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.
