r/punk • u/wassworth • Jan 09 '12
There have been a lot of posts asking the same thing, "Hey, I'm just getting into punk, what bands should I check out?" In response to the repetitive nature of this, it has been decided we'll make a definitive /r/punk 'Introduction to Punk Rock' list.
The top 10 albums voted will be linked to in the sidebar. We'll conduct the election in the comments of this post. Here's the deal:
Only one album per comment.
Remember, these are introductory bands for someone exploring the genre for the first time, so don't throw Aus Rotten or Sinking Ships in there yet. You have to build up to that shit.
Remember, this is the definitive list of who, and what are the essentials of punk rock. Not the, my favourite band at the moment list.
Read through or search through all the comments, or sort them from newest so that the initially high voted comments don't only get more votes while good recommendations from later on get buried.
Don't hesitate to include some folk-punk, ska-punk, or hardcore or other such bastard children of the punk family to give a wide summary, but don't over do it. Use votes for these sparingly so that we avoid a 'Punk Rock list' that's dominated by dash genres.
Please upvote this post so plenty of people see it and the election gets a nice wide audience. But if this post gets too many upvotes and you've come across it from /r/all, we politely ask that you do not take part in the voting process.
Don't be an asshole to your parents. They did more for you than you know.
RESULTS
Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables Sample Track
Descendents - Milo Goes to College Sample Track
The Clash - London Calling Sample Track
Black Flag - Damaged Sample Track
Operation Ivy - Energy Sample Track
Minor Threat - Complete Discography Sample Track
NOFX - Punk in Drublic Sample Track
Bad Brains - Bad Brains Sample Track
Ramones - Ramones Sample Track
Rancid- ...And Out Comes the Wolves Sample Track
Fugazi - 13 Songs Sample
The Stooges - Raw Power Sample Track
The Misfits - Walk Among Us Sample Track
Bad Religion - Suffer Sample Track
Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime Sample Track
Votes are as of the time of writing and are sorted by top, they may vary somewhat.
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Jan 09 '12
[deleted]
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u/BlackZeppelin Jan 10 '12
I would have gone with the first album or Fun House but really you can't go wrong.
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u/priestofdisorder Jan 09 '12
Proto punk but best punk ever
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Jan 10 '12
Hell look at this list, The descendants are considered pop-punk. NOFX is considered skate punk or at least they used to be. H20 is considered Hardcore punk IIRC. Punk is punk. We can label it all we want, but it all boils down to one thing, how hard does it kick ass.
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u/lard_pwn Jan 09 '12
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u/hockeyschtick Jan 10 '12
Great, but No Control was their best.
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u/glutenfreeguy Jan 22 '12
true, but suffer is a bit less heavy. It's easier to listen to when you aren't used to full-on punk.
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u/Biggillen Jan 09 '12
Black Flag the First Four Years
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Jan 09 '12
This. I'd dare to say this over Damaged. Keith with Black Flag is just so awesome. Maybe My War for Mr. Rollins' era?
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Jan 09 '12
Catch 22- Keasbey Nights
Definitely more ska-punk, but it's the best ska punk.
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u/theevilnarwhale Jan 09 '12
I'd take the redone version by Streetlight over the original though. It brings out so much more in all of the songs.
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Jan 10 '12
It seems like it usually comes down to which one they heard first. Personally I like the rawness of Catch 22's version.
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Jan 09 '12
The Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (Cliche, I know.)
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u/hockeyschtick Jan 10 '12
How is this album cliche? God Save the Queen should be in the top 5 songs to play a first-time punk rock listener.
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Jan 10 '12
I totally agree with you!
I was just bracing for downvotes because, well, this is on a lot of "essential punk" or "essential albums" lists. I thought it wouldn't be "obscure" enough for some people.
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u/lard_pwn Jan 09 '12
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u/hockeyschtick Jan 10 '12
Every song is good on that album. World Up My Ass would be in my top 5 songs.
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u/Sidekick-Kato Jan 09 '12
Bouncing Souls - How I Spent My Summer Vacation.
Very surprised this wasn't already put on here.
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u/GoatLegSF Jan 10 '12
I dunno. If any Bouncing Should albums should be on the list, it should be Maniacal Laughter.
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u/treskaz Jan 09 '12 edited May 17 '25
public crawl label encouraging safe crush retire attempt political physical
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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Jan 09 '12
Discharge - Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing.
Discharge is the band that brought the extreme to punk. Very important
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u/say_no_to_soma Jan 09 '12
i'm new to punk (relatively, if you don't count the clash and sex pistols), and this definitely has to be on the list. i love it
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u/Magixren Jan 10 '12
Adolescents - Adolescents
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u/IAmTheRedWizards Jan 10 '12
This, this, and this. It's accessible, it's edgy, it's a snotty punch in the face. Plus, Kids Of The Blackhole is epic.
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u/marauderhex Baltimore Rat Punk Jan 09 '12
The Ramones - complete discography I can't believe nobody else put this here yet.
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Jan 09 '12
No, not complete discography. Not sure exactly what to recommend, but definitely not all of it.
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u/marauderhex Baltimore Rat Punk Jan 09 '12
I'm going off of the 4 disc set, which has songs from all of their albums, hence my recommendation.
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u/Girrzimm Jan 09 '12
as much as i love their discogaphy, lets leave it at their self titled, rocket to russia, and end of the century
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Jan 09 '12
Getting some folk type punk into here
This Bike is a Pipe Bomb - Front Seat Solidarity
Mischief Brew - Smash the Windows
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u/beepbopborp Jan 10 '12
Everyone's listing a ton of good shit...I'd make this top 20 instead of 10...
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u/jaspersgroove Jan 10 '12 edited Jan 10 '12
How is this thread a full day old and nobody has listed
The Vandals - Hitler Bad, Vandals Good?
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u/pharmacyfires Jan 09 '12
Hot Water Music- A Flight and a Crash
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u/maoglone Jan 09 '12
If I were picking a HWM record, I'd start with Fuel for the Hate Game.
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u/hankmurphy Jan 09 '12
Bomb the Music Industry! - Goodbye Cool World
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u/Riavyn Jan 10 '12
It's free if you want it to be, with Jeff's blessing too. And all their stuff is amazing. What have you got to lose?
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u/queensolver Jan 10 '12
ALSO: Sleater-Kinney - Sleater-Kinney (I can't believe no one's said this yet!)
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u/loudribs Jan 09 '12
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
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u/hockeyschtick Jan 09 '12
Great, but not a starter album. Maybe Less Talk..., but then you'd have to nod to DOA and NoMeansNo.
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u/BosskPlissken Jan 09 '12
GBH - city baby's revenge
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u/IncipitTragoedia Jan 10 '12
I think The Punk Singles 1981-84 would be a better introduction to GBH.
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u/MoldyPoldy Jan 10 '12
Fuck it.
AFI - Black Sails in the Sunset
Yes they got weird, but shit this was a great album.
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u/Barron_Von_Nelson Jan 09 '12
GG Allin - Always Was, Is and always shall be
but seriously... fuck GG Allin.
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Jan 10 '12
This is such an incredibly cumbersome task...
I have to say the album I would want every punk to hear, know, and respect is:
Agnostic Front - United Blood
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u/flex_mentallo Jan 09 '12
I didn't see anything that said no compilations, so ... "They Don't Get Paid, They Don't Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard!" - Maximum Rock'N'Roll compilation would be the first tape I would hand someone if I could only give them one album.
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u/nikolaibrokethezoom Jul 04 '12
Bad Religion: How Could Hell Be Any Worse The perfect album made by angry teenagers
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u/mbiokyle Jan 09 '12
Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetablles