May 21, 200422 yr I consider myself to be a bit MORE than a fan of the genre so I'll try not to write a thesis... Punk started in New York with the Ramones. It got spread to England and moved over there a lot quicker. The Sex Pistols "Never Mind the Bollocks (SP)" is their only TRUE album (which came out very soon on the hells of the Ramones album). If you don't know about the Sex Pistols the least you know the better. It was a money making scheme. Malcolm McClaren set out to make the WORST band possible (the guys he hired he hired on looks and not musical ability). Luckily, for them Steve Jone (the guitarist) learned more quickly than the average bear and Johnny (Rotten) Lydon's singing was so bad, it's good (in it's own way. No one's voice is raspier or sounds remotely like Rotten's). But, Paul Cook who COULD play bass was later replaced by Sid Vicious because Sid Vicious had an underground rep and was friends with Johnny Rotten (Sid Vicious isn't plugged in and actually playing in any live album I've heard, which leads many to believe he couldn't play bass at all and was only there for looks). Other English punk bands of some note include: The Clash (pretty short lived punk period really, I'm not a fan), The Damned (AWESOME BAND), The Stranglers (great group, many of whom's stuff is heard on Guy Richie sountracks at some point. Check out Ratus Norvegicus (SP) or Golden Brown), and The Exploited (only for someone who considers themselves a true fan of the genre; I think they're just Nazis). American Punk is a lot stronger IMO. There's more heart and soul than most of the British stuff, but the music wasn't as catchy on a case by case basis. In the American Punk scene you have The Ramones, Iggy (Pop) and the Stooges (Raw Power and Funhouse are two of the rawest, hardest albums I've ever heard. PERIOD), Black Flag (who would later on sign on lead singer Henry Rollins), Blondie (meh, they're allright IMO) and The Misfits (a monster gimmicked offspin of the Ramones that was heavily influenced by the aforementioned Ramones, 1950's rock n' roll and monster movies). Also, last but not to be the least The Dead Boys, a Cleveland "punk" band that was that spanned the in-between period between punk and heavy metal (their instrumentation is VERY metal, with punk lyrics). This is part 1 and merely a taste of the scene, as there were a lot of characters and happenings in the punk scene that are just randomly freaking cool... I would also recommend a purchase of ANY of the American bands listed without hesitation (if it's made after 90, don't buy it unless it's a collection or you're a real fan as a general rule).
May 21, 200422 yr Part 2: There are 5 different major punk scenes. There's New York, LA, Midwest, English and German. Everything but the last (which is unlistenable in a lot of cases) is pretty good. Onto the English accents... Somewhere along the way, the guys who considered themselves "punk" rockers went from covering good bands to making crappy versions of what they considered the music to sound like themselves. They followed the three chord progression, but the lyrics tend to be of the whiny baby variety (which means they're singing about breaking up with girls and various other high school episides). The first to start with this crappy, watered down version of high school punk was Green Day and MXPX. I think it's not so much a matter of these groups singing with English accents as it is they're singing like whiny babies with so much "feeling" that it comes out sounding like that. To me, they sound like a bunch of pussies. New School Punk (Green Day, MXPX, Blink 182, Offspring, Good Charlotte, and the like) sucks. It's commercialized, serialized versions of high school. I would say about 90 percent of those songs and music fall into the category of breaking up with girls (singing about a break up is NOT punk) or getting back at high school bullies (not punk either; a real punk doesn't have to get back at a bully through a song, they'd have just fought them). The new kinds of punk fans are generally in high school and that's the kind of crap they like to listen to, with no idea of the original stuff. It's for dorks and wimps (yes, I'm being serious, I've been to ALL the bands listed aboves concerts because they used to freequently appear on tour with some of the old guard). The only good thing is, that the old guys are now refusing to tour with the new kids. Last time I saw Social Distortion Mike Ness called some kid out in a Blink 182 shirt and asked him, "You're wearing that shirt here!? How about I go rape your mother?" Then went on a two minute rant on Blink and said he should have spit on the kid, but he didn't want to get a nasty letter from the kid's mommy. If the kid hadn't been acting like an a**hole earlier this wouldn't have been NEARLY as funny as it was. Basically the old stuff=good. New stuff=s***ty.
May 21, 200422 yr The bands you listed above suck so bad I can't even begin. Thats not punk. I wouldn't even label it pop-punk because the crappy genre they created doesn't even deserve the word punk in it. Crap. Dookie. Suck. bubble-gum punk. & yeah Less Than Jake always works for me too.
May 21, 200422 yr i like AFI...i just hate fake british accents...for that matter i hate fake any accent....like country singers from Canada or California. so you hate merle right?
May 21, 200422 yr Part 2: There are 5 different major punk scenes. There's New York, LA, Midwest, English and German. Everything but the last (which is unlistenable in a lot of cases) is pretty good. Onto the English accents... Somewhere along the way, the guys who considered themselves "punk" rockers went from covering good bands to making crappy versions of what they considered the music to sound like themselves. They followed the three chord progression, but the lyrics tend to be of the whiny baby variety (which means they're singing about breaking up with girls and various other high school episides). The first to start with this crappy, watered down version of high school punk was Green Day and MXPX. I think it's not so much a matter of these groups singing with English accents as it is they're singing like whiny babies with so much "feeling" that it comes out sounding like that. To me, they sound like a bunch of pussies. New School Punk (Green Day, MXPX, Blink 182, Offspring, Good Charlotte, and the like) sucks. It's commercialized, serialized versions of high school. I would say about 90 percent of those songs and music fall into the category of breaking up with girls (singing about a break up is NOT punk) or getting back at high school bullies (not punk either; a real punk doesn't have to get back at a bully through a song, they'd have just fought them). The new kinds of punk fans are generally in high school and that's the kind of crap they like to listen to, with no idea of the original stuff. It's for dorks and wimps (yes, I'm being serious, I've been to ALL the bands listed aboves concerts because they used to freequently appear on tour with some of the old guard). The only good thing is, that the old guys are now refusing to tour with the new kids. Last time I saw Social Distortion Mike Ness called some kid out in a Blink 182 shirt and asked him, "You're wearing that shirt here!? How about I go rape your mother?" Then went on a two minute rant on Blink and said he should have spit on the kid, but he didn't want to get a nasty letter from the kid's mommy. If the kid hadn't been acting like an a**hole earlier this wouldn't have been NEARLY as funny as it was. Basically the old stuff=good. New stuff=s***ty. I mean thats cool and all, im a new school guy and its because I was never too into the old stuff (too me some its sometimes too dirty and annoying. too anarchyst because its freaking punk rock to do so, i like it but vert few artist) 1) you mention the wave of the new school punk rock about chicks and blah blah but what about the bands that have played the same genre for a while and are respected in the scene and influential to many of the pop punk bands spurring today, bands such as the circle jerks, or descendents which are complete bubble gum punk rock but they still rock and ask anyone if dont tell you so they deserve a big loogie in their face. 2) bands now dont suck, yeah you got your commercialized bands that are doing it to make a buck and I dont consider that wrong since we all have to make a living ( the whole selling out bullcrap its completly beyond me) and as long as the kids are buying the records than I let them do what they do.... but I think some "punk" bands (to use the term) are playing the best music the genre has seen, yeah it might not be as angry and might not revolutionize anything but its still good music. Its not about how angry you are now but actually about the music and what you can write and create. The music has deviated and mutated through the years which is why punk is so great, It can change and have 10x different genres but still remain punk.... let it be punk rock, old school punk, california surf punk, midwestern punk, nyc hardcore, ska, emo, screamo, mathcore ... wahtever its all punk rock, heck many huge musical Icons can be considered punk rock: David Bowie, Elton John, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, ect
May 21, 200422 yr i like AFI...i just hate fake british accents...for that matter i hate fake any accent....like country singers from Canada or California. so you hate merle right? Is Merle from California? I know he lives there now, but I didn't know that's where he's originally from. His daddy is from Oklahoma, and I guess I figured he was too (well, I assumed his dad was from Oklahoma, because I had always heard that Okie From Muskogee was about his dad). I actually like Gary Allen, even though he's from California. It just pisses me off that he pulls off that fake accent. You either have it or you don't. At least acquire it from livin in the South.
May 21, 200422 yr 1) There's always going to be exceptions. I still don't like the new stuff. And all old punk isn't Anarchy. The Ramones, Stooges, Iggy Pop, Misfits, Dead Boys and the Damned all exemplify the virtues of what I consider to be TRUE punk (simple three chord progression, but with flair). 2) David Bowie did some punk. There's not a genre he hasn't touched. Not to mention the fact that he produced two of Iggy Pop's better singles albums (The Idiot and Family Values). Same goes for Elvis Costello. Not Elton John or Tom Petty or Paul Simon (all of whome, minus Elton I like). Emo is not punk. Neither is anything else that needs to add to the name "Hardcore Punk," "Surf Punk." I'm not saying they can't be good, but once you delineate from the formula just give it a different name. It's my stated opinion that the new bands can't hold a candle to the old stuff... So, here's a list of stuff to pick up: Black Flag: Rise Above (a tribute album and introduction to the musical stylings of Black Flag. Plus, Henry Rollins sings a couple of songs) Iggy and the Stooges: Funhouse, Raw Power (check out the song Penetration). The Misfits: Collection I and II (Glen Danzig on vocals the bands best work, my favorite group). Iggy Pop: Family Values (check out "The Passenger"), the Idiot, Skull Ring and the one with the lady in the bikini on the cover (can't think of the name). The Ramones: Anything from the first five or six years is top shelf quality. These are ALL really sae buys and pretty good music. The onyl ones I would say anyone should possibly shy away from is the Iggy Pop solo stuff, and that's just because the man made the first record where I cringed at the words coming out of the guys mouth (I wondered if the stuff he was saying was legal).
May 21, 200422 yr What about Pennywise? I kind of like Bro Hymn My opinion of Pennywise is the same as that of Bad Religion and their other contemporaries ("No Use For a Name" "Lagwagon", etc) it's not that they don' have a good song, some even have a few... But I still find them to be sucky. No heart. I would say some have little musical ability. And somes lyrics suck. You have to have two out of the three. I like Bad Religions lyrics and Pennywise' music... But, I just wouldn't go out of my way to see them or buy an album.
May 21, 200422 yr What about Pennywise? I kind of like Bro Hymn My opinion of Pennywise is the same as that of Bad Religion and their other contemporaries ("No Use For a Name" "Lagwagon", etc) it's not that they don' have a good song, some even have a few... But I still find them to be sucky. No heart. I would say some have little musical ability. And somes lyrics suck. You have to have two out of the three. I like Bad Religions lyrics and Pennywise' music... But, I just wouldn't go out of my way to see them or buy an album. some have little musical ability? im sorry but a 3 chord progression with a verse/chorus/verse/chorus format is far from genious.... I dont mind that you dont dig the stuff, but dont say they dont have musical talent. ESPECIALLY if you mention the word Lagwagon and no talent ... those kids are full blown talent-filled Iron Maiden influenced punk rock ------- and btw punk rock goes far beyond the music you are playing. its your attitude and the way you carry yourself, how you defy and "break the rules". punk rock is a state of mind and thats why I say that Elton John is punk rock ... about Tom Petty, just sit down and listen to the way he structures his songs, they are nothing more than punk rock masterpieces.
May 21, 200422 yr What about Pennywise?? I kind of like Bro Hymn My opinion of Pennywise is the same as that of Bad Religion and their other contemporaries ("No Use For a Name" "Lagwagon", etc) it's not that they don' have a good song, some even have a few... But I still find them to be sucky. No heart. I would say some have little musical ability. And somes lyrics suck. You have to have two out of the three. I like Bad Religions lyrics and Pennywise' music... But, I just wouldn't go out of my way to see them or buy an album. some have little musical ability? im sorry but a 3 chord progression with a verse/chorus/verse/chorus format is far from genious.... I dont mind that you dont dig the stuff, but dont say they dont have musical talent. ESPECIALLY if you mention the word Lagwagon and no talent ... those kids are full blown talent-filled Iron Maiden influenced punk rock ------- and btw punk rock goes far beyond the music you are playing. its your attitude and the way you carry yourself, how you defy and "break the rules". punk rock is a state of mind and thats why I say that Elton John is punk rock ... about Tom Petty, just sit down and listen to the way he structures his songs, they are nothing more than punk rock masterpieces. Nope. Sorry, I disagree and think those bands suck. And most of the bands I listed, aside from the Ramones, goes a lot further than just 3 chords. I don't dig Lagwagon at all. I can easily say they have no musical talent because I've sampled the wares. Regardless of structure those two are not punks in this boys eyes, sorry.
May 21, 200422 yr What about Pennywise?? I kind of like Bro Hymn My opinion of Pennywise is the same as that of Bad Religion and their other contemporaries ("No Use For a Name" "Lagwagon", etc) it's not that they don' have a good song, some even have a few... But I still find them to be sucky. No heart. I would say some have little musical ability. And somes lyrics suck. You have to have two out of the three. I like Bad Religions lyrics and Pennywise' music... But, I just wouldn't go out of my way to see them or buy an album. some have little musical ability? im sorry but a 3 chord progression with a verse/chorus/verse/chorus format is far from genious.... I dont mind that you dont dig the stuff, but dont say they dont have musical talent. ESPECIALLY if you mention the word Lagwagon and no talent ... those kids are full blown talent-filled Iron Maiden influenced punk rock ------- and btw punk rock goes far beyond the music you are playing. its your attitude and the way you carry yourself, how you defy and "break the rules". punk rock is a state of mind and thats why I say that Elton John is punk rock ... about Tom Petty, just sit down and listen to the way he structures his songs, they are nothing more than punk rock masterpieces. Nope. Sorry, I disagree and think those bands suck. And most of the bands I listed, aside from the Ramones, goes a lot further than just 3 chords. I don't dig Lagwagon at all. I can easily say they have no musical talent because I've sampled the wares. Regardless of structure those two are not punks in this boys eyes, sorry. than you are not appreciating what punk rock really is my friend ... you have to think outside the bun as the commercial says :confused if you think punk rock only entitles the Ramones & Sex Pistols with leather jackets and pins on your pants than you are a bit close minded ... and btw what are you doing in front of a computer, thats not punk rock you sellout hehe
May 21, 200422 yr Good one. High-larious. I'm only stating my opinion. And in my opinion, the stuff you consider punk rock is whiny baby music. The Pistols suck, too, IMO, but they're still more punk than those little girls who play today could ever be.
May 21, 200422 yr What about Pennywise? I kind of like Bro Hymn They were my favorite band in high school. About Time is their best album.
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