Top 20 Greatest L.A. Punk Albums of All Time: The Complete List


wild in the streets.jpg

14. Circle Jerks
Wild in the Streets
Another legendary hardcore band from Hermosa Beach, The Circle Jerks' second full-length release, Wild in the Streets is a prime example of the special brand of hardcore developed by Keith Morris. The frontman of The Circle Jerks and founding member of Black Flag -- and currently carrying the torch for L.A. hardcore into the 21st century with OFF! -- has a "screw bullshit" attitude and songs that are over before you can catch your breath. It is 25 minutes of power (and Morris' trademark political ranting about the "moral majority") packed into 15 tracks. --Kai Flanders

See also: Still a Malcontent: A midlife crisis spawns Keith Morris' new band Off!

tsol.jpg

13. T.S.O.L.
Dance With Me
T.S.O.L.'s debut EP was a vitriolic blast of political hardcore. But on Dance With Me, the group eschewed political ranting in favor of songs built around topics like necrophilia ("Code Blue") and vampires ("Silent Scream"). The latter, slower-paced goth jam and the ebb-and-flow build of the title track displayed a level of craftsmanship that was still undeniably punk. In the end, Dance With Me influenced mainstream acts to come like AFI and My Chemical Romance. --Jason Roche

the vandals.jpg

12. The Vandals
Peace Thru Vandalism
For 30 years, The Vandals have proven that punk doesn't need to take itself seriously. While other members of the genre in the early '80s were singing about socio-political issues, The Vandals peppered Peace Thru Vandalism with humorous odes to being fucked up on LSD at Disneyland ("Pirate's Life") and songs lampooning big-city cowboys like "Urban Struggle." "I can ride that phony bull so damn good," we were told, "sometimes I think I'm Clint Eastwood." --Jason Roche

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35 comments
edu.dedini
edu.dedini

NOFX???

edu.dedini
edu.dedini

Despise you??? Nerves??? Minutemen??? Where is Fear The Record? Adolescents?

rolandarredondo
rolandarredondo

Where is bad religion's" how could hell be any worse" and wher are the adolescents? Id dump half this list of bands who are not that well known because they were not relevant then or now. 

miamuse
miamuse

@rolandarredondo The Adolescents are from Orange County. This is a list for LA bands. I agree about Bad Religion, however.

greatwhitekong
greatwhitekong

TSOL's self titled album is way better than dance with me wtf and where the hell are the smut peddlers they have had a cult following for years

jcrush13
jcrush13

Is there not "OC" bands on this list? Orange County Hardcore kicked LA A**!

jpm9293
jpm9293

 @jcrush13 descendents were an OC band, everybody knows that

chatomelendez
chatomelendez

What is up with you not even placing the adolescents on this list?

 

chato 

 

marxbros9972
marxbros9972

Double Nickels on the Dime only #19? Wild in the Streets but no Golden Shower of Hits? I would definitely make this list differently

trevswenson
trevswenson

"Double Nickels On The Dime" is so far and away above anything else on this list it's just unspeakable. 

 

mchuge
mchuge

Fear's The Record is a pretty glaring omission. Also, lists are stupid.

mbouchey
mbouchey

I would have moved TSOL up in the list and Hell comes to your house is the definitive Bad Religion LP

mbouchey
mbouchey

I am largely in agreement and Damaged was clearly #1

myakel
myakel like.author.displayName 1 Like

I would like to have seen How Can Hell Be Any Worse? from Bad Religion on the list.

 

pdfreeman
pdfreeman

Nice to see Despise You on this list, but it would have been nicer to see some recognition for the Plugz' "Electrify Me."

aloop4687
aloop4687

It is so hard to pick a Bad Religion album. Personally I'd pick either "No Control" or "Recipe for Hate" (if you are going into the 90s). If you are just staying in the 80s than "No Control." 

pchatelle
pchatelle

Asides from the nils, cramps, and plimsouls (maybe they were considered new wave) the nils were definately punk. The circle jerks were awesome, but the top two Black Flag and X deserve 1 & 2. Nice review. The rest of these idiots who say they're trendy or main stream can f-off. There are probably a ton of acts that didn't get there spot light, but LA owned punk, even though NY and the east coast seen was where it was at.  -remebering the stardust.

varnishsplat70
varnishsplat70 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Some decent entries, but Fear's the Record has to be on this list, maybe even top five along with the Adolescents debut. Uniform Choice's Screaming for Change, Agent Orange's living in darkness would have been nice too.

 

 

 

Jason House
Jason House

I'm sure you're pretty much expecting some vitriolic reactions to ANY sort of semi-definitive 'list' of a music scene that seems to insight the worst forms of 'I heard it FIRST!' in its fan(atics) . . . That said, I do think The Adolescents, The Zeroes, shit even The Gogo's bootleg demos are an oversight.

Jay McCabe
Jay McCabe

Nice list but the order is poop....The Germs should be #1 without question.

AreTee Bagz
AreTee Bagz

I think Union 13 East Los Presents should be on here!

AreTee Bagz
AreTee Bagz

Its a good list and I personally believe there is no order for great albums like these you can enjoy them all just as much as the other....

Diana Loredo
Diana Loredo

Personal opinion... Nervous Breakdown was a better album than Damaged. Adolescents not on the list because they are from The OC kind of unfair since Social D was included! lol.

Andre Arias
Andre Arias

Hell Comes To Your House! Perfect from start to finish.

Luc Assens
Luc Assens

Cool list but... don't you forget a band ? "Adolescents" !???

Bryan Rozof
Bryan Rozof

All great records just think in the wrong order! ST needs to be way higher, should be top 5!

Victor Vasquez
Victor Vasquez

Milo goes to college is one of the best albums of all times but Minutemen could gave been placed higher.

Joe Tafoya
Joe Tafoya

Try MIJO GOES TO JR. COLLEGE, Manic Hispanic on for size.

Greg McGonagle
Greg McGonagle

Cool article. Suicidal Tendencies S/T should have definitely been higher in my opinion though. Same with Milo Goes to College.

Ollin Rojas
Ollin Rojas

milo goes to college is my personal favorite

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