Music Blogs

Most of the bands on this list have been around for awhile. From what I've checked, they're all still active and some even play what some consider to be punk rock. And if the White Stripes never play another gig and Jack White forms another four bands in the interim, it'll still be the White Stripes to whom people refer when looking to name a reference point.

Fact is there are thousands of "deserving" punk bands out there. (Deserving of what is up to you.) But I did the democratic thing and stuck my hand in a jar of loose pieces of paper where the names of potential candidates had been entered, and pulled out what looked like a pretty good list of cool-sounding names and pictures of people who would qualify for the photographic equivalent of what this music must sound like.

And, besides, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Datsuns both have new albums coming out and that just seemed a little too coincidental to ignore. Like when your parents show up at your friend's house just as you're about to do something wrong! You know it's the invisible hand guiding you to the path of righteousness. You just wish that hand wasn't always so on time about it.

10) Electric Frankenstein: Full disclosure: a guy in this band once sold me my first punk rock records and he threatened to kill a couple of neighborhood hooligans on my behalf. For that and the simple fact that all these years later (I won't say how many) he is still out there fighting the good punk rock fight, we salute him and his fine, fine band.

9) White Stripes: Are these people even punk rock? Sure they are. They don't seem to care a whole lot about tuning and they don't play out much anymore. And Jack White always seems to be in another band since this one is--what?--too confining? They're loud and annoying as hell. Counts in my book.

8) The Black Keys: Lots of bands with the word "Black" in their title for sure. But these guys record in a tire factory, rubber factory, whatever you call it in Ohio and it sounds like it. What's not to like about guys who prefer playing music to bathing?

7) Times New Viking: Something about these guys captures my imagination in a way that bands that sound exactly the same do not. Why, I am not sure. But I find myself thinking about these guys more than I probably should. Maybe it's because I have a thing for bands from Ohio?

6) Civet: These girls genuinely scare me. I imagine myself in a rollerderby and getting myself pretty much killed by their relentless aggression. Which is something you like to hear in a band if not actually confront in real life. There's a reason most of us stay out of the moshpit.

5) Detroit Cobras: They're from Detroit and from everything I read on the news, Detroit can use all the help it can get. So buy a house there for $1,000 and come visit it sometime. Say hello to the locals and notice that everyone there makes very loud music since it's part of the city charter.

4) The Datsuns: I'm told these guys are from New Zealand, as is my friend Tom. And he sure is a swell guy, so by that yardstick all New Zealanders are cool as hell and if they allowed more of them out of the country, the rest of the world would know it as well. The Datsuns made a couple records a few years back that I remember liking a whole lot and apparently they've even played Ozzfest. So in an effort to spark free trade and better up our diplomatic relations with a country from the Southern Hemisphere, I offer you the Datsuns. It can't all be Flight Of The Concords.

3) The Black Lips: I'm told they're a "garage band." Ugh, all these little definitions with their hyphens and excuses and fine print. Next thing you know critics are going to be expected to either listen to the music or start writing more than 40 words on it, both of which could become a problem when most music can be described as either "good" or "ungood." I think the Black Lips for all their lack of discipline are "good." Thumbs way up. Five pizzas! Grade A. A strong buy recommendation. Green light! Whatever it takes.

2) The Mooney Suzuki: I'm told they're a "garage band," which isn't just a "musical" program that comes with your Apple computer. Garage and punk are pretty simultaneous these days since both embrace a crappy sound with lots of "enthusiasm." Ironically, I'm a bigger fan of "crappy sound" than "enthusiasm" as my high school guidance counselor also once noted. Is this helping?

1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Karen O screams like a whiny petulant child and I don't think she makes a lot of sense while she does it and that seems to be the point of it. Or maybe I'm missing the point. Either way, I see them on late night TV and wonder why them and not a million other bands but then I think "Who am I to question what the almighty television offers me?" I'm generally fishing around for more reruns of The George Lopez Show or CHIPs!