Howdy, my Lemming fellas!
I want to research on the Punk Movement. What do you think are the songs that represent the anti-establishment themes of Punk the most?
Thanks!
EDIT: Please remove the source identifiers if you share the links!
NOFX - The Decline has to be one of the greatest punk songs. At 18 minutes, it doesn’t represent the average length of punk songs though.
If you want to dig deeper, watch this video where a YouTube bassist analyzes the whole thing.
Okay, I’ll be watching that one at the end.
Bad Religion is pretty good.
But what about Good Religion?
Honorable Mention: The Kinks - All Day and All of the Night (1964)
70s: the origins of the “punk” movement
Ramones - Do You Remember Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio?
The Clash - I’m So Bored of the U.S.A.
The Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen
The Stooges - Search and Destroy
Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster
80s: independent punk emerges
Adolescents - Kids of the Black Hole
Circle Jerks - Wild in the Streets
The Pogues - The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn
90s: punk evolves and goes mainstream
Rancid - Journey to the End of the East Bay
Strung Out - Exhumation of Virginia Madison
Dropkick Murphys - Barroom Hero
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get
Social Distortion - Ball and Chain
The Offspring - The Kids Aren’t Alright
Anyway, there you go!
I tried to pick out what I think are some pretty quintessential examples of punk music across 3 decades, reflecting the style and subject matter of the bands and the context of that time period. But punk is much more stylistically and thematically diverse scene than people might think, so consider this list just a starting point.
Also, even though this list ends with the 90s, I should also say that punk continued to evolve and go pretty strong from the 2000s on, a lot of the bands listed continued to make great music and new bands continues to pop up too.
So there’s a lot more to dig into.
I like your style
German recommendations as well?
Check out Ton Steine Scherben
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-HwQr1uP2DcO7VkO0xeqjrCeoGWmm9OQEdit: although their sound often isn’t typical pogo punk
Else maybe look into WIZO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1JNS2t4_G4Or some current stuff from Austria: Anda Morts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIF10b5e7MgEdit 2: and how could I forget Slime?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRDfDkVRA70Edit 3: and obviously Aufbruch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR7Wb13bXEgKind of vague request, but this playlist looks decent enough as a starting point.
Links to YouTube Music, when opened on a phone, redirect to the store page for their app (at least on Android). Here’s the playlist on YouTube itself..
Thank you for the tip, internet stranger! I’d just assumed they’d open the site if the app wasn’t installed.
They did that in the past, iirc, but apparently at some point Google decided to peddle the app.
I’m trying to learn about the Punk Movement, because the Government kinda sucks ass, so yeah. Thanks for that.
Hell yeah, great way to get into it, but be prepared to learn that “punk” is not really one thing. Id highly suggest checking out Reagan Youth, NOFX, Against All Authority, Blanks 77, Black Flag, Minor Threat, and Bad Brains for a decent sampler. Im seeing a lot of suggestions on here that I’m personally into, but I would consider to be more mainstream/indie.
Ah okay, so it’s more the political leaning that you’re interested in? Like others have mentioned, Dead Kennedys and Bad Religion, NOFX, Anti-Flag, Minor Threat/Fugazi, Operation Ivy… Rancid 2000 and a smattering if tracks from their other albums.
Lots that I’m sure I don’t know. And because your original post triggered a single lyric in my head, here’s the song it led to.
Honestly yeah thats not bad
Operation Ivy - The Crowd
I’ll look into that one!
NOFX - The decline has already been mentioned, so I’ll add social distortion- don’t drag me down.
Local band no one might know. These guys are fantastic, seen more Cry Havoc! shows than any other punk band. This is my favorite song of thiers
Lot’s of US answers here, so some UK to counter it: Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK, Tenpole Tudor - Swords of a thousand men, Sham 69 - If the kids are united, Dickies - Banana splits, The Exploited - Maggie. One US band that no one ever mentions as a punk band: Beastie Boys, the whole album was released as a single.
FEAR - I Don’t Care About You
Thanks! Also, you may have to remove your source identifier.
Check this post for some more modern suggestions.
pre punk: the stooges. search and destroy also the MC5: kick out the jams
dead kennedys: holiday in cambodia
fear: i love living in the city
minor threat: minor threat
bad brains: sailin on
butthole surfers: sweat loaf
sex pistols: god save the queen
Thanks for all the recommendations! Also, please remove the source identifiers, don’t want to get our accounts linked!
Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster The Clash - London Calling FEAR - Let’s Have a War Misfits - Hybrid Moments Circle Jerks - The Crowd Rancid - The Way I Feel
There is so much good punk rock out there.
It’s hard to distill Punk down since at its core it was anti-establishment and anti-conformist, and that could be expressed in various ways. But as others have mentioned, the Dead Kennedys really were the flag bearers for an evolved, purposeful, and thoughtful punk movement you may be looking for. Frontman Jello Biafra famously did not bend to pressure from state and fed on obscenity laws both in court and public debates and is an interesting story on its own.
Their obvious songs being Holiday in Cambodia and Kill the Poor.
