Best Punk Albums of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols - The Sex Pistols

I am from London, age 15 in 1977, and the backlash from the media at the time was harsh. Anti-Pistols, anti-punk.

This really is the Bollocks... interesting that the first vinyl pressings had the word blacked out until a court decision decided it was not a swear word. The point being, the Pistols were loved by punks and hated by the mainstream. No other album was so divisive in Britain's history. Don't believe me? Just listen and Google it. It was so ahead of its time, one of the most controversial albums of all time. And yet, it sounds powerful and fresh even today. It remains relevant, reflecting the state of the UK back then and even today.

A brilliant album, a brilliant act that spawned so many other punk bands.

Without the Sex Pistols, there would have been no Clash, no The Damned, UK Subs, Ruts, 999, etc. The MC5, Iggy and The Stooges, New York Dolls, and The Ramones helped spawn the American punk movement, including The Dead Kennedys and the Misfits. But regarding the UK, the Pistols were second to none.

2 Ramones - The Ramones

Inventors of punk rock? Come on guys! This is one of the best albums of all time! And London calling by the clash or nevermind the bollocks here's the sex pistols are both not on the list! Are you kidding me? Do you even know punk?

They are the best punk band ever, and this album has his greatest song "Blitzkrieg Bop". They were the band who created punK!

The record that started it all. It was my first true punk studio album... I instantly was a fan and couldn't stop boppin. I love this record!

3 The Clash - The Clash

They made the best punk album with "The Clash" and the best rock album with "London Calling". Pure Class of '77 punk sound with elements of reggae, 50s rockabilly and ska. A masterpiece. Also, I am biased... This album changed my life.

Far better than 'London Calling' and definitely equal to 'Never mind the bollocks'.

4 London Calling - The Clash

Let's remember what punk rock is. Punk rock is not only bringing rock back to the basics but it's BEING a punk. The main reason I picked this over Never Mind the Bollocks is because of the album cover. It's an imitation of Elvis Presley's album but instead of a happy guy with a guitar it's a punk smashing his guitar. Come on, isn't that punk-ish?

One of the greatest albums of all time. The best punk album by far ever made! And I'm not the only one saying it! Rolling Stone magazine placed it at #7 in it's 500 greatest albums of all time list! I know Rolling Stone is very often wrong but even so this album is pure punk brilliance!

This should be #2. This is a better overall album than everything else, but I agree that Ramones is a better punk album. And how is the green day album that I have just accepted will always be here not even there best album? You people don't even know how to mess up right.

5 Fun House - The Stooges

How is this not higher? Punk would not exist if it were not for this album. Get the pop-punk fans off here!

6 Insomniac - Green Day

I'm alright with people calling Dookie pop punk because it was mostly pop punk (with exceptions of Longview, FOD, Sassafras Roots etc) but Insomniac is a full on punk album. Much darker, meaner tone to it, just listen to Geek Stink Breath, Jaded, '86, Armatge Shanks. Also the album never really had any big hits, maybe because it's a punk album and punk rock has always been so underrated. I don't care if this is number 1 or number 17, I just want people to stop calling it a pop album and to stop trashing Green Day for being pop-punk, I call them punk rock/pop punk, or simply alternative because that's a hybrid genre. This album saved punk...this is probably what brought it back to the mainstream, but was completely overshadowed by Dookie.

This album saved punk rock. Unlike Dookie, which was more pop punk, this album has a sound which will not be forgotten. From Stuck with Me, which is the quintessential punk rock song, To Jaded, which has a fast pace and a message about using drugs. Panic Song, which defines the band in the early 1990s, when they used drugs to not have panic attacks during shows and the classic Brain Stew. This album has hit after hit. Buy this album on CD or vinyl. Definitely worth it.

7 Dookie - Green Day

What the hell?! Insomniac is number 1 but Dookie is number 5. This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest albums ever made, I could listen to it on repeat all day and still be in awe.

This album literally saved punk rock from grunge. Songs like Longview and Basket case are what defines punk. It is about doing things your own damn way.

This, in my opinion, is the greatest album ever made. Every song on it is no where near bad or repetitive and I can pop this in my CD player any day

8 Entertainment! - Gang Of Four
9 Pink Flag - Wire
10 Static Age - Misfits

This album is so damn good! Danzig's voice is so unique and his clear inspiration from Elvis Presley makes his voice sound almost bluesy. Some songs may be somewhat forgetable, (T.V. casualty, Return of the Fly, etc.) but the others are amazing! Hybrid moments, bullet, last carress, 138, come back and attitude are all great tracks that stick in your head from the first listen

I'm more of a Walk Among Us guy, but this album is still amazing. Misfits belong in at least the top 10.

The Contenders
11 Milo Goes to College - The Descendents

One of the most influential punk records of the 80s, if you ask me.

Almost ready, almost there. Almost the best punk album ever.

Should be first. Second sex pistols.

12 Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys

While not as good as their later albums, this album still is one of the most well known and most badass US hardcore albums out there.

Punks, wherever you are - please vote this into the Top 5 where it belongs. "If the kids are united" (sadly, the new kids have no idea what Punk really means)

How the hell is this not on here?

13 Rocket to Russia - The Ramones

This album is like the Beach Boys on steroids! Fast, cool, and 30 mins of pure punk pandemonium. It inspired countless musicians and is considered a must have for punk.

Road To Ruin is my personal favourite, but Rocket To Russia is a close second. Should be in the top 3.

14 Sing Loud, Sing Proud! - Dropkick Murphys

One of the best punk albums ever!

15 A Brand New Age - UK Subs
16 Something Better Change - D.O.A.
17 Damaged - Black Flag

The quintessential hardcore record.

18 Double Nickels On the Dime - Minutemen
19 Suburban Rebels - The Business
20 Generic - Flipper
21 Smash - The Offspring

What? Smash was the best selling album ever sold on an independent label. And isn't the whole independent label thing what makes punk what it is,

Awesome Album! The offspring's best album!

22 Wild in the Streets - Circle Jerks
23 (GI) - The Germs

This album is dark, aggressive, and raw. Should be top 10 for sure. Who the hell is Green Day? Aren't they the band who do live makeup commercials in stadiums for 100 bucks a ticket...

The original Hardcore album!

This album gets my vote; it's punk at it's ugliest and truest form

24 Get F***ed - The Chats
25 Horses - Patti Smith
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