the reckless…
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Bad Brains ‘Bad Brains’ (1982)
Bad Brains stood out from their early 80’s hardcore punk peers in nearly every single– here was four Rastafarian black men playing fusing punk rock and reggae while staying grounded with their “Positive Mental Attitude” in their native Washington DC, drawing a stark contrast to the primarily white male bands with angry screeds against the…
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New Found Glory ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ (1999)
Recorded on a shoestring budget in Miami, Florida, Nothing Gold Can Stay captured the raw, unfiltered essence of suburban teenage life and was a staple in my Walkman during my middle school years. Tracks like “Hit or Miss” blended catchy hooks with a relentless tempo, laying the groundwork for the infectious, emotionally charged sound that…
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Descendents ‘Milo Goes To College’ (1982)
Milo Goes to College by the Descendents is widely celebrated as a punk essential, landing on critics best-of punk rock lists from industry luminaries like Spin and Rolling Stone. Critics praise its punchy, fast-paced tracks that capture teenage angst with humor and honesty– it was effectively the blueprint for modern pop punk as we know…
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Green Day ‘Dookie’ (1994)
In 1994 Green Day’s Dookie exploded onto the music scene like explosives duct-taped to someone’s spine (yes that is a “Having A Blast” reference), vaulting the band into the mainstream. They were born in the gritty punk clubs of California’s East Bay right up the road from me, in an underground scene where DIY ethics…
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The Clash ‘The Clash’ (1977)
In the spring of 1977 a burst of raw energy and defiance echoed through London’s streets when The Clash released their self-titled debut album. Recorded in just three weekends at a cost of around £4,000, the album captured the urgency and frustration of a generation fed up with unemployment, social injustice, and a stagnant music…
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The Gun Club ‘Fire of Love’ (1981)
The Gun Club’s Fire of Love is raw and visceral, a unique blend of the ferocity of punk rock with a distinctive Southern gothic blues rock edge. Released in 1981 off the heels of the punk rock explosion in the UK, Fire of Love captures the chaotic spirit of the early 80s punk scene but…
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AFI ‘All Hallows EP’ (1999)
If you’re looking for an absolute ripper of a Halloween album to put on today it’s hard to beat AFI’s 1999 extended play All Hallows EP. Clocking in at a tidy 13 minutes across four songs, the band blasts through some Halloween-inspired fare in a way that only old school AFI could muster. The songs…
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Adolescents ‘Adolescents’ (1981)
Emerging from Fullerton, California, in 1980, Adolescents carved a significant niche within the punk rock movement, helping to shape its sound and ethos during a transformative period. With their self-titled debut album the band blended melodic hooks with raw, energetic instrumentation, setting a template that would influence countless punk bands in the years to come.…
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Lagwagon ‘Let’s Talk About Feelings’ (1998)
Lagwagon’s Let’s Talk About Feelings stands apart from a lot of its late 90’s skate-punk peers by exploring darker, more introspective themes while avoiding the toilet humor and sexism that dominated a lot of that genre. Joey Cape’s lyrics tackle personal struggles and frustrations, blending vulnerability with sharp commentary. The album’s tight, melodic punk sound…
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Mannequin Pussy ‘Patience’ (2019)
Outside of the stellar band name (you’re lying if this one didn’t catch your eye immediately), Mannequin Pussy is a pretty exceptional punk rock band. I first heard Patience earlier this year and was immediately gripped by its earnest accessibility. The album strikes a balance between chaotic energy and profound vulnerability, filled with intricate melodies…
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Refused ‘The Shape of Punk To Come’ (1998)
When you look at the history and development of punk rock music it’s easy to reference some of the most iconic albums throughout it’s forty year run– there is of course what I refer to as The Holy Trinity of Punk Albums (Ramones self-titled debut, The Clash’s London Calling, and Sex Pistols’ Never Mind The…
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Omnigone ‘Against The Rest’ (2023)
Tomorrow night I’ll be going to see The Matches live for the first time in over 15 years. They’ll be doing a reunion show in San Francisco celebrating the 20 years anniversary of their debut album E. Von Dahl Killed The Locals and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Omnigone is going to be…
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Pere Ubu ‘The Modern Dance’ (1978)
The Modern Dance somewhat reshaped the landscape of avant-garde rock during the late 70’s. Its fusion of punk energy, experimental soundscapes, and visceral essence is apparent from the opening track– jarring rhythms, theatrical vocals, buzzy bass, and inventive guitar work creates a sense of unpredictability at every turn. It’s chaotic, urgent, unsettling, and captivating at…
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Smoking Popes ‘Destination Failure’ (1997)
Smoking Popes lead singer Josh Caterer was famously obsessed with big band tunes, and that love affair helped him develop a vocal style that was decidedly unique in the punk rock world. You can hear the influence Caterer had on his contemporaries when you listen to Alkaline Trio bassist Dan Andriano, whose vocal style and…
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Rise Against ‘Appeal to Reason’ (2007)
As a certified Warped Tour kid I’ve always had a deep appreciation for some of the more veteran punk rock acts that are still going strong and cranking out meaningful music. Much like their contemporaries Bad Religion and Hot Water Music, the Chicago-based hardcore punk outfit Rise Against has carved out a really nice career…
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Fall Out Boy ‘Take This To Your Grave’ (2003)
Despite the fact that Fall Out Boy is absolutely one of the most prolific pop punk bands of all-time and their debut album Take This To Your Grave was released only two years after Sum 41’s All Killer No Filler and four years following Blink-182’s 1999 album Enema of The State, in my mind the…
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Simple Plan ‘No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls’ (2002)
During the rise of pop punk in the early aughts there were a ton of bands that plied their trade on MTV’s Total Request Live. Few were better than capturing the silly teen angst of being a 13-year old than Simple Plan, whose debut album No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls captured exactly what it felt…
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No Pressure ‘No Pressure’ (2022)
I’ve been a huge fan of The Story So Far for a long time now. Their album Proper Dose is one of my favorite pop punk albums of all-time, a seminal record in the genre. As I wrote earlier about it: Whether it be the perils of substance abuse (“Keep This Up”) or a triumphant…
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We Were Sharks ‘Lost Touch’ (2018)
Crunchy guitar riffs, fat drums, and catchy vocal hooks. We Were Sharks Lost Touch slams just about every pop punk trope into the album’s 28 minute runtime with a slight dose of Canadian flair that helps keep things interesting. The band certainly cuts a path down well-traveled roads but there’s a time and place for…
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Blink-182 ‘Dude Ranch’ (1996)
For myself and countless other millennials who got into punk rock during our early tweens, Dude Ranch is the album that started it all. Blink’s 1999 album Enema of the State was the one which shot them into global superstardom, but real ones know that things started to get real when Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge,…
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Rufio ‘Perhaps, I Suppose…’ (2001)
Perhaps, I Suppose… is what I remember my early teens sounding like– obsessed with girls with absolutely zero experience in how to communicate with them, imbuing way too much meaning into mundane fleeting glances, and desperately trying to figure out what all these big feelings going on in my head were all about (hint: it…
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