10 Perfect Punk Albums That Changed Rock Music History

2. The Clash: London Calling (1979)

The Clash are considered one of the defining British punk groups, but they stand in a realm of their own. They didn't rest on their laurels, or confine themselves to any particular style. Their first record might be the only album of theirs you could consider "true punk". By their second, they were already incorporating wider genres into their sound; and by their third, they were far from just a punk group.

London Calling established the Clash as a creative force to be reckoned with. Musically they could turn their hands to a wide variety of genres; from ska, to new wave, rock 'n' roll, and indie. But it was all wrapped up in an antiestablishment attitude. Like the Pistols, they expressed the frustration of Britain's population. They drew attention to police brutality in London, government incompetence, and the poor economic prospects faced by many.

Whereas the Sex Pistols' approach was more smash and grab, driving their point home with sheer force and unapologetic bravado, the Clash were somewhat more refined. Who's to say which approach was better, the world of rock would be a worse place without either.