The Best West Coast Punk Albums Of All Time

Punk is arguably one of our favorite genres here. It was one of the first genres I got into that wasn't mainstream radio stuff and it hit like a bomb. I would say. more than any kind of music, Punk informed who I was in high school and helped shaped who I would be currently and I'm sure it will leave a lasting impression on me until I die. It is both an important genre and an idiot genre, sometimes at the same time The important side focuses on politics, freedoms and uprising. The idiot side focuses on farts, sex and violence. The genre would not be what it is without both. Most of this music is the antithesis of pop, some of it ended up becoming part of the popular musical lexicon. Those are also included due to the importance they had on the scope of the musical landscape. On that same note Punk represents change and spitting in the face of conformity and even those major label successes still were original in what they offered the pop world and shouldn't be discounted as "sell outs".

For this installment of our Punk series we focus on the West Coast. I picked the West Coast first mainly because that's where I'm from and currently live and have lived my entire life. It's just the scene that's nearest and dearest to my heart. Does this make it the best? Not at all. To me, possibly but it's not definitively the best, not by a long shot. There are lots of differences in the sound from coast to coast and everything in between. Hell even on this coast the music varies wildly from state to state and city to city. The punks in SF and the bay area seemed to be more experimental than their blistering hardcore contemporaries to the south in LA. The northwest sound is very unlike the sounds coming out of SD as well. Hopefully this list will shed some light on the different scenes and sounds coming out of each area. I have separated them out in geographical chunks. Los Angeles/Orange County, Bay Area, San Diego and finally Pacific Northwest including Canada's West Coast.

I had some help in compiling this list from both David Vannatta and Nicole Bemboom. Their help was much appreciated and helped shaped what this list would become.

Another thing to note is that a lot of these artists have chosen, for one reason or another, to not include their music on Spotify. I fully respect their decision to not have their music as part of that machine and honestly it makes perfect sense. As a result the playlists are incomplete but I highly recommend you seek out the artists not on the list, either by finding their record in a local shop, ordering from them directly or seeking them out through other online means aside from Spotify.

So sit up, wake up and plug yourself into the wonderful world that is West Coast Punk!!!!!!!

P.S.: More regional Punk lists coming in the next month!!






LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY






Adolescents-Self Titled(Frontier)(1981)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate.



Agent Orange-Living In Darkness(Posh Boy)(1981)

Punk Style: Surf, Hardcore.



Angry Samoans-Back From Samoa(Bad Trip)(1982)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate.



Bad Religion-Suffer(Epitaph)(1988)

Punk Style: Melodic Hardcore, Skate.



Bad Religion-No Control(Epitaph)(1989)

Punk Style: Melodic Hardcore, Skate.



Black Flag-Damaged(Unicorn/SST)(1981)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Black Flag-The First Four Years Comp(SST)(1983)

Punk Style: Hardcore



CH3-Fear Of Life(Posh Boy)(1982)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Melodic Hardcore.



CH3-After The Lights Go Out(Posh Boy)(1983)

Punk Style: Hardcore



Circle Jerks-Group Sex(Frontier)(1980)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Descendents-Milo Goes To College(New Alliance)(1982)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate, Pop Punk, Melodic Hardcore.



Despise You-West Side Horizons Compilation(Pessimiser)(1999)

Punk Style: Powerviolence



D.I.-Ancient Artifacts(Reject/Greenworld)(1985)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate.



D.I.-Horse Bites Dog Cries(Reject/Greenworld)(1985)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate.



The Dickies-The Incredible Shrinking Dickies(A&M)(1979)

Punk Style: Pop Punk, Hardcore.



The Dickies-Dawn Of The Dickies(A&M)(1979)

Punk Style: Pop Punk.



Dr. Know-Plug In Jesus(Ghetto-Way)(1984)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Crossover Thrash



Face To Face-Don't Turn Away(Dr. Strange)(1992)

Punk Style: Skate, Pop Punk.



Fear-The Record(Slash)(1982)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Art Punk.



FIDLAR-Self Titled(Mom + Pop)(2012)

Punk Style: Garage Punk, Surf.



The Flesh Eaters-No Questions Asked(Upsetter)(1980)

Punk Style: Deathrock.



The Flesh Eaters-A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die(Ruby)(1981)

Punk Style: Punk Blues, Garage Punk, Deathrock, Psychobilly.



Germs-GI(Slash)(1979)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



The Gun Club-Fire Of Love(Ruby)(1981)

Punk Style: Punk Blues, Psychobilly.



Minutemen-Double Nickels On The Dime(SST)(1984)

Punk Style: Art Punk, Funk Punk.



Nervous Gender-Music From Hell(Subterranian)(1981)

Punk Style: Synth Punk, Industrial, No Wave



Nig Heist-Snort My Load(Thermidor)(1984)

Punk Style: Noise



NOFX-White Trash, Two Heebs And A Bean(Epitaph)(1992)

Punk Style: Skate, Pop Punk, Melodic Hardcore.



NOFX-Punk In Drublic(Epitaph)(1994)

Punk Style: Skate, Melodic Hardcore, Pop Punk.



NOFX-So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes(Epitaph)(1997)

Punk Style: Skate, Pop Punk, Ska.



OFF-First Four EPs(Vice)(2010)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Offspring-Smash(Epitaph)(1994)

Punk Style: Skate, Pop Punk, Alternative.



Pennywise-Full Circle(Epitaph)(1997)

Punk Style: Skate, Melodic Hardcore.



Red Aunts-#1 Chicken(Epitaph)(1995)

Punk Style: Riot Grrl, Garage Punk.



Redd Kross-Born Innocent(Smoke Seven)(1982)

Punk Style: Glam Punk, Garage Punk, Hardcore.



The Runaways-Self Titled(Mercury)(1976)

Punk Style: Proto Punk



Social Distortion-Mommy's Little Monster(13th Floor)(1983)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Strung Out-Twisted By Design(Fat Wreck Chords)(1998)

Punk Style: Melodic Hardcore, Skate, Pop Punk.



Sublime-40oz To Freedom(Skunk)(1992)

Punk Style: Ska, Alternative, Reggae, Ska, Dub.



Suburban Lawns-Self Titled(I.R.S.)(1981)

Punk Style: Art Punk, Surf, Zolo.



Suicidal Tendencies-Self Titled(Frontier)(1983)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate.



Surf Punks-Self Titled(Day Glo)(1979)

Punk Style: Surf, Comedy.



T.S.O.L.-Dance With Me(Frontier)(1981)

Punk Style: Horror Punk, Hardcore, Deathrock.



The Urinals-Negative Capability Comp(Amphetamine Reptile)(1996)

Punk Style: Art Punk, Garage Punk, Surf, Hardcore, Noise.





The Vandals-Peace Thru Vandalism/When In Rome Do As The Vandals Comp(Restless)(1989)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate, Pop Punk, Comedy.



Wall Of Voodoo-Dark Continent(I.R.S.)(1981)

Punk Style: Zolo



Wasted Youth-Reagan's In(ICI Sanoblast)(1981)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Skate.



The Weirdos-Weird World 1977-1981 Time Capsule Vol. 1(Frontier)(1991)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Wrangler Brutes-Zulu(Kill Rock Stars)(2004)

Punk Style: Hardcore.




X-Los Angeles(Slash)(1980)

Punk Style: Psychobilly.



X-Wild Gift(Slash)(1981)

Punk Style: Psychobilly.



Youth Brigade-Sound & Fury(Better Youth Organization)(1982)

Punk Style: Hardcore.


Bay Area And Sacramento





A.F.I.-Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes(Nitro)(1997)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Melodic Hardcore.



Avengers-Self Titled Compilation(CD Presents, LTD)(1983)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Bl'ast-It's In My Blood(SST)(1987)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Chrome-Alien Soundtracks(Siren)(1977)

Punk Style: Experimental, Noise, No Wave.



Chrome-Half Machine Lip Moves(Siren)(1979)

Punk Style: Experimental, Noise, Art Punk, Noise.



Coachwhips-Bangers Vs. Fuckers(Narnack)(2003)

Punk Style: Garage Punk, Noise.



Coachwhips-Peanut Butter And Jelly Live At The Ginger Minge(Narnack)(2005)

Punk Style: Garage Punk, Noise.



Crime-San Francisco's Doomed Comp(Solar Lodge)(1990)

Punk Style: Garage Punk.



Crucifix-Dehumanization(Corpus Christi)(1983)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Anarcho Punk



Dead Kennedys-Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables(Cherry Red)(1980)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Anarcho Punk, Surf.



Dead Kennedys-Plastic Surgery Disasters(Alternative Tentacles/Faulty Products)(1982)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Anarcho Punk.



Dead Kennedys-Frankenchrist(Alternative Tentacles)(1985)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Surf.



Dead Kennedys-Bedtime For Democracy(Alternative Tentacles)(1986)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Anarcho Punk.



Dwarves-Blood Guts & Pussy(Sub Pop)(1990)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Garage Punk.



Fang-Landshark/Where The Wild Things Are Comp(Boner)(1989)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Noise.



Flipper-Generic(Subterranian)(1982)

Punk Style: Noise.



Flipper-Gone Fishin(Subterranian)(1984)

Punk Style: Noise, Art Punk.



Green Day-Kerplunk!(Lookout!)(1991)

Punk Style: Pop Punk.



Green Day-Dookie(Reprise)(1994)

Punk Style: Pop Punk, Alternative.



Green Day-Insomniac(Reprise)(1996)

Punk Style: Pop Punk, Alternative.



Hickey-Self Titled(Probe)(1995)

Punk Style: Pop Punk.



Humans-Happy Hour(I.R.S.)(1981)

Punk Style: New Wave.



Mutants-Fun Terminal(Mutiny Shadow International)(1982)

Punk Style: New Wave.



The Nuns-Self Titled(Bomp!)(1980)

Punk Style: New Wave, Synth Punk.



Operation Ivy-Energy(Lookout!)(1989)

Punk Style: Ska, Hardcore, Melodic Hardcore.



Ovens-Self Titled Comp(Tumult)(2009)

Punk Style: Power Pop, Pop Punk, Alternative, Noise.



Rancid-Self Titled(Epitaph)(1993)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Rancid-Let's Go(Epitaph)(Let's Go)(1994)

Punk Style: Oi, Pop Punk.



Rancid-...And Out Come The Wolves(Epitaph)(1995)

Punk Style: Ska.



The Units-Digital Stimulation(415)(1980)

Punk Style: Synth Punk, Zolo.

SAN DIEGO AREA




Battalion Of Saints-Second Coming(Nutrons/Enigma)(1984)

Punk Style: Hardcore, D Beat.



Blink 182-Dude Ranch(MCA)(1997)

Punk Style: Pop Punk, Skate.



Blink 182-Enema Of The State(MCA)(1999)

Punk Style: Pop Punk, Skate.



Drive Like Jehu-Self Titled(Headhunter)(1992)

Punk Style: Noise, Emo.



Drive Like Jehu-Yank Crime(Interscope/Atlantic/Cargo)(1994)

Punk Style: Noise, Emo.



Hot Snakes-Suicide Invoice(Swami)(2002)

Punk Style: Post Hardcore.



The Locust-Self Titled(Gold Standard Laboratories)(1998)

Punk Style: Noise, Powerviolence, Synth Punk.



The Locust-Plague Soundscapes(Anti-)(2003)

Punk Style: Noise, Synth Punk.



Rocket From The Crypt-Circa: Now!(Headhunter)(1992)

Punk Style: Garage Punk, Alternative.



Rocket From The Crypt-Scream, Dracula, Scream!(Interscope)(1995)

Punk Style: Alternative, Garage Punk, Ska.



Some Girls-Heaven's Pregnant Teens(Three One G)(2006)

Punk Style: Noise, Hardcore.



Swing Kids-Discography(Three One G)(1997)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Screamo.



Truman's Water-Spasm Smash XXXOXOX Ox And Ass(Elemental)(1993)

Punk Style: Noise, Experimental, No Wave.

Pacific Northwest Including British Columbia





Bikini Kill-Pussy Whipped(Kill Rock Stars)(1992)

Punk Style: Riot Grrl, Noise.



Bikini Kill-The First Two EPs(Kill Rock Stars)(1994)

Punk Style: Riot Grrl, Noise.



Bratmobile-Pottymouth(Kill Rock Stars)(1992)

Punk Style: Riot Grrl, Surf.



D.O.A.-Hardcore 81(Friends)(1981)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Exploding Hearts-Guitar Romantic(Dirtnap)(2003)

Punk Style: Power Pop, Garage Punk, Pop Punk.



The Gits-Frenching The Bully(C/Z)(1992)

Punk Style: Punk Blues.



Heavens To Betsy-Calculated(Kill Rock Stars)(1994)

Punk Style: Riot Grrl, Queercore.



KARP-Self Titled LP(K)(1997)

Punk Style: Noise, Hardcore.



Melvins-Gluey Porch Treatments(Alchemy)(1987)

Punk Style: Noise.



Mudhoney-Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles Comp(Sub Pop)(1990)

Punk Style: Garage Punk.



Nirvana-Bleach(Sub Pop)(1989)

Punk Style: Noise.



Nomeansno-The Day Everything Became Isolated And Destroyed(Alternative Tentacles)(1988)

Punk Style: Art Punk.



Nomeansno-Wrong(Alternative Tentacles)(1989)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Art Punk.



Nomeansno-0+2=1(Alternative Tentacles)(1991)

Punk Style: Art Punk, Noise.



The Peechees-Do The Math(Kill Rock Stars)(1996)

Punk Style: Garage Punk.



Poison Idea-Kings Of Punk(Pusmort)(1986)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Septic Death-Now That I Have Your Attention, What Do I Do With It(Pusmort)(1986)

Punk Style: Thrashcore, Hardcore.



Sleater Kinney-Call The Doctor(Chainsaw)(1996)

Punk Style: Riot Grrl.



Sleater Kinney-Dig Me Out(Kill Rock Stars)(1997)

Punk Style: Riot Grrl.



The Sonics-Here Are The Sonics!!!(Etiquette)(1965)

Punk Style: Proto Punk, Garage Punk.



The Subhumans-Incorrect Thoughts(Friends)(1980)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Tales Of Terror-Self Titled(CD Presents, LTD)(1984)

Punk Style: Hardcore, Horror Punk, Garage Punk.



Wipers-Is This Real?(Park Avenue)(1979)

Punk Style: Hardcore.



Wipers-Youth Of America(Park Avenue)(1981)

Punk Style: Art Punk, Noise.



Wipers-Over The Edge(Brain Eater)(1983)

Punk Style: Hardcore.


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