Top 20 Greatest L.A. Punk Albums of All Time: The Complete List
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5. Bad Religion
Suffer
"Melodic hardcore" sounds like a contradiction until you hear Suffer. Its slick production doesn't detract from the band's fury -- it adds to it. The drums sit high in the mix, but eschew the heavily reverbed sound of later records like No Control. Lead vocalist Greg Graffin is on point with incisive lyrics and a fast-paced, spitting delivery that rivals anything from the world of hip-hop. Over 20 years later, the record is still the gold standard for the suburban discontent and malaise of young kids too clever by half. --Nicholas Pell
4. Descendents
Milo Goes to College
You're in high school. You're angsty because girls don't like you. Your parents don't get it. You're really smart but your teachers don't realize it; they are dickheads. And your copy of Milo Goes to College has been played enough to where it skips on "Hope." Every song speaks to your teenage fucked-up-ness, from feeling incredibly horny to just wanting to hit someone for no reason. High school sucks, and if Milo's story is any indication, college isn't going to be much better. --Kai Flanders
3. Germs
GI
In the classic documentary The Decline of Western Civilization, Germs frontman Darby Crash has an infamous scene where he makes a hot mess of the stage, demanding beer from the audience while stumbling violently. GI conveys that violent energy -- the title stands for "Germs Incognito," as they often were barred from venues -- but in a tightly controlled manner. Predating the hardcore scene by almost two years, every one of the sixteen songs contains bottled fury and depravity, though none perhaps as well as "Lexicon Devil" or "We Must Bleed." --Kai Flanders
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