Issue 47: Punk's Not Dead
The best punk & post-punk albums I listened to this year (so far). Plus, a playlist (natch).
Welcome back to Band Practice! I’m sorry this is hitting your inboxes a week later than I intended. I was on vacation and returned to some migraines and too many other things that needed to be done that were not as fun. But I think it worked out for the better, and you’ll see why…
Oops! I did it again. Last year, I squirreled away electronic albums throughout the year for a special genre-focused issue, and I decided to do it again this year—this time with punk and post-punk albums. I didn’t intend to keep these from you for so long (I don’t get off on being withholding), but when I ran out of time and space to write about one of these beloved albums and then another, it was clear I needed to return to them somehow. And since we’re getting pretty darn close to the end of the year, I think it’s fair to start throwing out some best-ofs. A few of these are even contenders for my year-end top ten list.
This issue is timely, as punk rock is celebrating its fiftieth birthday this year—five decades—which feels illegal. (I’m pretty sure time stopped at the year 2000 and nothing is older than 30 years ago.) As old as the genre itself is the debate about its purity. Many still have a narrow view of it, as evidenced by the fact that none of the albums in this issue were available in my local punk record store (not because they’re not good; I think they’re more of a nostalgia shop).1 The mindset that “true punk” ended decades ago is just so tired.
Since its origins, the genre has taken on new shapes and dimensions, and that’s a good thing. It has grown offshoots like hardcore for angrier people, emo for sadder people, and post-punk for the weird kids. Many of the bands in this issue still maintain punk’s characteristic fast guitars, sneering vocals, and being pissed off about *gestures broadly at everything,* but they all have their own spin. Expect more dynamics and innovation as they move the genre forward even fifty years later.
One cool thing to note: all the bands featured in this issue are female-fronted. It’s not on purpose but a reflection of the fact that we’re living in a great time for women, trans, and nonbinary musicians in rock…or perhaps they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve.2
I’ve got five albums for you, each with a unique point of view. Instead of my traditional “If…” headers, I created a system to give you an idea of their intensity: a rating from one to five coffee emojis ☕️. We’ll start strong, but smooth, and work our way up to the most caffeinated. And, of course, there’s a playlist at the end of the issue with some of my favorite punk(ish) tracks of the year. It’s a great place to start if you want a taste of new punk without committing to a whole album.
I was going to geek out and go into some punk history here, but I sensed that might be overkill. Instead, I’ll point you to some great reads on the genre. Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain is a fascinating (and graphic) history of the genre told by those who lived it. I also recommend reading Nothing Feels Good by Andy Greenwald to learn more about emo, and Grrls To The Front by Sara Marcus for a captivating look into the Riot Grrrl movement. Look for them at your local bookstore, which is so much more punk rock than buying from Amazon.
Ready? Grab yer safety pins and some industrial-strength hair gel and let’s get started!
The best punk albums of the year (so far)
Gustaf — Package Pt. 2
Art punk/post-punk [Released 4/5/24] 📍Brooklyn, NY
☕️
Package Pt. 2 is an exercise in breaking the fourth wall. The album opens with lead singer Lydia Gammil declaring, “I project my way to the center of the stage.” Her commanding presence goes far beyond the stage, making it feel like she’s standing before you, grabbing you by the shirt collar. (Her particularly captivating performance in “Starting and Staring” is one of the best of the year.) Though her lyrics are mostly spoken or shouted, her passionate delivery is nearly melodic, set over tight, bass-driven hooks and guitar loops that are more suggestions than intentional riffs. A distorted, deep voice serves as backup for each track—like a parrot from the underworld. While their approach may be minimalist, the result is visceral—no less impactful from the first listen to the thirtieth. They’re currently on tour and I can only imagine what it’s like to see them actually on stage. If you go, hold onto your shirt collars. (Or don’t, if that’s your thing.)
Tracks on repeat: Statue, Starting and Staring, Happiest Thought
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
We Hate You Please Die — Chamber Songs
Punk/Noise Rock [Released 9/20/24] 📍Rouen, France
☕️☕️
[I have fellow Substacker
to thank for this find. She posted a note about it in the Substack app—which is super clunky but good for something!]The only way to make punk cooler is to make it French. (The band earns bonus cred with their name—a reference to the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.) The three-piece band from Normandy is helmed by lead singer and bassist Chloe Barabé’s ferocity and endearing accent (she sings in English). Together, they fuse punk structures with grunge influences while leaving room for plenty of surprises like the post-hardcore “Flesh” and the show-stopping shoegaze closer, “Surrender.” Barabé’s lyrics are a cutting and empowering embodiment of the modern-day riot grrrl. She is unafraid to take on topics like abortion rights in “Control” and putting the boys in their place with “Asshole.” “You play well for a girl / Well I play well for a girl / But you play well for an asshole,” she sings. WHYPD sits fairly under the radar, with less than 20,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. But with this strong release, I hope they pick up momentum. If you like what you hear, share it!
Tracks on repeat: Stronger, Hero, Surrender
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
Amyl and the Sniffers — Cartoon Darkness
Pub punk/Rock [Released 10/25/24] 📍Melbourne, Australia
☕️☕️☕️
[One good thing about sending this out a week late is that I get to write about a fresh one. Released today, this is the quickest turnaround I’ve ever had for a review. I listened to the album first thing, and it was so good I had to include it. (It will wake you up!)]
If there’s anyone to carry the lineage of punk attitude, it’s Amy Taylor. Full of righteous, pissed-off fervor, she rolls with a raised middle finger in one hand and a fistful of joy in the other, embodying the heart of the decades-old genre. Taylor’s charisma is not the only draw of the album. It is true guitar lovers’ punk driven by fierce guitars that noodle and screech, featuring highlights like the experimental tuning on “It’s Mine.” “It makes it sound like you’ve just stuck your head in a bucket of bees swarming,” guitarist Declan Mehrtens shares. Fun! The brilliant lead single, “U Should Not Be Doing That,” sits as one of my favorite tracks of the year. Taylor’s strutting cadence channels rock legends like Iggy Pop and Mick Jagger. Lyrics like, “I’m working on my worth / I’m working on my work / I’m working on who I am” bring needed jabs of empowerment. Curveballs like sax and cowbell are smooth additions to the track. The chemistry is strong between the four—just a few mates giving no fucks, playing solid rock and roll, and having fun whilst doing it.
Tracks on repeat: Chewing Gum, U Should Not Be Doing That, Me and The Girls
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
Sprints — Letter To Self
Garage-punk/Noise rock [Released 1/5/24] 📍Dublin, Ireland
☕️☕️☕️☕️
Once in a while, a band puts out a debut album that is so nearly perfect that it seems like they skipped the line to genius. Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange and Arcade Fire’s Funeral3 are two favorite examples that come to mind. The first full-length from the Dublin quartet is so strong there’s not a song that I don’t love. While this might not be strictly perceived as a punk album, there is so much punk and post-punk in its DNA. Their sound is robust, with intricate drums and riffs. Lead singer and guitarist Karla Chubb is a force whose style has taken inspiration from Patti Smith, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and PJ Harvey—and I would confidently throw Shirley Manson into the mix. Her personal and existential lyrics are full of gut punches and great lines like, “Maybe living’s easy, maybe dying’s the same” (Cathedral) and “It’s been a long day/ It’s been a long night / It’s been a long life” (Shaking Their Hands). But the undeniable highlight is “Literary Mind,” which stirs up 1980s post-punk nostalgia4 and pulls off some mesmerizing half-sung harmonies. But you don’t have to take my word for it. As one bandcamp supporter put it, “[It’s] like a cattle prod up the ass. ABSOLUTELY BLISTERING.” Not sure I can improve upon that.
Tracks on repeat: Cathedral, Adore Adore Adore, Literary Mind
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
Mannequin Pussy — I Got Heaven
Punk/Indie Rock [Released 3/1/24] 📍Philadelphia, PA
☕️☕️🥛☕️☕️☕️🥛
I will admit that I am a late-to-the-party fan of Mannequin Pussy (that doesn’t sound right), who I unfairly judged by their name (get your giggles out now). Until I listened to this album, I expected crude and perhaps unpolished music and was pleasantly surprised to find the opposite. The latest from the foursome is a luxurious blend of hard and soft (hence the addition of the milk emojis). Their sound ranges from dream pop to hardcore punk—the stunning title track taking a little from both, shifting from raging vocals to smooth oohs and ahhs. The listener is spoiled with soaring melodies and ferocious guitars—often accompanied by some sick tambo. Their poignant songwriting isn’t afraid of the profane, delivering unforgettable lines like, “And what if wе stopped spinning? / And what if we're just flat? / And what if Jesus himself ate my f***ing snatch?” from the album’s title track. In an interview with Stereogum, lead singer Marisa Debice shares the deep message behind the track, “[it’s] a reminder that we are all perfect exactly as we have been made and that no one gets to decide how a life should or should not be lived.” What could be more punk rock than that?
Tracks on repeat: I Got Heaven, Loud Bark, Ok? Ok! Ok? Ok!
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
A very special punk playlist
The playlist features songs from the featured albums as well as other cool bands across the punk spectrum (and it’s a broad spectrum). The Bug Club, The Linda Lindas, and Lambrini Girls are a few bands to note. Also check out the genre-bending tracks from Fontaines D.C. and High Vis. And bonus points if you catch the Taylor Swift reference in “The Doctor” from The Dopamines. If there are any good listens that I missed (probably a lot!), let me know in the comments.
Punk’s Not Dead Apple Music playlist
Punk’s Not Dead Spotify playlist
(There is some redundancy between this playlist and my fall and 2024 master playlists if you have been following along.)
Coming up
Coming up, it’s back to regular reviews of the latest and greatest albums. I’ll share my favorites from October—I’ve got a few standouts already. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.
I love hearing what you have to say! If you have feelings about this issue, questions for me, album recommendations, or any other thoughts, send them my way by leaving a comment or replying to this email.
Punk is alive…in a Taco Bell parking lot.
The record store also had a Britney Spears album and a comprehensive offering of Cyprus Hill’s catalog, so I don’t even know what is going on with them, tbh.
If you have been paying attention, the majority of the albums I have recommended this year have been from female, nonbinary, and queer artists. No shade to the mens, the femmes and thems are just killing it this year.
Fuck Win Butler, though.
It reminds me specifically of the song that plays in this climactic scene in my favorite John Hughes movie, Some Kind of Wonderful—I can’t explain why! Same energy?
I’ve been so looking forward to the Amyl and the Sniffers album! Going to do a full listen this weekend. Fantastic list all round!
Amyl, yes. See also, Stiff Richards and the Chats, also out of Melbourne.