GREATEST PUNK ALBUMS

A look back at the heyday of punk rock, and the greatest albums that were released, and are still listenable today.

Check out my video reviews on Progressive Rock, Bruce, Springsteen, Van Morrison, and Genesis.

Comments welcome.

[ProgJunkie]

Rezillos, Gang of Four, Joy Division, Devo, Wire, Siouxie & the Banshees, The Lurkers, Generation X, Dead Boys
Some of these are 2nd wave, but are still iconic. What would be cool is to do a second wave of best punk bands, bands like Dead Kennedys, UK Subs, Black Flag.
I think it's funny to put The Crack(Ruts), or Stranglers IV (Rattus Norvegicus), how tame they are now, but then, so angry with angst.
Love your views, keep it up.

[klausrain]

Ok, my final comment: Bollocks is easily one of the greatest albums of all time, no matter the genre. Every song is insanely good! I was gonna say only London Calling came close, but that was before I knew you chose it as #1. Besides, it's not really a punk album, it's an album made by a punk band. My buddy called me one morning at about 9am raving about London Calling, I immediately went over to his place and we burned a couple of J's and listened to it. Great memories!

[TomFazzini]

Well contextualised David. Thanks for this - a great watch.. Yep, I was there too. Saw many punk gigs at the Glasgow Apollo between '77 and '79. The 70's was astonishing, eh - heavy rock, glam, space rock, prog, disco punk, funk, reggae, heavy dub, the ska revival, early industrial - all within that 10 years and even overlap within some of those.. A hugely interesting time to live through and witness as a teenager. And so much food for thought in it all - kaleidoscopic, and teeming with social relevance with some of it. P.s. I always rated Dub Housing by left-fielders Pere Ubu. They never bettered that one: messy, cryptic, unintentional high art and full of surprises.

[johnw]

Some great choices. As has already been mentioned, the Ramones ‘ Rocket to Russia would be on my list . I would replace the Police album with the Clash’s Give ‘Em Enough Rope . It was great to see the Stranglers on the list . I saw them in 1987 when they were touring around the Dreamtime album, and they were great . They played all of the old classics with a lot of fire . The Boomtown Rats debut album would be higher up on my list . Great video !

[wildplacesinnorthernengland]

Another great video....I've probably heard those albums a 100 times through the wall

[Chaturanger]

I love Comfort to me. Amyl and the sniffers.

[wvom]

Just found your channel. Enjoyed that. Like the way you tell it from your experience of the time. There are a few comments on here that make judgements from today's perspective rather than knowing what it was like at the time pre Internet and limited access to music. I remember my mate telling me that Clash story the day after it happened and missing out. I remember The Station too. Used to practise there. Best lp or me though has to be SLF Infalmmable Material. Still got my copy from when I bought it.

[h.m.]

Personal favorite punk album : Machine Gun Etiquette by the Damned. I wouldn't say Rattus Norvegicus is a punk album, sound wise. Spirit wise, maybe.

[randomhuman]

Only band missing for me is Stiff Little Fingers. The Belfast Clash. Still going strong today!

[mrwaffles]

Alright, you saved it towards the end. Thanks for reminding me of The Ruts. I would have included Death. People can argue it's not punk, they're wrong. The whole "f**k it, I'll do it myself" attitude is punk to it's core.

[sitjar]

Punishment of Luxury - Laughing Academy. Brilliant album

The band are also from Geordieland....reasonably unheard of but loved by those that know

[andreasghb]

Ramones's "Rocket to Russia" needed to be on the list.

[robertharvey]

I like both prog and punk bands. Love Genesis and Yes. Love Ramones, The Clash and the Sex Pistols. I don't buy into the notion that one cannot like both. I've never viewed The Police and The Jam as punk, even though they had that background. That said, both great albums and great picks.

[andrewrigby]

Thanks Dave, Nice review I too remember buying rod Stewart and the pistols at the same time, my punk mates didnt get it!!, same with gigs, zep at knebworth followed by the Ramones at the university! I agree with your rationale over the need for punk director the dire charts at the time.. I remember hearing an interview with lydon on radio Luxembourg? I believe where he slated the state of the music scene ' the carpenters/ captain and tensile...' all very tame stuff..I too remember the absolute excitement of the clash gigs etc..

[davidgagen]

The Saints - I'm Stranded
Radio Birdman - Radios Appear

[LouLou-tlgv]

I totally agree with most of your choices and your no 1 choice definitely.i Wouldn't have put the Rats; the police ; or the jam in the top 10. more deserving I think would have been SLF, the Undertones, X ray specs

[Wayner]

I was around as a youngster then too and like you got into Prog and then New Wave music. In my case I settled into Post-Punk more comfortably than most initial Punk but certainly dug quite a bit of it. There were a lot of progressive elements in Post-Punk. They are evident in the early PIL (I consider 'Second Edition' a masterpiece), Wire, Joy Division and quite a few other bands and artists. I also found most 'old wave' music after 1974/75 dull and MOR. Cheers.

[Captain_Rhodes]

Great list. Excellent that you included the stranglers, police and the Jam. Some people would be too sniffy to put those in but they totally qualify in my opinion

[markricci]

Couldn't agree more with you regarding The Ruts - their first album, The Crack, was my all-time favorite punk LP and Malcolm Owen (with all due respect to Mr. Lydon) was the real deal - the ultimate "punk" front man. No one was better than him. Loved your list but would have included the first Generation X LP. I realize that most purists felt that they were too "pop" and not really punk at the time; however, Idol and Co. had the look, image and the songs. Plus, they were an amazing bank and Derwood was a phenomenal guitarist. That first album featured some amazing songs. Plus, 999 - the first LP and "Separates" (Homicide, Tulse Hill Night, etc. - great songs), The Vibrators (one of the first punk bands to get signed) should get honorable mention as well.

[buddynatty]

Cool LP collection . Classy Bro! Yea.