Introduction Punk
Our Introduction to Punk highlights some of the key albums of the genre. Punk was more than the three-chord thrash: it gave birth to experimentation in the fields of music, art and fashion. For more punk and new wave music, be sure to check out the special We7 playlist.
Nevermind The Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)
Sex Pistols
The defining album of punk, "Never Mind..." caused offence and outrage throughout the nation, but also inspired a generation. Its 11 tracks sum up the visceral and nihilistic feelings of punks at the time. The Pistols never made another studio album together (although numerous bootlegs exist), but they probably couldn't have bettered this. There is nothing you could add or subtract to it that would improve it.
London Calling (1979)
The Clash
"No Elvis, no Beatles, or The Rolling Stones in 1977" sang The Clash, summing up punk's "year-zero" ethos. Punk was often unfairly characterised as being lumpen, backwards and right wing (perhaps it was all those Sham 69 fans giving it a bad name). The Clash destroyed that stereotype on London Calling, mixing the raw energy and punk with rockabilly, soul and ska rhythms and taking up political causes, most notably "Rock Against Racism". In 1981 Strummer and co. would support The Rolling Stones on their US tour. How times can change in just a few years...
Marquee Moon (1977)
Television
American punk and new wave artists were always thought of as being more technically proficient with their instruments than their British counterparts. New York City's Television - and other bands gathered around the CBGB's club - epitomised this. Although this album stands in direct contrast to the three-chord thrash commonly associated with punk, it was a key influence on US bands such as The Ramones and Talking Heads, and later new wave bands, such as R.E.M. and the B52s.
Fear of Music (1979)
Talking Heads
The third album from Talking Heads helped inject some art-rock credentials into punk. "Fear Of Music" retained the oddities of previous releases, but was an altogether darker affair, combining polyrhythmic drumming and Dadaist poetry (on lead track I Zimbra). Brian Eno produced and added "treatments" and King Crimson legend Robert Fripp played guitar. In the 1980s, Talking Heads would become one of the few bands to combine critical acclaim and commercial success.
Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Joy Division
There are few bands in music that can lay claim to changing not only attitudes in music, but attitudes in art more generally. Joy Division, together with their label Factory Records, made music with a disregard for its commercial potential, seeing each release as an artefact rather than consumer product. "Unknown Pleasures" is a starkly compelling record that has continued to inspire bands to this day.
Spiral Scratch EP (1977)
Buzzcocks
One of punk's lasting achievements was to give birth to a vibrant independent music scene, on both sides of the Atlantic, which would flourish throughout the 1980s and into the 90s. Buzzcocks' "Spiral Scratch" E.P. started it all, by being the first independently released single. It showed aspiring musicians that they didn't need to take the major label route - they could set up their own labels and retain total control over their music. This DIY ethic lives on today.
Pink Flag/154/Chairs Missing (1977-1979)
Wire
One of the most under-rated bands to come out of the punk/new wave scene, Wire always resisted categorisation. As with many punk/new wave bands, they came from the art school. Their first three albums show an extraordinary creative progression, from the raw edge of "Pink Flag" (tracks on this album average just over a minute in length) to the sonic experimentation of "154" and "Chairs Missing".
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