#for the record I absolutely love ruby x fifteen

[cactiaintracist]

Martha Jones, the Fifteenth doctor would’ve loved you..

[vinyldamage]

The Top 50 Pop Punk Albums

Last week Rolling Stone issued their list of the top 50 pop punk records of all time, and to say that it’s terrible would be nice; It’s god awful. So myself and my good friend Kevin Nunn, took upon ourselves to make our own lists; his has been up for a few day now (go give it a gander, the link is included a the bottom of post). I initially had this written up and ready to go last night, but my dumbass accidentally deleted all of it. Each album title is hyperlinked to it’s respective youtube portal, so you can check out the albums for yourself. There will also be a Spotify playlist that includes almost everything. I might just make a playlist from my personal collection, but I haven’t really decided yet. Only time, and demand will tell. So, without further ado, here is my list of the top 50 pop punk albums:

50. MxPx - Life In General (Tooth & Nail, 1996):

Regardless of their religious views, MxPx put out one hell of a pop-punk gem in the fall of 1996. This record is just as important as any other, in spreading the word of pop punk.

49. Reggie and the Full Effect - Greatest Hits 1984 - 1987 (Second Nature, 1999):

The debut release from Coalesce’s drumming monster James Dewees, is full of hooks and sugary pop melodies. Putting the cheese factor aside, there are some truly memorable pop-punk gems. James later left Coalesce to focus on Reggie and playing keys for The Get Up Kids.

48. The Dickies - Dawn of the Dickies (A&M, 1978):

The band’s current actions are nothing I condone, but you can’t deny the importance of this sugar coated piece of wax.

47. Soup - Cruel and Unusual (Very Small, 1989):

The first band to play 924 Gilman Street on opening night December, 31st 1986. Soup didn’t last long, but their influence on the East Bay scene would be felt for years to come. Drummer Sergie Loobkoff went on to play in such legendary bands as Sweet Baby, Samiam, and Knapsack. Good Luck finding a copy of this 7”, it’s nearly impossible.

46. Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo (Metal Blade, 1995):

Laugh all you want about this record being included, but before the Goo Goo Dolls went all Motley Crue meets Martha Stewart they put out a some great pop punk records. A Boy Named Goo catapulted the band to fame with the help of the melodramatic single, “Name.”

45. Smoking Popes - Born To Quit (Capitol, 1994):

I became a fan of this band when I heard the song “Mrs. You and Me” on the earth shattering soundtrack to the box office bomb, Angus. A friend once described this band by saying, “Think if The Smiths started a punk rock band.” Pretty accurate.

44. The Lillingtons - I Lost My Marbles (Clearview, 1996):

Though not a full length record and only an EP, the first offering from Wyoming’s The Lillingtons is by far the best thing the band has ever done. The title track is raw pop punk gold.

43. Latterman - No Matter Where We Go! (Deep Elm, 2005):

I was lucky enough to be in a band that played numerous shows with these fine folks. We all became fast friends, and musical comrades. Watching them play songs from this record to kids singing every single word will be something i’ll always remember.

42. Discount - Half Fiction (Liberation, 1997):

Before Alison Mosshart became far too cool for school and changed her name to a group of letters for the band The Kills, she fronted a very popular pop-punk band from the swamps of Florida. Half Fiction is widely regarded as the band’s best effort, and I agree.

41. Go Sailor! - Go Sailor! (Lookout!, 1996):

Members of  Crimpshrine, Henry’s Dress, The Softies, and Tiger Trap come together to make some of the sweetest songs you’ll ever hear. Generally lumped in with the Twee Pop scene, pop-punkers around the world embraced the band when Lookout! Records released this collection.

40. Radon - 28 (No Idea, 1998):

If you have ever been to a Fest, you know who Radon is. If you have not, and have never heard Radon, you need to change that.

39. Generation X - Generation X (Chrysalis, 1978):

Known as the band that launched the career of Billy Idol, Generation X’s self-titled debut is pop punk answer to the Sex Pistols.

38. Groovie Ghoulies - World Contact Day (Lookout!, 1996):

In the ‘90’s when pop-punk was at its zenith there were a million Ramones copycats, and 90 percent of them were terrible. The Groovie Ghoulies were an exception to that.

37. Scared of Chaka - Masonic Youth (Empty, 1996):

Before garage rock would come to take over the world in the early ‘00’s, a small band of punks blended their favorite aspects of garage rock, punk rock, and pop music to create something uniquely special.

36. The Rezillos - Can’t Stand… (Sire, 1978):

I have to thank my friend Colin Clive for introducing me to The Rezillos. Before I heard them all he told me was how great they were, and that the bass playing is absolutely insane. He was right on both counts.

35. Pansy Division - Deflowered (Lookout!, 1995):

“Groovy Underwear” is by far one of my favorite pop-punk songs of all time. As a teenage boy if you really want to freak your parents out, bring this record home.

34. All - Allroy’s Revenge (Cruz, 1989):

Some may disagree with me, but I think this is All’s best record. My reasoning is solely based on the fact that the song “She’s My Ex”, is so great. I’ve never really liked All, but when I do feel like listening to them this is the record I always go to.

33. Seaweed - Spanaway (Hollywood, 1995):

I used to sit by my radio with a blank tape in the cassette deck to try and record “Start With” when it came on the radio. I always failed. This record was a huge influence on me ,and two of my friends who i’d eventually start a band with.

32. Stiff Little Fingers - Nobody’s Heroes (Chrysalis, 1980):

Everyone always lists Inflammable Material as the best Fingers record, and while I do like that record I feel like Nobody’s Heroes is better. The songs are stronger, and the production is leaps and bounds better than Inflammable Material.

31. Gunmoll - Board of Rejection (No Idea, 2003):

The second record by Gainesville, Florida’s Gunmoll is not only the band’s finest effort, but also their swan song. “Couple’s Skate” is one of my favorite songs of all time.

30. Dillinger Four - Versus God (Hopeless, 2000):

D4’s second full-length is their best record, it just is. If you don’t believe me we can chat about it, but you’ll be wrong.

29. Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady (Liberty, 1979):

A list about the best pop-punk records of all time wouldn’t be complete without the Buzzcocks. Listen to “Ever Fall In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)” and try to get it out of your head afterwards.  It’s impossible.

28. Carrie Nations - Be Still (Plan-It-X, 2002):

Often lumped in with the hippy punk contingent due to their affiliation with the Plan-It-X record label, Carrie Nations couldn’t be further from it. Be Still is pure pop punk gold. My good buddy Jeff Bolt reissued this on his Stupid Bag Records label a few years back. He may have some copies still available. I suggest you click the label name above an pick up a copy.

27. Sweet Baby - It’s A Girl (Ruby, 1989):

Blending punk with the pop sensibilities of The Beatles, Sweet Baby made a record that would go largely unheard until the pop punk explosion of the mid ‘90’s. Sweet Baby along with the Mr. T Experience, and Crimpshrine are often cited as the beginning of the East Bay pop punk sound that would (only a few short years after this records release) take the world by storm.

26. Crimpshrine - Duct Tape Soup (Lookout!, 1992):

It’s the mighty Crimpshrine. Ya’ll better recognize. Influential beyond words to thousands of bands that would become infinitely more popular.

25. Teenage Head - Teenage Head (Inter Global, 1979):

I first heard about these Canadian punks when I heard Screeching Weasel’s cover of the classic “Ain’t Got No Sense.” Known as the “Canadian Ramones” when they first started, Teenage Head blazed their own trail and shed the Ramones label fairly quickly. Years later I found a copy of this on vinyl while on tour in Canada, and then lost it somehow. I’m still bummed about that.

24. Fifteen - The Choice of A New Generation (Lookout!, 1992):

Regardless of the idiocy of the band's leader, I can’t begin to describe my obsession with this band when I was a teenager. I listened to something by them multiple times a day, every day of the week. This record was definitely the one that got the most play. Hugely influential.

23. Marked Men - Fix My Brain (Swami, 2006):

Do you like catchy songs that get stuck in your brain for eternity? Do you want those catchy songs played at light speed, and one right after another with no rest? Well then my friend, this is the record for you!

22. Lifetime - Jersey’s Best Dancers (Jade Tree, 1997):

When I first heard this record I hated it because I couldn’t stand the lead singer, Ari Katzs’ voice. But it grew on me, and now this record is one I listen to at least once every couple of months.

21. Husker Du - Candy Apple Grey (Warner Bros., 1986):

One of the founding bands of the Hardcore movement, Husker Du signed to a major label in the mid ‘80’s and put out one of the best records of their career. Continuing where their previous record Flip Your Wig left off, Candy Apple Grey contains the same intensity the Huskers came to be known for, while also honing their pop sensibilities.

20. Chixdiggit - Chixdiggit (Sub Pop, 1996):

Next to Screeching Weasel, Riverdales, and The Queers these Canadians were the best Ramones imitation there was. “Where’s Your Mom?” is a song I still listen to on a pretty regular basis.

19. Saves the Day - Through Being Cool (Equal Vision, 1999):

Known as Lifetime jr. for obvious reasons, Saves the Day began to chart their own path with the release of Through Being Cool. It’s hard to believe that the oldest member of this band was 20 when the record was released.

18. Lagwagon - Hoss (Fat Wreck Chords, 1995):

With the pop punk tornado began wreaking havoc upon the world at large, Lagwagon released their third album and began to ride the wave with the rest of their friends. Hoss cemented Lagwagon’s place in story of punk rock and it’s mid ‘90’s dominance upon the world.

17. The Undertones - The Undertones (Sire, 1979):

Four Irish lads came together to in the midst of a UK punk explosion filled with activism and political dissent, to deliver an album of pop gems that even your  dear old mum would enjoy. Famous BBC Radio DJ, and taste maker, John Peel loved their song “Teenage Kicks” so much that when he died he was buried with one of his many copies of the single. The song was also played as his casket was carried out of the church by his pallbearers. That has to mean something, right?

16. Samiam - You Are Freaking Me Out (Burning Heart, 1997):

Samiam’s fifth album, and first after their major label experiment, is by far the band’s best. Every song on this record is great, and yes that does include The Beatles cover.

15. Pinhead Gunpowder - Goodbye Ellston Avenue (Lookout!, 1997):

I listened to this so much when I first bought it that when someone told me they’d hadn’t heard it, or never heard of the band, that I gave it to them. I must have bought this record 20 times. I’ve lost count. There are only 3 records I do this with, and Goodbye Ellston Avenue is one of them.

14. Propagandhi - How To Clean Everything (Fat Wreck Chords, 1993):

Today’s thrash metal giants were yesterday’s pop punk heroes.

13. Mr. T Experience - Love Is Dead (Lookout!, 1996):

Another record that I listened to obsessively. These songs are about girls.

12. Riverdales - 27 (Lookout!, 1995):

If you ever wanted a straight up Ramones rip off then this record is for you. That’s not to say it isn’t great, because it is, but everything from the music down to the artwork screams, we love the Ramones.

11. Face to Face - Big Choice (Victory Music, 1995):

Most people would put Face to Face’s debut album on this list, but I really think that Big Choice is the better record. I tend to listen to this record more than any of their other records. I think the songs are better crafted, and the production is infinitely better. This also has “Disconnected” on it so you’re still getting the band’s most well known song, but in a better capacity.

10. Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit (Asian Man, 1998):

Every song on this record is fantastic. Every single one. They capture on 12 tracks what every teenage punk kid is feeling about love and anger.

09. The Queers - Don’t Back Down (Lookout!, 1996):

Yes, I am well aware of the sexist nature of this band, but their importance in the world of pop punk is unquestionable. On this record, Joe Queer and company successfully blend The Ramones with The Beach Boys, and the result is one of the best pop punk records of all time.

08. Blink 182 - Dude Ranch (Cargo, 1997):

Say what you will about these cheesetastic bastards, but this record is hugely important in the pop punk world. I still throw this on from time to time to take a trip down memory lane. There were a lot of late night drives as a teenager spent listening to this.

07. Bouncing Souls - Maniacal Laughter (BYO, 1996):

I feel like I saw the Bouncing Souls a billion times while they were on tour for this record. They seemed to open every show I went to during this time period. The opening of the record with the song “Lamar Vanoy” is like fresh air through a cracked window in a hundred degree heat.

06. Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy (Tupelo Recording Company, 1994):

While I generally don’t consider Jawbreaker to be a pop punk band, you can’t deny the impact that this record had on the genera and it’s fans. There has already been a million things written about why this record is so great, I don’t think I could add much more. Though I will say is that it changed my life in a profound way.

05. NOFX - Punk In Drublic (Epitaph, 1994):

Maybe you’ve heard of this?

04. Screeching Weasel - Anthem For A New Tomorrow (Lookout!, 1993):

This was the third punk record I ever bought. Much like Jawbreaker, Screeching Weasel was a life changing thing for me. I don’t agree with Ben Weasel and his idiotic actions as of late, but I can say he was very important in my musical quest.

03. Descendents - Milo Goes To College (SST, 1982):

Some guys from Hermosa Beach did a thing, and I guess it’s pretty alright…

02. Ramones - Rocket To Russia (Sire, 1977):

You really could put the first 4 Ramones records in the top 4 spots, but you gotta be fair. To me this is the record that set the standard; the record that became the blueprint. This is my favorite Ramones record, and it contains my favorite Ramones song, “Rockaway Beach.” Everyone on this list owes something to these 4 glue sniffing pinheads.

01. Green Day - Dookie (Reprise, 1994):

This record is the reason I’m sitting here writing this list. It’s the reason I started playing music. It’s the reason punk rock became a household name. Like Nirvana’s Nevermind before it, it changed everything.

Thanks for checking this out! I hope you all dug it. Here is Kevin’s list for ya’ll to check out:

Kevin Nunn’s Top 50 Pop Punk Albums of All Time.