Punk has a lot of different definitions depending on who you ask, but one thing most will agree on is that it’s a gateway. There have been plenty of classic records in its time — Walk Among Us, Marquee Moon, and Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables all come to mind — but we consulted our readers and asked them to pick the best punk albums of all time. The votes were, unsurprisingly, varied and vast, including veterans and modern-day heroes that prove how many artists have made their mark on the genre.
Read more: 20 greatest punk-rock drummers of all time
From Ramones to the Clash, find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. Ramones – Rocket to Russia
Many will argue that 1977 was punk’s greatest year, and Ramones’ Rocket to Russia — their third record and final with their original lineup — always enters the discussion. Put simply, this is classic Ramones with cleaner, razor-sharp hooks. Rocket to Russia features some of the band’s classic songs, like “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” and “Rockaway Beach,” but there isn’t a weak song in the bunch. The album can even be called an early guidepost for pop punk.
4. Green Day – Dookie
It’s hard to believe that Dookie turns 30 next year. Filled with over a dozen short-and-sweet tracks, the record made Green Day mainstream darlings and marked a turning point for the band. Nothing would ever be the same. It’s tough to imagine, but people were not so open-minded in the ’90s. There were clearer divides between what type of music you liked, and Green Day lost many of their OG fans by pivoting to a major label. They also gained thousands of new ears who didn’t call them “sellouts.” There’s a reason Dookie remains an escape for teenagers across the globe — and a perfect record.
3. Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols had earned a notorious reputation before they ever released their one and only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. Its songs are distinct and thunderous — and would go on to inspire everyone from Guns N’ Roses to Beastie Boys. Ultimately, though, the chaos fueling the band is what drove their demise. Fights with manager Malcolm McLaren reached a breaking point, and Johnny Rotten even quit onstage shortly after the album’s release, but their damning legacy sets them apart from every other band, punk or not.
2. Rancid – …And Out Come the Wolves
Rancid formed from the ashes of Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman’s ska-punk outfit Operation Ivy. By the time they were gearing up to release their third record, the major-label frenzy had begun. Spurred by the blockbuster success of Green Day’s Dookie, everyone was looking for the next hot act. Ultimately, though, Rancid remained with Epitaph and called their third album …And Out Come the Wolves as a dig to greedy corporate labels. It wasn’t long before the record found its audience, earning MTV and radio play and transforming Rancid into punk heroes.
1. The Clash – London Calling
The Clash made history on their 1979 opus. London Calling is a daring, double-album statement from a punk outfit that brimmed with passion, vigor, and intent. Here, they do it all, mixing in reggae, R&B, rockabilly, and pop elements. The record was, unsurprisingly, a breakthrough hit, arriving at the turn of the era and unafraid to address tough topics like addiction, poverty, and the nuclear arms race. Just look toward songs like “Spanish Bombs” and “Death or Glory.” The album even concludes with a love song, “Train in Vain,” showing their range and proving why London Calling remains a bonafide classic.
