Every now and then some lost soul emails me asking for a list of albums I admire. In response to one such email, I'm going to throw out six punk albums I own and enjoy.
The Buzzcocks: A Different Kind Of Tension
This is the Buzzcocks' brand of magical punk pop at its most polished. While it lacks the frantic energy and amazing death-or-glory heroics of Another Music In A Different Kitchen, A Different Kind Of Tension makes up for any such lackage with impeccable songwriting and perfect delivery. If I could only have one Buzzcocks album, it would still be Another Music In A Different Kitchen, but A Different Kind Of Tension still rates as good a punk album as you are likely to hear.
The Circle Jerks: Gig
Like so many other punk bands, The Jerks were - first and foremost - at their best live. So while any number of their studio albums are worth owning, Gig is the one Circle Jerks album that really defines what the band was all about. This is L.A. punk rock at its' most primitive, which is exactly why The Circle Jerks and Gig should be treasured.
Stiff Little Fingers: Hanx!
This is the first album Stiff Little Fingers released in the States, essentially being a live "best of". As such, it pulls together some choice material from the band's first two studio albums, Inflammable Material and Nobody's Heroes. This is what I call a "paint peeler" album: You put it on your stereo, crank the volume to "11" and watch the paint come off the walls. This is the band U2 would have been if they'd had balls.
The Sex Pistols: The 76 Club/Burton-Upon-Trent Concert
This recording of a 1976 club gig by the Pistols (with Glen Matlock, rather than Sid Vicious, on bass) has been released by a number of record companies under a variety of guises. It remains the best live gig by The Sex Pistols I've been able to locate. The recording isn't good, and the band as a fair amount of trouble with their sound system, but it is clear they know they are onto something. Also clear is how much tighter they were with Matlock on bass. Get this concert and begin to understand why so many people fell in love with this band.
The Pretenders: Pretenders
It would be hard for today's young 'ums to understand the seismic shock created by the release of this album. First of all, you had this astounding, peel-the-paint-off-the-walls rock band playing like their lives depended on it (listen to The Wait real loud and you'll see what I mean). Second, you had Chrissie Hynde presenting a persona unknown to rock - that of a tough, cynical, nut-crushing but strangely vulnerable broad you won't dare fuck with (but might fall in love with). Pretenders is marred only by the inclusion of the Nick Lowe produced Stop Your Sobbing; without it this could have been a Perfect Album.
Pere Ubu: Terminal Tower
Cleveland-based Pere Ubu isn't really a punk band. It's an art band. A punk art band. Strangely enough, about the best place for the uninitiated to start is with a compilation of their early singles and b-sides called Terminal Tower. While the collection is worthwhile in its entirety, three songs get to the heart of what Pere Ubu is: Heart Of Darkness, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo and the utterly amazing Final Solution. The first time I heard Final Soluton (on WMMS, then the finest rock radio station in the nation), it began to dawn on me that there was something going on at the fringes of rock that was going to change everything.
Hah. For me it was the Cramps. When my mom walked in and saw the video for 'Garbageman' and said "What is that shit?" I knew I was on to something.
Posted by: Eric Blair | February 24, 2009 at 10:08 AM
We'll get to The Cramps soon...
Lux Interior just died a few weeks ago, I do believe.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | February 24, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Yes he did. Only 60, too.
Posted by: Eric Blair | February 25, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Lux Interior R.I.P. That made me scared about that whole "they die in threes" superstition. There are just too many musician idols I have who are getting up there and haven't lived, um, the healthiest of lifestyles.
Nice list. My album I want to buy boxes of to just give out so that everyone will own it is Mr. Bungle's "California". Otherwise, I'm all about the old punk must-owns.
Posted by: Lexecon | February 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Good list Dennis.
"You know you can't help it" is one of my fave BC's songs - but as you say the first album is probably the best.
I have to say I do disagree that any Jerks album is worth owning. You can have my old vinyl of "Wonderful" anytime.
Posted by: Simon | February 25, 2009 at 09:34 PM
Mush by Leatherface
Posted by: Emerson | March 02, 2009 at 06:00 PM
Yeah, I love Nick, but he didn't belong on a punk album. But the Pretenders sort of straddled the punk-new wave line. I suppose I could start world war III with a comment like that.
Posted by: Callimachus | March 03, 2009 at 07:52 PM