20. Social Distortion – Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell (Epic, 1992)

Punk? Blues? Country? Any way you slice this album, few could argue the title of it as the “quintessential rock album of the ’90s.”

Mike Ness has come a long way from his hardcore upbringing in California’s Orange County, and this is the album to prove it. Without getting too intricate, Social Distortion managed to produce a deeply moving album glorifying the ill effects of an outlaw lifestyle Ness is all too familiar with.

Despite being the pinnacle of their career, this album doesn’t contain either of their signature songs, “Story of My Life” or “Ball and Chain.” This isn’t to say “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell” doesn’t have its memorable moments, quite the opposite. “Bad Luck” and “King of Fools” highlight the album’s theme of a broken spirited man. “King of Fools” is the desperate cry for more than just a superficial love, “I was born without a good thought/Just to live fast, tell a lie and break a heart.” “99 To Life” is evidence of what happens when anger supercedes control, “She was my baby, thought she’d be my wife/I killed my baby, I killed her with my knife.”

It’s amazing, and disturbing, that thousands of impressionable young men are right now attempting to mimic this lifestyle. For this reason alone, “Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell” belongs on this list.

Featured tracks: “Bad Luck” “This Time Darlin'” “King of Fools”

19. Fear – The Record (Slash/Warner, 1982)

Throughout the history of punk, no band seemed to serve up nihilistic punk with as much attitude and humor as Fear. Lead singer Lee Ving blazed the trail of alienating himself with audiences with such hits as “Lets Have a War,” “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones” and their ode to man’s favorite member, “Beef Bologna.”

For visual evidence of Fear’s bombastic behavior check out the pseudo documentary of L.A.’s early blossoming punk scene, “Decline of Western Civilization.” Crass and offensive, but mostly light-hearted, this west coast quartet rips through songs with the ferocity of a deranged postal worker.

Somehow Fear managed an appearance on the 1981 Halloween episode of “Saturday Night Live” performing “New York’s Alright…” What makes this so funny is they actually got away with it based on the song’s lyrical content. “New York’s alright if you want to be pushed in front of a subway/New York’s alright if you like tuberculosis/New York’s alright if you like modern jazz/New York’s alright if you’re a homosexual.” Basically, Ving’s intention was, and still is, to piss off as many people as possible.

For those looking for the more serious side of Ving, check out his role as Mr. Body in the motion picture “Clue.”

Featured tracks: “I Love Livin’ In The City” “Fuck Christmas” “Beef Bologna”

18. Nirvana – Bleach (Subpop, 1989)

Short and sweet, this is a punk album. Kurt Cobain was a brilliant songwriter who was killed by industry overexposure. Grunge was created by labels as a marketing tool to sell albums to masses of impressionable youths in the early `90s. Nothing can be said about Nirvana that already hasn’t been said. Now go make a great album for $600.

Featured tracks: “School” “Negative Creep” “About A Girl”

17. At The Drive-In – Vaya (Fearless, 1999)

At The Drive-In is constantly accused of ripping off the look and energy of the MC5, emotion and feeling of Fugazi and the dynamic vocal qualities of Rage Against The Machine’s Zack De La Rocha. Though At The Drive-In does possess all of these qualities, they create a sound all their own.

The purpose of this EP was to not only tide over their ever growing fan base, but to also show the critics where At The Drive-In was heading. Each track is a roller coaster ride through lush soundscapes of distorted guitar, semi-jazz arrangements and white noise. Lyrically, one guess is as good as another as to the meaning behind each song.

What does matter is the fresh sound At The Drive-In is dishing up for a new generation of hungry youths seeking an alternative to alternative. Punk is creating something different that isn’t readily accessible to the masses. But like The Clash before them, the masses have come to them while maintaining their artistic integrity.

Featured tracks: “Metronome Arthritis” “Rascuache”

16. The Queers – Don’t Back Down (Lookout!, 1996)

Of the Queers entire discography, this is the pinnacle of lead singer Joe Queer’s career. This album consists of the obvious influences that make up the Queer’s sound: three chord stylings of the Ramones and Beach Boys melodies.

“Don’t Back Down” is the result of your basic recipe for a pop punk album: songs about girls, drinking and work garnished with offensive, vulgar lyrics. The juvenile “I’m OK, You’re Fucked” surprisingly tracks fluidly to the romantic “Number One.” “I Only Drink Bud” rails on those who claim their brew as king of beers. “Heinekin is skunk piss dude/and Miller sucks so bad/I’m Joe Queer, I’ve tried ’em all/ I’ve spilled more than you had/Hey you motherfuckers/I only drink Bud.”

The album’s title track pays homage to one of Queer’s idols, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. Simple and straightforward, “Don’t Back Down” reinforces the notion that one need only a few chords and a modest amount of witty humor to write great songs. Not bad for a band that has managed to use the word “fuck” more creatively than any other band in history.

Featured tracks: “No Tit” “Janelle, Janelle” “I’m OK, You’re Fucked”

– Boonie Boone