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Best Proto-Punk Debut Album

finnbow

finnbow

The Dude Abides
To me, these three debut albums define the early punk era. Which do you prefer, and why?

The Ramones (Eponymous)
The Clash (Eponymous)
Never Mind the Bollocks, We're the Sex Pistols
Horse, Patti Smith

The Clash is definitely my favorite punk band, but "Bollocks" is my choice for best of the punk debut records. Somehow, I can almost visualize Johnny and Sid sneering through the music. Your thoughts?
 
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Patti Smith. Horses.

Ok, so she doesn't always get lumped in with punk but damned if that wasn't one of the ballsiest (somewhat ironic) records I've ever heard, especially for a woman to put out in 1975. It's punk to me, anyway.
 
JohnVF said:
Patti Smith. Horses.

Ok, so she doesn't always get lumped in with punk but damned if that wasn't one of the ballsiest (somewhat ironic) records I've ever heard, especially for a woman to put out in 1975. It's punk to me, anyway.
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Yup.
 
JohnVF said:
Patti Smith. Horses.

Ok, so she doesn't always get lumped in with punk but damned if that wasn't one of the ballsiest (somewhat ironic) records I've ever heard, especially for a woman to put out in 1975. It's punk to me, anyway.
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My bad. I added your choice to the list. I think Horses differs stylistically a bit from the other 3, but an argument could be made for it being a proto-punk debut. A fine album indeed.
 
I totally missed in your first post that i was supposed to pick one of those three, apologies. I'm all caffeined up right now beyond belief and I glanced right past the first line. Of those original three I prefer the Sex Pistols but a case could be made for any of them. The Sex Pistols may have been a bit manufactured but they really went all in. I have no other reason, though, than that I just like to listen to that album more than the others.
 
Personally, I don't consider any of those albums proto-punk, but rather punk. For me, proto-punk is stuff like The Stooges, The MC5, early Flamin' Groovies, The Velvet Underground, and yes, the first Modern Lovers album (release delayed till the punk movement hit).

But of the four listed, I'd go for The Clash's debut, though I love all of them. Of course, there are early punk albums that are just as great, including The Saints' (I'm) Stranded, Blondie, and Damned Damned Damned.
 
spideyjack said:
"he had to tell a vision"
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Well technically Little Johnny Jewel is not on the original album, but recording a song so long it won't fit on one side of a 45, then chopping it in half and putting one half on each side then releasing it yourselves is pretty punk. :D
 
JohnVF said:
The Sex Pistols may have been a bit manufactured
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Just a little. :D

I vote Clash of the original three. I'll agree that Television is not the greatest "proto punk" debut example, but neither is, say Talking Heads '77 but both bands were not only going against the grain of what was popular in mainstream music but also what was popular in their own scenes.
 
marqueemoon said:
Well technically Little Johnny Jewel is not on the original album, but recording a song so long it won't fit on one side of a 45, then chopping it in half and putting one half on each side then releasing it yourselves is pretty punk. :D
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dont get me started on the importance of 45s in the delevlopment of "whatchamacallit" :D
 
I don't understand the thread. Echoing what goldwax said, "proto-punk" means pre-punk, not punk itself. The Ramones, Sex Pistols, and Clash albums were released at what was considered the beginning of punk rock as a genre (i.e., 1976-1977). Proto-punk artists/albums would have been precursors to punk, influences on punk. In other words, Velvet Underground, The Stooges, MC5, The Sonics, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, The Modern Lovers, Rocket from the Tombs, David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Roxy Music, many of the bands on the "Nuggets" compilations, etc.
 
steelglam said:
Proto-punk artists/albums would have been precursors to punk, influences on punk. In other words, Velvet Underground, The Stooges, MC5, The Sonics, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, The Modern Lovers, Rocket from the Tombs, David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Roxy Music, many of the bands on the "Nuggets" compilations, etc.
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or the rolling stones/ beatles/13th floor elevators/ troggs/ blues magoos/ fugs/etc. axis of rock.
 
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