The Punk Appreciation Thread

[Boxer Monkey]

The Stooges, to me, are the only "true" punk band. Everybody else just seems like fashion victims, in some respects. But I never doubt Iggy's conviction -- with the Stooges (gotta qualify) -- for a second.

But I'm also quite fond of "punks" the Only Ones, esp. that song "The Beast," which is about the seductive nature of corruption and its addictive power. Those great lines -- "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink / Think about it / All you gotta do is think about it " -- the way Peter Perrett emphasizes that you "think about it," that he isn't just recycling some hoary cliche, that he's making another point entirely: that you can't corrupt somebody who doesn't wanna be corrupted -- man, it just sends chills up my spine. Fucking-A brilliant.

[Chris D.]

The Damned. The only real punk band.

Yes!

The Stooges, to me, are the only "true" punk band. Everybody else just seems like fashion victims, in some respects. But I never doubt Iggy's conviction -- with the Stooges (gotta qualify) -- for a second.

And yes!

[Aegir]

The only punks bands I really like are the Misfits, Siouxsie and the Banshees (though their later stuff is most certainly not punk), and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. The first two mainly because of the lyrical content, and Me First because they're a cover band, and I love covers.

I'm not really a fan of the genre.

[Joe]

I have always loved the ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE...... "So what" is a classic punk song with deep, meaningful lyrics.

Dead Kennedies first album

Black Flag's first album (but more technically the creation of hardcore)

THE FALL

Australia's RADIO BIRDMAN

Australia's THE SAINTS "I'm Stranded"

One of my favorite punk tracks I love is a song by the FEEDERZ regarding doing something really naughty to Jesus... can't meantion the title here but its a classic.

THAT is real punk music, unlike the poseuring corporate "punk" of today. I can't believe they call it "punk" too, sacrilidge!

[Boxer Monkey]

Black Flag's first album (but more technically the creation of hardcore)

Naw. Try the Bomp "I Got a Right" 7" by Iggy and the Stooges.

[Chris D.]

Boxer, you're exactly right.  Everyone I've played that to has the same reaction.  Iggy was so far ahead.

Dead Kennedies first album

Black Flag's first album (but more technically the creation of hardcore)

Great stuff.  I think Plastic Surgery Disasters is the best DK stuff, and Damaged is unstoppable.  Black Flag wasn't a whole lot before that, but Damaged is really something.

[Chance]

One of my favorite punk tracks I love is a song by the FEEDERZ regarding doing something really naughty to Jesus... can't meantion the title here but its a classic.

I could never bring myself to get too attached to that one, fear of upsetting the wrong people "upstairs"! Where'd you hear that, the "Let Them Eat Jellybeans" comp? That's got some good stuff on it.

[Boxer Monkey]

I can't believe -- CAN'T BELIEVE -- OK, so Iggy is first, best, etc., but my fave -- how could I even have momentarily forgotten this? -- my fave punk band of all is the great FLIPPER.

Two words: "Get Away." It's that rare punk song so real it can make you cry.

[Chris D.]

Dude, Flipper is awesome.  I only have Generic, but I love it.  They manage to sound structured and formless at the same time.  People compare them to Metal Machine Music, and it's like a really catchy version of that.

Also, Wire.  Britain's stuff really took off when they mutated the early punk style.  PiL, Magazine, Wire, Pete Shelley, and the Fall were pretty interesting.  Kind of like what the Beatles, etc., did with Chuck Berry, I guess.

[Boxer Monkey]

"Generic" is just so ... wow. But you've gotta get "Sex Bomb Baby!" for "Get Away" and the single version of the title cut, which is the most diabolically hysterical (funny AND the other kind) thing I've ever heard. "Sex Bomb Baby!": the other best Flipper album.

[trumpet sounds]

The Stooges, to me, are the only "true" punk band. Everybody else just seems like fashion victims, in some respects. But I never doubt Iggy's conviction -- with the Stooges (gotta qualify) -- for a second.

But I'm also quite fond of "punks" the Only Ones, esp. that song "The Beast," which is about the seductive nature of corruption and its addictive power. Those great lines -- "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink / Think about it / All you gotta do is think about it " -- the way Peter Perrett emphasizes that you "think about it," that he isn't just recycling some hoary cliche, that he's making another point entirely: that you can't corrupt somebody who doesn't wanna be corrupted -- man, it just sends chills up my spine. fodaing-A brilliant.

Gotta agree with you on BOTH counts...

Glad to see The Only Ones mentioned, the Replacements were heavily influenced by this band, great power pop punk tunes: Another Girl, Another Planet; Lovers Of Today; City of Fun; You've Got To Pay (and pay and pay) the list goes on... fans should check out: "Darkness and Light: the Complete BBC Recordings" to hear great great live recordings...

[Joe]

Also, Wire. 

Wire are so totally underated.

So are Magazine

[Joe]

One of my favorite punk tracks I love is a song by the FEEDERZ regarding doing something really naughty to Jesus... can't meantion the title here but its a classic.

Where'd you hear that, the "Let Them Eat Jellybeans" comp? That's got some good stuff on it.

Yeah.. and what a great comp it be! The Jokes on you, Corporate food, Isotope soap (!!!)

Actually I got it wrong - the Feederz song is about Jesus doing something to you, not the other way around. Do a google search for Feederz and their website has all that first album available as mp3 downloads... very punk and very cool. The lead singer went on to work for Microsoft... very interesting!

[summerinparadise.flac]

"Generic" is just so ... wow. But you've gotta get "Sex Bomb Baby!" for "Get Away" and the single version of the title cut, which is the most diabolically hysterical (funny AND the other kind) thing I've ever heard. "Sex Bomb Baby!": the other best Flipper album.

Generic is definitely one of the greatest punk records ever. It creates a mood unlike any other and Sex Bomb Baby is genius!

[zelilgirlI1cenu]

One thing worth mentioning about the punk era is how fast it all came and went, but also the fact that it spread like wild fire in the Western hemisphere, because of its social relevance to so many youngpeople at the time.

[Mitchell]

The fact that a lot of punk songs are still relevant speaks badly for the effect it's had on political values so far. I'd expect that to change in the next 20 years, though. Some things take time.

[Chris D.]

The fact that John Lydon now defends British monarchy as tradition speaks badly of his effect on politics.

[Jason]

The fact that John Lydon now defends British monarchy as tradition speaks badly of his effect on politics.

Wow, that's enough for me to never want to listen to The Sex Pistols ever again. Poseur. What happened to the "revolution", man?

[Chris D.]

It's from a recent interview:

Lydon: I mean just about everything Britain has ever had has been passed off.

Interviewer: There’s not much left these days.

Lydon: Yeah, but doing that show, going round Britain, it was clear; yes we do have a culture, and yes it is still valid. It might not be understood by the BBC or Tony Blair, but you know, don’t wreck it. And there’s definite movements there to just take it all away. And oddly enough it puts me in the position of defending the Royal family, because they are part of our culture. We can’t just dispense with it to suit a currently topical form of politics. Socialism is a temporary come and go, but the Royal family has survived historically for many, many, many, centuries. Don’t throw things away until you properly understand them. I’d like a serious look at what the Royal family could and should be doing…

I get his point...to a point...but come on, you're defending people who are given rule just because of their birth?  He's the last person I would expect to defend a class system.

[Jason]

I guess impending old age has totally evaporated his punk sensibility.

[Mitchell]

That's probably the problem with punk and why its messages are still relevant. By the time they get old enough to be in a position of power (I'm thinking politically, here), they've lost their edge or no one would give them the power, anyway. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, neccessarily, but it's sort of a fact of life.

Then again, my opinion here is entirely uninformed and just based on my casual observances, so if anyone wants to argue it, I'm all for it.

[Evenreven]

Chris, thanks for posting that. After some other Lydon interviews of the last few years, I'm not surprised. If Lydon of 1975 had met Lydon of 2005 he would have called him an old wanker.

[Mitchell]

I don't think he'd want it any other way!

[Big Bri]

How come nobody's mentioned Rancid?? "Out Come The Wolf's" is a killer record.
Doe's anyone remember Jason & The Scorchers??? Punk-abilly at its Best!!

I guess Green Day doesn't count anymore as Punk??  Though "American Idiot" is a classic already and will be 20 years from now.
Big Bri

[Jason]

I guess Green Day doesn't count anymore as Punk??  Though "American Idiot" is a classic already and will be 20 years from now.

Green Day sold out, they're pop now.