Best Punk Albums of the 90's

I promised to write about the heritage and the contemporary, but haven't done too much of the old stuff lately. That's about to change.

This is my list of top 10 (OK, it's really 12) punk albums released during the 1990's. To be sure, Rancid, Green Day, Blink-182 and The Offspring released some epic work during that decade, but we already know that. This list is comprised of some great work by some punk rock stalwarts, some lesser known acts and in some cases not necessarily the most popular of a specific bands albums during the decade.

I was writing a lot about rock music in the 90's and heard some great stuff, but these are some releases that simply are flawless from beginning to end! As always, I hope to get some "oh really?", "oh yeah!" and "he's clearly on drugs!", but hey enjoy this 90's heritage!

The Best Punk Albums of the 90's:

12. Face To Face - Big Choice. OK, so when you hear a Face To Face song, you know it's a Face To Face song! Yes, there is a pattern there. But hey it totally works and while this release may not be their most mature, it certainly is their most raw and intense and holds up well some 15 years later!

11. Sick Of It All - Built To Last. As I reflect, why am I having such a hard time coming up with great hardcore 90's releases? I know there were there, right? Madball, AF, H2O, Leeway, etc. But as I really think of it, a lot of great stuff came out in the late 80's or even in this decade. So, only one true hardcore release made it onto the list and that is the 1997 release from SOIA. Lou Koller's voice never sounded better than on this, their final major label, release. This is a true NYHC expression and is as "clenched fist" as it ever was!

10. Bad Religion - Recipe For Hate. This might not be the first choice for most BR fans as they put out six records during that decade. And I still have some issues with the production quality, but that aside, it's a pretty amazing blaze-through of short blasts of Left Coast punk rawk anger! It's relentless! They were truly "Men On A Mission" and somebody was paying attention to how high this record went up the charts and sadly signed them to a major...creating a few years of less than stellar efforts. But, hey like a phoenix rising they are back. I kind of look at BR like I do Metallica. With both bands, there was about 10 years where I'd rather forget some of their music. Just my opinion, but hey they both recovered nicely with their recent efforts!

9. Pennywise - Pennywise. Who knew that Jim Lindbergh would become the renaissance man that he is now, what with being an author and all! This first record was like a shot from a blast furnace. Pure CA hardcore stylings. I have always used the word "tight" to describe this band and on their debut it's more than fitting. He may now be a punk rock dad, but he'll always be that angry kid singin' "Bro Hymn" on this 1991 classic!

8. Good Riddance - Operation Phoenix. I wasn't really writing much in 1999 when this CD came across my desk. I listened to it, felt nothing and proceeded to bury it under a pile of mediocre punk and alternative stuff. Somehow, I can't remember now, I unearthed it just a few weeks later. I listened to it again and was blown away. Kind of like I'd never hear this before. (Note: exact same thing happened with Rise Against a few years ago. Listened to 'Siren...', put it away for a few months this time, then tried it again and realized how much I'd been missing). I am not sure that in punk, anyone did melodic hardcore better than this Santa Cruz outfit. At times it's anger, it's always political and social and it's one of those records that I listen to and say "don't change a fucking thing"! Sorry for the f-word, but I just heard "Heresy, Hypocrisy & Revenge", love that line from "Some Kind Of Wonderful". "Letters Home" ranks in my top 10 of all time great punk songs, any decade!!!

7. No Use For A Name - Leche Con Carne. I was late to this NUFAN train, but once I got on, I was committed! Love or hate the melodic direction they have gone in during the 00's, this release was an instant classic. For one of the most prolific punk bands (ever!!!), this ranks at the top of the list of a series of excellent punk records that have marked their ongoing, stellar career. "Fatal Flu", "Soulmate", "Fields of Agony", "Alone", man, come on!!! Pure brilliance!

6. Millencolin - Pennybridge Pioneers. Jumping across the pond for the next three on our list, we find Sweden's Millencolin. Hey, it was recorded in 1999, so it counts! This is one of those records that just keeps building and building. At first listen, I thought "yeah, it's solid". But after 3, 4, 10 listens I found myself wanting to simply push repeat! It's humorous, melodic, aggressive, it's simply great. For me, the Swedes will be known for three things: building sturdy cars, inventing death metal and Millencolin!

5. No Fun At All - The Big Knockover. My buddy Marco told me about this band on little Theologian Records. I was blown away from the first chord. Sure, comparisons to Bad Religion were inevitable, but NFAA was so much more. They brought a freshness to melodic hardcore music. Must be something in that Swedish water, as this is some pretty amazing stuff, from an otherwise punk-rock-barren land. "The Other Side" is also a track that remains in my top 10 of all time. I don't think NFAA ever got the respect and street cred that others did during the 90's, but I certainly will fight to change that. This is amazing stuff. If you are (were) a fan of NoFX, NUFAN, Green Day, Face To Face, etc., then check out this far to under-sung band!

4. Leatherface - Mush. I guess this rounds out the European portion of our list! From Sunderland, England comes Leatherface. Released on tiny Seed Recordings (in the US), this is a working class, melodic punk classic! Frankie Stubbs voice is so strained and yet so perfect! If you only had 99 cents and you wanted to expose yourself to Leatherface, go grab "Bowl of Flies" from iTunes. Trust me, it's worth it and I'd bet anything that you pony up some more scratch for the other 14 songs.

3. Rocket From The Crypt - Circa: Now!. Punk you say? Oh yeah! I know RFTC has a big cult following, they kind of single-handedly made garage punk cool! So this might not be a surprise to see this one on the list. But there are two certainties in life. This is by far their best work and to this day, they are (were) the best live band ever! Any genre, they were absolutely the best, most energetic, tightest and fun to watch! I've seen thousands of bands perform, but I've seen RFTC about 15 times and they are just a pure joy to witness. While they will have to remain in memory, "Circa: Now!" leaves us a good marker on their history. (Note: best show ever was the Halloween gig at some San Diego hotel ballroom circa 1993). I missed their farewell Halloween show in 2005 and hope that someday they decide to re-form, even if for only one night!

2. Jawbreaker - Dear You. I loved "24 Hour Revenge Therapy" and it certainly possessed a more raw, distorted quality than this more polished release. But, that album needed a few more years under its belt, maybe a little maturity. No worries, when the band got picked up by DGC and put out "Dear You" they proved to the world that they had arrived and left an indelible mark on punk rock of today! I can't think of many indie to major label punk transitions that actually worked. But this one did. "Save Your Generation" would fit nicely on a contemporary punk release, as would "Oyster" "Fireman" and "Chemistry". Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so consider Jawbreaker flattered. You can hear so much of their sound in what is going on today in punk and that's pretty impressive since the band only existed for a very brief time and left us with only 4 recordings. This was a tough one by the way. I know that "Dookie" is often at the top of a 90's punk list, but I wanted to go a little deeper in the genre. Having said that, I know many people consider the number one record (see below) to be sacred, but this was indeed a close second, maybe even more like a tie!

1. NoFX - Punk In Drublic. Can I add anything that has not already been said? Who knows, but here goes. From the opening chords of "Linoleum" to the end of "Scavenger Type", this release is pure brilliance. It's funny, hyper, genre-crossing, solid! Spanning hyper-paced punk to dancehall, dub and reggae, it's one of those rare releases that can do that genre hopping naturally. It all works together. You finish listening to "Dig" and say "holy crap, that was amazing" then you are rewarded with a mid-paced tune like "Happy Guy", only to be smashed across the face with the pure intensity of "Perfect Government". This band has had a truly prolific career and this release marks their own high water mark. We can probably count on two hands the number of gold certified punk releases, especially those on indie labels like Epitaph. This is one of those gold records and its well deserved. It's timeless and it's a classic!

So, there you have it. Some honorable mentions that I feel I should give respect to: AFI - Black Sails In The Sunset, Bracket - 4 Wheel Vibe, H2O - Thicker Than Water, Madball - Look My Way and RKL - Rags To Riches.

NoFX So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes Review

Ask any discerning NoFX fan and it's likely, that if pressed, they would not list this release as one of their faves. You would probably hear about "Punk In Drublic" and "White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean". Those are stellar punk records and while "So Long..." came out about 5 years after "White Trash" it retains the blatant, in your face, frenetic blend that has made NoFX so great for over 25 years!

Why do I think this album is so important, both for the band and for the music in general? I think it may be because this is the punk release that resonated with so many people in the face of the cresting wave of punk being cool, commercial and credible! Remember, what was really going on in music in the late 90's? There was some great, transitional stuff happening in rock... Foo Fighters, Offspring, Green Day, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Prodigy, Reel Big Fish, Blur all had significant songs in 1997. As a subset of rock, Punk and Alt-Rock was entering the mainstream and personally, I took notice and paid attention to it, worried that it might be the beginning of the end. Punk and alternative rock had pushed into the mainstream earlier in the decade with grunge and as quickly as that happened, it vanished equally as fast. What would be the fate of Green Day, Offspring, Rancid and others as they were snapped up by major labels? Well, 2 out the 3 ain't bad, to this day all but Rancid (at least not in that form) have flourished.

I don't have the insight to know if there was major label interest for NoFX, I suspect their was because like any scene, when one band sells a million records, record labels have a tendency to sign anyone that has "that look and that sound", get them into the studio, put out a record and get them on the road super-fast! A more recent example is who will survive the emo/screamo/rock bubble burst...Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday, Atreyu, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus? Who knows, but what I do know is that in 1997, at a time when punk rock was in a throwdown with fame, NoFX released a record that helped to keep us all centered.

Was this what they set out to do, of course not! Having seen, listened, watched and read about NoFX for so many years, I suspect they tried to make a good record and had a boat load of fun while doing it. Isn't that the way it should be?

So, it's an important record, happened during a punk-rock-growth-spurt and as compared with some of their classic earlier work and as compared with other releases of the genre, it may well have gotten lost in the shuffle. But for me and I believe for countless other fans, it was a validating record for NoFX. No matter what else is going on, NoFX remains true to themselves, their fans and their music.

"It's My Job to Keep Punk Rock Elite", wow thanks NoFX for starting your album out with such an appropriate title given the content of this blog post so far. This song, along with "Kids of the K-Hole", "180 Degrees", "I'm Telling Tim" and "Kill Rock Stars" will please any fan of "Linoleum" or "Soul Doubt" as it's uptempo and completely memorable. As always, NoFX blends in various influences as they blister through song after song. "Champs Elysees" is a good case in point. The creative use of horns, pace changes and even the odd french word showcase the diversity of the band. "Eat the Meek" is another influence-blender, this time evoking imagery of dance hall, dub and reggae. Ska dominates the blend on "All Outta Angst" and as always it fits right in and feels right.

Humor has always played a part in NoFX music, as has social commentary. Heck, any band that can count two songs about lesbians among their repertoire, must have much to say! But sometimes, there is just plain humor as in "Monosyllabic Girl". "I take her down to the aquarium, she says shark. I take her to the planetarium, she says dark." A good song, neat tune, fun words, good times!

Like all NoFX releases, the album is laden with hooks that grab the listener. From the first chord to the last, this album does not disappoint. It's at times gritty, angry and crass. Others, it's light and humorous. Still others, it's a wash in harmony.

I think I have made this statement before, with some bands, you appreciate that you always know what you are going to get. There is a formula, a pattern that is discernible and you look forward to it and it's OK that it doesn't change because it's good. That's not the case with NoFX and in particular on "So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes". The album stylistically wanders and that's its beauty. Add to that it's constant commentary on the state of the music biz and it truly does establish its rightful place in the heritage of punk rock! Peers may come and go, get signed, get dropped, etc., but this album stands on solid footing and is in my opinion an important marker in the punk rock timeline.

Go Grab It at Amazon


or at iTunes

Hello The Used? It's Me Drive Like Jehu - Screamo Born

Or maybe this post should be titled "Hello, Bert? It's me, John Reis". Whatever the title of this post, hardcore and punk underwent an amazing transformation in 1991. Emo, Screamo, Post-Hardcore owe a tremendous debt to this band. Drive Like Jehu released their self-titled debut on Headhunter Records. Punk rock would never be the same.

In retrospect, it's hard to not call this a punk rock supergroup. With this pedigree, it's no wonder this band and specifically, this album would have such wide influence. Check out three of the members:

John Reis (aka. Speedo): Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Pitchfork, The Night Marchers, Owner Swami Records and all-around punk rock hero.

Rick Froberg: Hot Snakes, Obits and Chapter 1 of "Screamo 101: A Lesson in Vocals". (note: can't wait for the Obits debut next year on Sub Pop!!!)

Mark Trombino: Night Soil Man, Aminiature, punk rock producer to the stars...Jimmy Eat World, Finch, Silverstein, Blink-182.

A digression: In the early 90's the San Diego alternative scene was loaded! But the three bands that in my opinion had a large influence on the screamo and hardcore of today are these peers of DLJ...Night Soil Man, Three Mile Pilot and Truman's Water. Each, known for their own brand of sonic dissonance, they each shaped the future of punk, and rock in general, with their aggressive, dirty, yet technical music.

Back to our featured artist. Drive Like Jehu. The complexity of this music, to this day, leaves me awestruck. It's beautiful, rich, well thought out and well executed. "Caress" starts the album off. It builds to crescendo and while other tracks meander from the beautiful to the extreme, "Caress" is relentless from beginning to end. Next up is quick blast "Spikes To You". The shortest song on the album, but by no means the simplest. How do you describe the guitar sound of Drive Like Jehu? It's "off" in a way, no disrespect, it's what makes it amazing. It's almost like they use their dueling guitar lines to create some sort of mismatched harmony. It works perfectly on "Spikes". John Reis leads the way on "Step on Chameleon", a bit of a slower, sludgy track with those patented overlaying guitars. "Step on Chameleon" features some nice Rocket From The Crypt harmony and is a personal fave. "O Pencil Sharp" is a nine minute epic that captures the entire Drive Like Jehu experience. It slowly builds into a single guitar led melody and then into a mid-paced, somewhat somber progression. At around the 5 minute mark, the deluge that is Drive Like Jehu starts. Manic, pulsing, strained solos, complex percussion, it's got it all. As quickly as the deluge starts, you wander back into the darkness that began the track... and so it ends. It's a track like that that often can be the measurement of a band, but how well they can take the song from record to the stage is the real test. From personal experience, Drive Like Jehu were able to precisely capture "O Pencil Sharp" note for tenuous note. "Atom Jack" would fit in quite well amongst the Emo and Screamo of today and is probably the most structured of all the tracks. "If It Kills You" is a study in tonal instability. The pain sensed in Rick's voice is palpable but ultimately outdone by the guitar and bass work on this post-hardcore forebear. This track, along with a few others, feels at times like an instrumental. It wanders off in a direction for a few minutes and it's a wonderful journey. "Good Luck In Jail" is simply a really cool punk / alternative rock song. It's Melvins-esque and it's a treat! "Turn It Off" could have easily been written in 2006 and may well have influence outside of punk (Killers, Modest Mouse, etc.). This classic, noisy album wraps up with "Future Home of Stucco Monstrosity". "Wall of Sound" jumps to mind as a simple way to sum up this tune and probably is a fitting description for the work as a whole.

I know there are Drive Like Jehu fans out there that count this record as one of the best of the punk or hardcore genre, count me amongst that group!

There was a song in the 80's called "Video Killed The Radio Star". Sadly, we could probably say "Major Label Killed the Punk Rock Star" for this band and bunches of others. While there are always many contributing factors to a bands finish, in this particular case, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if Drive Like Jehu had stayed on some small, high quality San Diego indie label? I'd like to think that "Yank Crime" would be just the second in a long line future masterpieces! But hey, good news for all of us, the three main men continue to release and influence a tremendous amount of good quality, true to themselves punk.

Good Riddance - Operation Phoenix

For those who were into punk in 1999, this probably wouldn't be classified as a 90's hidden gem, it was a pretty important release and certainly a well respected one. Those who aren't familiar with Good Riddance might enjoy learning about a punk / hardcore release that is loaded with aggression, raw power and all out anger. To either audience, read on...learn something new or be reminded of one of the most important and often unheralded albums in punk. There are those punk records that build to a frenzy over the course of either the opening track or over the first few songs. This record is one of those "hit you between the eyes" openers, leaving no doubt that what's coming is nothing short of a audio and verbal assault. "Shadows of Defeat" starts with an except from Martin Luther King's 1964 Nobel Prize speech and so begins the deluge. It is time to go, echoes the the last line of the first track. Vocals from Russ Rankin are gruff, emotional, hardcore. "Blueliner" is nothing short of a Minor Threat call to arms. It blasts the listener and subtly lifts elements from NYHC. Any song that starts with that amazing rant between father and son from "Some Kind of Wonderful", is going to be OK. "Heresy, Hypocrisy, And Revenge" is more than OK. That tirade leads into a crushing guitar led opening followed by a blast to the ears..."look at what you've left me, now that you've moved on". "Letters Home" is my personal stand-out track. Melodic, passionate and probably the most complete offering, it's got that same hardcore passion with some "cleaner" Russ vocals and great harmony. Add in a nice tempo change finished with 30 or so seconds of made for moshing aggression, and you really do have the complete Good Riddance experience in one tidy track. "Yesterday Died, Tomorrow Won't Be Born" is another short blast of hardcore excellence and I'll go back to where I started, talking about building to a frenzy vs. being frenetic from the get-go. This track, along with several remaining are great examples, the frenzy starts in the first 7 seconds, angry vocals follow, wrapped up with mid-paced hardcore and a mosh inspired summary to end the song.

You have to give credit where credit is due, angry hardcore from a California band? Sure, it's been done before, but this record is entirely well done! Great job fellas...for now you'll have to remain in memory, easy to do that with this classic hardcore release!

Go Grab It At iTunes

Rocket From The Crypt - Circa Now 1993 Review

From a 1993 magazine that I published comes a review of the classic RFTC "Circa Now". I know that this band certainly has a passionate following, even after their demise, but it's their legacy that is fascinating. To this day, their music is fresh, innovative and OK, I'll say it "fun"! Circa Now marks a change in the band, still garage punk in nature, but this is a bit more mature. It's also probably the first RFTC album that comes close to capturing the essence of the band live. RFTC was the best live band amongst that San Diego 90's alt/punk scene, which is saying a lot when you have Lucy's Fur Coat, Boilermaker, Aminiature, Uncle Joe's Big 'ol Driver and Fluf in the mix. Circa Now captures that raw power and 16 years later is is as rockin' as ever! Enjoy...

From 1993. OK, so I am really keen on finding out more about San Diego bands and that might influence my opinion. But in this review, I will be completely objective. RFTC are the greatest thing since sliced bread, the wheel, the light bulb, party balls! They are the savior of music itself! those of you who think I am serious can stop reading. What this band really is, is a fantastic ensemble of musicians who have released an independent album that knocked me off my feet. "Circa Now" is a powerful, at times noisy, collection of songs, each of which could easily be hummed after just the first listen. "Killy Kill", "Ditch Digger" and "Don't Darlene" are but 3 examples of this bands refreshing ability to pen both song and lyric. I've heard that this is doing well for an independent release. Having found out about RFTC late in the game, I can't say that I have been a fan for years, but they certainly have impressed me. the power pop songs on this release should convert any alternative music listener to an instant fan. If not, I'll continue to voice my thoughts about an album that pleases this listener.

Jump to today, gotta love a review with the words "party ball" in it! For you youngsters, a party ball was a short lived late 80's mini version of a pony keg that you and your buds could drink. It's main downfall was that you couldn't shotgun it!!!!

Go Grab It At iTunes

Leatherface - Mush

From a magazine I wrote for in 1992 comes this review on Leatherface...

This is British working class music for the masses. From Northern England comes Leatherface with a surprisingly pleasing stateside debut. "Mush" is punk 'n roll, positive energy sort of stuff. Each song has a distinct Leatherface guitar hook and is always memorable for the vocals of Frankie. His singing style is nothing short of passionate and provides and extra source of energy to this potent underground sound. Understand that this is a no-nonsense record. Where Helmet are considered the "fancy" brand of food, Leatherface is most definitely "plain wrap". "Mush" completely took me by surprise and I truly hope they will be a breath of fresh air to the music industry.

Fast forward to today, this records has staying power. It's still outstanding. The raw power and energy of this band, while probably not legendary, is infectious!

Go Grab It At iTunes

No Fun At All - The Big Knockover

OK, over time I've promised to unearth some 90's Gems, Leatherface "Mush" is secure in that list as it's an often overlooked punk release...read that review.


Next up, it's Sweden's own No Fun At All. Is this a hidden gem? You bet it is! It's got it all. Influences for today's post-hardcore, prominent guitar, background harmonies, loads of tempo changes and anthemic punk tunes. Anthemic and punk in the same sentence, OK I said it, try it out, you'll hear. Sure, peers of No Fun At All were putting out more critically acclaimed records in 1997... Sick Of It All, Pennywise, Lagwagon, AFI, etc. but this release trumps them all. Those were good records, this one is better because it had no expectations (ah, if only they could all be that way). "The Other Side" represents the album in its entirety, but by no means is it a formula, it's just a track that shows that NFAA play music, are musicians, can sing, energize, drive rhythms, energize listeners and encourage repeating. Burning Heart Records unearthed some great European punk bands and with some of their licensing deals in the US, were able to expose (or the bands pushed for the exposure) these bands to a larger audience in the 90's and early 00's.

You groovin' out to Sufferer and the Witness, Decemberunderground, Reason To Believe...how about a little IPOD augmentation with some NFAA. You can comfortably shuffle with others in your mp3 player playlists of melodic punk and in fact it will make those playlists better.

Go Grab It At iTunes

Leatherface - Pride of Sunderland

I did an interview with Frankie Stubbs, lead singer of Leatherface in 1992. He talked to me from his home in the north of England, in a town called Sunderland. The band had just released "Mush" on Seed Records. Here are some of the highlights from our conversation, followed by some current observations on this band.

Me: How did the band start?
Frankie: We started...I don't know! We were all drinking companions who were use to making noise. We got together and set up our stuff in the guitar players house and make noise...that was August of 1998.
Me: Was it easy to find places to play?
Frankie: We were really lucky. It's not that easy. It's very hard in England, but we managed to get a couple of tours in Germany and in Holland and that was before a proper tour here in the U.K.
Me: Is there a receptive local music scene?
Frankie: (chuckle) In Sunderland? No. It's never been the most receptive place to play but it is getting better?
Me: Tell us about "Mush"?
Frankie: We recorded it in the Greenhouse in London. the Greenhouse is owned by Pat Collier (Vibrators) and it took about 7 days to do. There was lots of shouting and that's the way it was. I am very happy with it.
Me: This isn't your first release?
Frankie: No, the first came in 1989. That was an LP on MainLine Records. But the album kept getting deleted by the label.
Me: Did you enjoy spending time in the studio?
Frankie: That was really the first time of working in a professional studio. It's a real difference from working in the Northeast. London was really nice. We recorded, could watch MTV and watch football.
Me: Does "Mush" capture the bands live spirit?
Frankie: A lot of people have said that this is actually what we sound like. I don't really know what we sound like when we are up on stage and this record kind of lets us know.
Me: What are you touring plans?
Frankie: We are touring Britain, Ireland and Scotland. It starts in the end of February and goes through June. Senseless Things is headlining and we'll be supporting them. China Drum will be opening some of the shows.
Me: Any talk of the States?
Frankie: There are plans for the U.S. , but right now it's just talk.
Me: anyone in particular that you would like to tour with?
Frankie: Poison Idea would be good!
Me:The bands sound, has it evolved or did you start out with a particular sound mind?
Frankie: It has just evolved. It just was that way from the start, I guess that evolves is the wrong word...when the four of us started playing, that's the way it was!
Me: Is there any kind of philosophy to the band?
Frankie: Songs! Songs are our motivation. My main goal is to write a classic song. The kind of song where nobody remembers who sung it, but everybody remembers it!

Far to under appreciated was Leatherface! This is one of the best punk releases of the 90's, but I suspect not many people heard it as Seed Records came and went in the blink of an eye. At some point I suspect I'll put a list of the 20 punk records from the 90's that you may not have heard and really ought to. This one will be in the top 3!

Highly recommended that you search out this gem as you are in for a real treat of working class British punk that's rich with melodies and hooks and clearly achieves Frankie's goal of remembrance.