Punk and garage releases figure prominently in my annual top albums’ roundup. Chicago punks Negative Scanner rated No. 2 this year and Texas rockers Radioactivity weighed in at No. 7.
Finding the best punk albums each year is a challenge. They may be self released or on a tiny label. Most of them tend not to get a lot of publicity. Often, I find the year’s best punk releases the following year.
So here are the best punk and garage albums I heard this year (alphabetized by band):
Ex-Cult – Cigarette Machine
Golden Pelicans – Oldest Ride, Longest Line
Institute – Catharthis
Negative Scanner – Negative Scanner
Nots – We Are Nots
This album was actually released in 2014 but then re-released in 2015. (It’s so good, I had to mention it again.)
Power – Electric Glitter Boogie
Radioactivity – Silent Kill
Reatards – Grown Up, Fucked Up
This is a reissue from the late Jay Reatard’s first band.
Timmy’s Organism – Heartless Heathen
Ty Segall Band – Live in San Francisco (Also check out the Ty Segall / King Tuff split, Live at Pickathon.)
All the Young Punks 