Top 20 Greatest L.A. Punk Albums of All Time: The Complete List
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!
![]()
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
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
< Previous>

































