best (post)punk bands/albums

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Ok I've been getting back into all things punk/post punk all over again. It must be the weather. Been listening to a lot of Television, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Joy Division, Mission of Burma and as far forward as Sonic Youth. Anyway, moving on to my question, what do you think the best punk/post-punk bands and/or albums are? I guess I'm thinking more in terms of really pushing music and less in terms of popular success and clothing.

― Mike Salmo (salmo), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003S1I.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003S1K.01._PE_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005HG85.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00003WG0M.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005MAG9.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002LGN.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000007SPV.01._PE_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002KO5.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:13 (twenty-two years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000074DJ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000007R1O.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000000WH7.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00002EQ4X.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005AWDS.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:24 (twenty-two years ago)

from the above : i admire the pop group's Y rather more than i actually like it; Closer is a definite high spot and i never got much outta the gang of four except for the singles. for me :

the fall - slates
television - marquee moon
the homosexuals - cd (comp)
scritti politti - the early singles / eps
kleenex / lilliput - comp
pere ubu - modern dance

― phil turnbull (philT), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Dammit Alex, you stole all my answers!

Do the Slits count as post punk? If they do then 'Cut'.

― mei (mei), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Y is indeed "difficult" listening, but I still find it pretty exhilirating ("She Is Beyond Good & Evil" still remains one of my favorite tracks of all time -- not on the original album, I don't think).

See also Pigbag!!!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:37 (twenty-two years ago)

...and Rip Rig + Panic!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:38 (twenty-two years ago)

..and http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc800/c869/c86979u0472.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:39 (twenty-two years ago)

And how could we forget.......http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f596/f59604xqy8o.jpg http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre100/e163/e16301hxvup.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:40 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre000/e003/e0038512u80.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Some might quibble with this one, but.....

http://www.gutsofdarkness.com/pochettes/898_2238.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 06:54 (twenty-two years ago)

i forgot to mention :

this heat - s/t
wire - pink flag (punk / post-punk - who knows)
daf - gold und liebe
throbbing gristle - 20 jazz funk great

but the problem is that the albums were never as good as i'd wanted them to be. but, from just about every band mentioned and more, there's possibly at least one great track. and i'd include all of the bands from australia at this time in this as well. (but i would).

― phil turnbull (philT), Friday, 2 May 2003 07:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I resoundingly agree with many of the above (Entertainment/Desi-yah: fuckyeah) plus: Magazine's entire recorded output*, the first three Wire, first three Comsat Angels, Sulk by Associates, Boys Don't Cry by the Cure, The Only Fun In Town by Josef K and From The Lion's Mouth by the Sound (I don't actually think the last two are GOOD as such, but I am fascinated and obsessed with them nonetheless).

*Well. Nearly all.

― Ferg (Ferg), Friday, 2 May 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and add Script of the Bridge by the Chameleons to the not-good-but-interesting pile.

― Ferg (Ferg), Friday, 2 May 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex OTM, my contribution to this thread is now irrelevant besides to say that it is possible Entertainment! is my favorite album.

― Ally (mlescaut), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Cabaret Voltaire - Three Mantras/ Voice of America
The Fall - Live at the Witch Trials/ DraGnet/ Grotesque/ Slates
Gang of Four - Entertainment
Metal Urbain - L'Age d'Or
Pere Ubu - Modern Dance/ Dub Housing
PiL - Metal Box
The Pop Group - For How Much Longer Must We Tolerate Mass Murder?
Robert Rental & The Normal - Live at West Runton Pavilion
The Residents - Duckstab/ Buster and Glen
Scritti Politti - Skank Bloc Bologna/ Four A Sides/ Opec Immac EPs
Swell Maps - A Trip to Marineville/ Jane From Occupied Europe
This Heat - This Heat
Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth

...and numerous others I've forgotten to mention

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 2 May 2003 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

In forgetting this you've all made me very upset
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d664/d66427sp88c.jpg

― Adam A. (Keiko), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I was actually going to cite Fear of Music, but thought I'd be pelted with rocks and garbage for mislabelling it as "post-punk" versus "Punk" or "New Wave" or a host of other arguable terms.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

oh alex i could never pelt you with rocks HUGGLEZ!

Since it occurs to me that Mike might not have all post-punk album covers memorized. The following Talking Heads titles are highly recommended:
'77
More Songs About Buildings & Food
Fear of Music
Remain in Light

― Adam A. (Keiko), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Nice taste, Mike. Here's a few more....

The Sound - Jeopardy
23 Skidoo - 7 Songs
Siouxsie & the Banshees - Kaleidoscope is a good place to start I guess
X - Los Angeles
that Liasons Dangereuses reissue from last year is nice

I'd go with Kilimanjaro by the Teardrops and Heaven Up Here by the Bunnymen over the above.... or buy them all, which is a better idea.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Friday, 2 May 2003 19:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Everybody has already said it above but i would like to add:
Cabaret Voltaire - RED MECCA.

― rexJr., Friday, 2 May 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm suprised nobody mentioned Young Marble Giants yet. Colossal Youth is classic! On the subject of things twee, Television Personalities are one of my favorite post punk bands too.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Friday, 2 May 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc300/c320/c32074g8562.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/discographer/images/mekonsstorycd-front.jpg

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd800/d809/d80935d306o.jpg

― JesseFox (JesseFox), Saturday, 3 May 2003 05:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Ferg, no need for the disclaimer. ALL of Magazine's output is brilliant.

I'd also recommend:

Blue Orchids: A Darker Bloom
Japan: Adolescent Sex
Siouxsie and the Banshees: Kaleidoscope / juju
Simple Minds: Life in a Day / Reel to Real Cacophony
Devo: Are We Not Men? / Duty Now for the Future
James Chance: Buy the Contortions
The Sound: From the Lions Mouth
Talking Heads: Fear of Music

And Alex, I like your Tuxedomoon and Virgin Prunes recommendations. Pretty daring!

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Saturday, 3 May 2003 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Ditto on the Television Personalities. I seem to recall being impressed by the Passage..........

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Saturday, 3 May 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, there are a couple of songs on Magic, Murder and the Weather I'm not so fond of, and I didn't want to seem like the raging fanboy I so blatantly am.

― Ferg (Ferg), Saturday, 3 May 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Magic, Murder and the Weather is unfairly maligned/overlooked. It isn't QUITE as good as the other three, but it is as unique as them and I listen to it just as frequently.

They're my favorite band. :]

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Saturday, 3 May 2003 21:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess I'm thinking more in terms of really pushing music and less in terms of popular success and clothing.

???

― V (1411), Saturday, 3 May 2003 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks for all the responses. You've made me remember a lot of albums I had neglected recently (ie. from Devo, the Cure, Talking Heads, Souxsie & the Banshees, Killing Joke...) and also reminded me of people I wanted to look into more: Gang of Four, Peter Ubu, Television Personalities. Also some folks on the list that I haven't heard anything from, but seem to be in good company, so I'll trust your judgement ;-) and check them out. My first "real" post here has been quite successful. Thanks again to everyone (particularly your enthusiasm Alex in NYC).

― Mike Salmo (salmo), Sunday, 4 May 2003 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

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