What is your top US Punk? UK Punk albums?
 

List your top 3 US and top 3 UK...today, all time or both

US:
1. The Ramones: Rocket to Russia
2. X: Los Angeles
3. The Stooges: Raw Power

UK:
1. The Clash: The Clash
2. The Jam: In the City
3. Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady (cheating)

Would Elastica (may they R.I.P., damn it) be considered punk? If so, their first album should be WAY up on any U.K. list.

Only to people who thought Blondie and Talking Heads were punk.

My answers:

US

Ramones - Rocket to Russia
The Dead Boys - Young, Loud, and Snotty
X - Wild Gift

UK

The Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks
The Clash - The Clash
The Damned - The Damned

There are many who would say both Blondie and Talking Heads were punk at the beginning of their careers. They played at CBGB's right along with the Ramones my friend.

One of Blondie's early songs "Detroit 442" is very punk.

Yes, they played at CBGBs, and were definitely associated with the same movement as The Ramones, Richard Hell, etc. However, I don't think anyone could seriously consider them, or artists like Mink DeVille, Patti Smith, etc. as "punk" in any kind of musical way. They certainly were part of the punk aesthetic in other respects, I'll agree.

The Go-Go's were also very punk in the late 70's before they landed a major record deal. They even sometimes wore plastic garbage bags. And Jane Wiedlin went by the name Jane Drano. I also might add they were quite awful. Which even they admit.

The Go-Go's emerged from the Los Angeles punk scene. Belinda went by the name of Dottie Danger...and "played" drums for The Germs for a short period :)

Their sound was definitely sanitized for the masses. I would consider them a pop band. They had some cool/catchy tunes.

Yes, they were definitely a pop band the moment they landed a record deal. But I've heard scores of bootleg tapes and songs from their early days. Not pretty. Some of their gigs were in the basement of a porn theater. They all lived in run down house in one of Hollywood's worst neighborhoods. And apparently these girls were rough. In every sense of the word.

US
1. Ramones
2. Johnny Thunders/Heartbreakers
3. Dillinger Four

UK
1. Sex Pistols
2. Buzzcocks
3. Damned

You would be wrong.

Talking Heads yes. Blondie no.

It wouldn't be the first time. :)

I would say yes to both. But only very early in their careers.

Not to be a smartass, but a lot of groups start out their careers sounding like punk bands, then they actually learn how to play their instruments correctly. Some continue to sound that way on purpose, which is fine in my opinion.

I guess we need to clarify whether or not we're talking about a punk aesthetic or a punk sound. If we're talking about a punk aesthetic, then I'd scrap 'em all for
UK: Gang of Four, Entertainment, This Heat, Deceit, Public Image Ltd., Album. US: Pere Ubu, Dub Housing, Television, Marquee Moon, and Mission of Burma, Vs.

Or the whole lot for one album by the Replacements. Or the Velvet Underground.

American:

The Stooges - Funhouse
X - Los Angeles
Richard Hell - The Blank Generation


British:

The Clash - London Calling
The Jam - Setting Sons
Wire - Chairs Missing

Punk is much more than sound. It's the lyrics, the attitude, the lifestyle, etc.

U.K.
The Clash -- London Calling
Buzzcocks -- Singles Going Steady
Sex Pistols -- Never Mind the Bullocks ...

U.S.
Dead Kennedys -- Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Social Distortion -- Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
Operation Ivy -- Energy

UK Wire "Pink Flag"
Gang of 4 "Entertainment"
Sex Pistols "Never Mind..."

US Ramones "Ramones"
Ramones "Leave Home"
Ramones "Rocket to Russia"

(coming up with US is harder for me... mainly because you can go back and say the Stooges... or even some under-the-radar JOY like The Monks... crap, just say the Ramones and be done with it!)

Then can you tell me what this group of gentlemen:

http://pages.eidosnet.co.uk/johnnymo...roupposing.jpg

had in common with this group of gentlemen:

http://pages.eidosnet.co.uk/johnnymo...coverfront.jpg

or these guys:

http://vision.york.ac.uk/articles/13...s/the_jam.jpeg

except for their sound (loud fast guitar rock)?

The lyrical concerns were very different, the image they projected was very different, etc? Now, if you can find a common lyrical strain between "Pretty Vacant", "Janie Jones", "What Do I Get", "Chinese Rocks", "Blitzkrieg Bop", and "Neat Neat Neat", then more power to you. I can't.

I agree that there's more to punk than just the music, but I think you're placing too much importance on the image. Of course, that's what the media latched on to post '77, and that's what a lot of people think of when they think of 'punk'.

The Patti Smith Group will always be punk to me.

This is tough, but I'll do my best to choose:

U.S.

Descendents - Milo Goes To College
Fugazi - Repeater
Operation Ivy - Energy

U.K.

Stiff Little Fingers - Nobody's Heroes
The Damned - Damned Damned Damned
The Jam - In The City