Punk Rock Album Reviews

When trying to define the most important punk rock albums of all time, generating a list truly depends on whom you talk to. As with any other music, punk rock album reviews always contain some bias, while any list showcasing the top 10 or 20 punk rock albums is sure to overlook a few gems. Nevertheless, there are a few albums that truly stand above the rest. Some are remembered for their musical genius and others for their social significance of the period.

A Few Punk Rock Reviews

When you think of punk rock, three bands are usually at the top of most people's lists: The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Clash. In 1977, the world of punk rock was shaken up by the release of Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. Led by Johnny Rotten's almost maniacal vocals and Steve Jones's aggressive guitar, it includes a number of songs that rocked the British establishment of the time, such as God Save the Queen and Anarchy in the UK. Its release created a tidal wave of backlash and many stores refused to sell it, while a number of its singles still continued to climb the charts.

Although The Ramones were not as controversial as The Sex Pistols, the New York-based punk band has received much acclaim for their self-titled effort Ramones. Released in 1976, the album reflects the essence of punk rock with its stripped down music, but also showcases the band's personal interests and sense of humor with songs such as Judy Is a Punk, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend and Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue.

Initially not released in the United States because of its focus on British politics, The Clash's self-titled debut didn't take long to find traction among punk rock fans. Songs such as London's Burning showed how politically powerful punk's messages could be, many of which still reflect the world of today. As the world of punk music continues to evolve, it has had many ups and downs over the past 30 years, yet it is one of the few sub-genres that still remains relevant.