#4 Ramones - Leave Home (1977) The second band we talked about at our little meeting to put this list together, and we really got into it on just which (and how many) Ramones (and other band's second best) albums to include. David and I won out on this, because it's simply our favorite Ramones' record. Sure, the first is incredible, sure it's incredibly important, but I just like this one more. It's got my favorite Ramones song on it, "Oh Oh I Love Her So", along with other classics like "Glad To See You Go", the achingly beautiful "I Remember You", and a better mix between the simple 1-2-3-4 classic Ramones style that influenced so many bands and Beach Boys/Beatles style harmonies and melodies that the Ramones were born from. (Steve)
#5 Wire - Pink Flag (1977) In the age of the bloated prog rock opera with the 20-minute guitar solo, what could be more punk than minimalism and the 90-second song with the abrupt ending? This album set a new standard: say what you have to say, preferably taking as little time as possible to say it, and then move on. Even more so than the rest of the vintage waxings surrounding them, the songs here are stripped down to their essence and as focused as a laser beam, all the while never sacrificing inventiveness or sheer quality for brevity. Selected tracks: "Mr. Suit", "It's So Obvious", "Ex-Lion Tamer"..oh fuck it, just play the whole thing already! (David)
#6 Damned - Damned Damned Damned (1977) In a scene where Malcolm McLaren, the Clash, and every band slinging guitars and sporting fashionable ripped clothing and safety pins was trying to get their record out and one-up the other guy, the Damned produced all the "firsts". This was the first punk album released in the UK, the first album released by the legendary Stiff Records, and Damned were also the first to tour America. Produced by Nick Lowe, who rumor has it, sped up the original recording ever so slightly to make is sound more "punk". This record is the only studio album that includes the full original line up. Less political than most of the most other UK punk bands at the time, the focus here was on sneering vocals, great guitars and monster hits (Well, maybe not hits, but they should have been!) like "New Rose" and "Neat Neat Neat". They probably influenced as many bands as any punk band did at the time, and showed that you could just have fun playing songs you loved, and that the message didn't have to be meaningful, which was somewhat of a rarity among the first British punk bands. (Steve)
#7 Jam - Setting Sons (1979) Originally conceived as a concept album about surviving a nuclear war, the idea was scrapped, but the emotional sentiment still comes through loud and clear. By 1979, many of the first wave of punk bands had already broken up, and the form was starting to expand musically. Paul Weller's soul and reggae tastes were showing through ("Heatwave" is one great cover) in the songs. Jam had more traditional "British" influences (like the Beatles) than other bands, and even used (shriek!) keyboards, with song length often expanded from the "gotta be under 3 minutes" rule. There are classic tracks on this, like "Saturday's Kids", but it's the depth of the songwriting that makes this LP shine. Desperation, desolation, but all done with a sense of melodic ear candy. (Steve)
#8 X-Ray Spex - Germfree Adolescents (1978) Even though this originally didn't feature their demented cheer "Oh Bondage Up Yours" featuring their original sax player Laura Logic, (a situation rectified by the CD reissue) this still turned out to be a fine waxing indeed. The classic cover, featuring the band members trapped in test tubes, and song titles such as "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo", "Identity", "Art-I-fical" perfectly reflected lyrics directed towards the artificality and ultimate sterility of the consumerist society Poly Stryene and company found themselves immersed in, and the pigeonholes said society tries to force you to accept. The band made it very clear that they intended to be a round peg in a square hole, though instead of gray-faced diatribes they welded irony and wits as their weapons as effectively as scapels. Not to mention that this is also one of the very few times you'd hear a complimenting sax used so well in punk outside of any ska/jazz hybrids. (David)
#9 Saints - I'm Stranded (1977) The Saints were from Australia, but sounded like they were from Detroit. They had a couple big pluses; Chris Bailey's edgey voice and a fine collection of rockin' melodic tunes. Much of the Saints tunes will remind you of "Raw Power" Iggy, with a faster tempo. Their slow one, the six minute long "Messin' With The Kid" is one of this, or any album's highlights, sounding like a garageband version of the Rolling Stones circa "Black and Blue". (Mel)
#10 Jawbreaker - Unfun (1990) How can anyone listen to a song like "Want" and not feel the longing in Blake's voice? Blake's voice churns from too many cigarettes and a whole lot of angst. This baby rocks from beginning to end, the playing is perfect. Chris and Adam made up probably the most formidable rhythm section in American punk. Jawbreaker's debut was recorded in Los Angeles, home to two thirds of the trio, and was the perfect melding of hardcore emo and melodic pop punk. It powerfully demonstrated that you didn't have to sacrifice strong melody to put across strong emotions and anger; and make the girls swoon, too. (Steve)
To read our comments on albums 11-25 check out the article in SP #10. Back issues are available for 5 bucks.
#11 Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material (1979)
#12 Operation Ivy - Energy (1991)
#13 Descendents - Milo Goes to College (1982)
#14 X - Los Angeles (1980)
#15 Avengers - s/t (1983)
#16 Black Flag - Damaged (1981)
#17 Generation X - s/t (1978)
#18 Pagans - Shit Street (1979)
#19 Dead Boys - Young Loud and Snotty (1977)
#20 Screeching Weasel - My Brain Hurts (1991)
#21 Rezillos - Can't Stand the Rezillos (1978)
#22 Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance (1978)
#23 Dils - s/t (1990)
#24 Dickies - Dawn of the Dickies (1979)
#25 Germs- (GI) (1979)
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