32 Oct 3rd-Oct 9th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Make It Loud The 10 best albums in Phoenix punk music history. BY CHRIS COPLAN I f this writer’s own coverage is any proof whatsoever, Phoenix’s punk scene is big and vital. It started in full in the early to ’80s, where bands set about differentiating our desert home from L.A. and other scenes. And it’s a trend that absolutely continues today with a suite of like-minded, extra committed punks. So, in honor of this robust legacy, here’s some of the best punk albums across the last 40 years. Be it noise or hardcore, ska/reggae or skate punk, these albums are wholly indica- tive of the power and talent that defines local punk yesterday, today and forever. And, hey, be sure to stick around when we give some other genres their own time in the sun. AJJ, ‘People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World’ AJJ likely never intended to be heralds of the modern local punk scene, but they did just that with this excellent 2007 record. (And on their second try!) Everything that defines AJJ — Sean Bonnette’s extra- vulnerable, socio-political lyrics and vocal performance, the robust joy and enthu- siasm of it all and the sonic battle between folk and punk tendencies — is in their most concise and explosive iteration. There’s nary a “quiet” moment across this 25-minute LP, but that’s because AJJ had so much to say about themselves, the world and music. And yet as sharp as the album is thematically, you very much can’t deny its sense of personality bordering on warmth. The band have evolved since the LP’s debut, but “People…” will always serve as their artistic North Star. Turns out, we’re the real lucky ones for this classic. JFA, ‘Nowhere Blossoms’ Folks will tell you that JFA’s best album is “Valley of the Yakes.” And while those folks are absolutely right for that album’s over- arching prowess, there’s something extra special about this 1988 album. If you want the piss and vinegar that defined JFA, then “Yakes” is like barreling down a hill on a skateboard about to snap in half. “Nowhere Blossoms,” meanwhile, displays a more robust and sturdy JFA, a collective who have traded in some of the initial angst and intensity for something resembling subtlety. It’s a record that very much connects to the late ’80s rock scene even as JFA retains the charisma and fire that’s truly defined the group. Don’t call it mature, but it’s still a big, bold album with heft and insight. The Nervous / The X-Streams, ‘K15 Presents 2x2’ K15, if you’re somehow uneducated histori- cally, was a local Phoenix radio station back in the ’80s. Led by local legends like John Dixon, it served as the de facto home/ breeding ground for many of the bands on this list. And in the name of providing more spotlight, the “2x2” release brought together two unsung acts to make a little noise. The music of The Nervous seemed fittingly unsure as they strung together New Wave and synth to make something unde- niably energetic. The X-Streams (or XStreams), meanwhile, skewed toward a “traditional” ska and reggae sound, but one that felt especially breezy and flirtatious. What ultimately brings this record together, then, is both bands felt novel in the scene, and stood out for their uniquely unas- suming approach to the music of 1980/1981. Enjoy this one sans radio commercials. Authority Zero, ‘A Passage in Time’ There’s some among you that might see an Authority Zero record amid JFA and Meat Puppets and hem and haw all day. But “A Passage in Time” deserves to be on this list for a few key reasons. For one, the band might infuse more ska and reggae elements, but their intense, frenetic style has roots in the local hardcore scene. They also unwaveringly champion their hometown, and those AJJ made our list of the best punk albums in Phoenix history. (Photo by Kyle Dehn) >> p 34 ▼ Music
