Punk has always been for the young at heart. Its angstier, brattier half, however, plunged deeper into coming-of-age stories. No matter the band, pop-punk songs typically documented underdog triumphs, gnarly breakups, and kicking it with your friends in the suburbs. They also boasted a snotty desire to never grow up. Early touchstones like Singles Going Steady and Milo Goes To College set the tone, whereas Dookie and Smash ramped up the momentum for a new generation. Eventually, pop punk exploded in the 2000s, earning radio appeal and MTV domination. Nostalgia for its mainstream moment was so high that it inspired a whole festival, and modern bands like Meet Me @ The Altar and KennyHoopla are heralding a brighter future for the genre.
Read more: 10 criminally underrated blink-182 songs
Naturally, we asked our readers what the best pop-punk albums are of all time, and the answers were overwhelming. Find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. blink-182 – Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
Following up a blockbuster like Enema was no easy feat. On their fourth studio album, however, blink-182 accepted the challenge and focused on what worked. Their juvenile humor reigned — say the title out loud and then peek at the record’s joke tracks, like something about a dog — whereas the songs stayed fast and punchy. Think of all the classics (“First Date,” “The Rock Show”) that you still hear to this day, along with their more serious numbers like “Anthem Part Two” and “Stay Together for the Kids.”
4. New Found Glory – Sticks and Stones
New Found Glory’s 2002 breakthrough, Sticks and Stones, possessed an allure that made it ideal for summertime and shopping malls. Ever since its release, the record’s influence has run deep, from the Story So Far taking their name from one of the songs to massive anthems like “My Friends Over You” cracking the Billboard Hot 100. In fact, it’s hard to find a band who haven’t been touched by its chugging riffs and catchy choruses. Decades-old earworms like “Understatement” and “Head on Collision” even make their setlists to this day.
3. Avril Lavigne – The Best Damn Thing
Avril Lavigne’s third studio album, The Best Damn Thing, is one of her most beloved. Whereas her 2004 record, Under My Skin, sounded darker and heavier than her debut, this release embraced a more buoyant pop-rock slant that made it perfect for the radio. “Girlfriend” is a perennial anthem that was created on the fly, whereas belt-out-loud ballads like “Keep Holding On” highlighted her growth and songwriting chops. If you listen to her latest album, Love Sux, there’s definitely some shared DNA, but The Best Damn Thing will always come out on top.
2. Green Day – Dookie
Green Day recently caused mayhem when they played Dookie front to back at an intimate Vegas show ahead of their headlining slot at When We Were Young. Next year, they’ll celebrate 30 years of the beloved classic — the album that launched the Bay Area crew into the stratosphere and made them one of the biggest punk bands ever. It marked a divisive time, as purists called them “sellouts” and barred them from playing 924 Gilman St., while others saw their major-label debut as a sign of greater things to come. Whatever your stance, Dookie changed everything and helped to define the ’90s.
1. blink-182 – Enema of the State
Enema of the State is the album that flung many headlong into the world of pop punk. With producer Jerry Finn at the helm, blink-182 created a record that took them to great heights. New recruit Travis Barker added seriousness to their playing with his breakneck speed, which balanced out their crude humor and set them apart. The album also brimmed with tearjerkers (“Adam’s Song”), mega-hits (“All the Small Things”), and anxiety anthems (“Going Away to College”), which made Enema of the State the perfect brew of teenage angst. All these years later, it remains the gold standard of modern pop punk.
