10 Best Punk Rock Albums Of The 1980s
8. Wipers - Youth Of America
One of the most influential bands to still remain relatively obscure, Wipers were one of the foremost inspirations for Kurt Cobain. The majority of their early catalogue is well worth investigating, but sophomore effort Youth Of America is their most cohesive and interesting proposition.
Opener “Taking Too Long” is one of the more obvious Nirvana-influencing tracks, with its quiet/loud dynamics and head honcho Greg Sage’s ability to build himself up to a frenzy through the sheer power of his own singing. "Pushing the Extreme" is another winner, full of winding guitars, all of which are razor sharp.
It all builds up to the closing title track, a 10 minute minimalist punk epic with guitars that whip in and out of focus over a propulsive, heart racing beat. The song’s mighty length wouldn’t have flown in ‘70s punk, but The Wipers proved how silly the dogma of the genre can be.