Comparing Punk Recordings
When attempting to place a value of substance on a recording in any genre of music, each particular artist/band can only be compared and contrasted with other bands in that genre. It is extremely difficult to compare a punk band to a country artist, and I would not even attempt to judge records based on a system that included such a wide spectrum of music. The term, punk rock, in and of itself, is highly controversial and open to scrutiny. But, most people will agree to disagree on the inclusion or exclusion of certain bands or recordings considering the discrepancies that are obvious when trying to place a label on such a wide range of musical meandering. It all comes down to a matter of taste, whether someone prefers the hard edged, Chuck Berry inspired songs of The Sex Pistols or the art dirge of a band like Crass. With all this in mind, let us get started.
1. Time Period
Since a great deal of punk music is derivative, that is, that many bands’ sound is based directly on the music created by a previous band or small, scene of groups before them, the time in which the band formed and made records is extremely important. A band forming today, speeding up Chuck Berry riffs, wearing clothes held together by safety pins, and singing about the social ills of England would hardly cause a stir among the music community, much less the whole of society. But in the late 70’s, The Sex Pistols did just that, and it was a big deal. When the Ramones began to play in New York City, most notably at the infamous CBGB’s, people were actually blown away by how fast and hard the band played. Today, they would be considered a mid tempoed band at best. Much the same, a band like The Dropkick Murphys, who are extremely popular in certain circles today, owe almost everything they have done to bands like Sham 69 and The Stiff Little Fingers. Without those previous bands’ accomplishments and crafting of a sound, it is doubtful that they would even exist. The time period when the band formed, was active, and produced records is, therefore, extremely important when rating a punk record, and is most likely, the first thing I consider when rating a punk record.
2. Sound
The actual sound of a band is the second factor I take into account. Of course, this is where personal opinion comes into play. But, we can take a look at different things that may influence our tastes when considering the musical output of a band.
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