10 Near Perfect Punk Rock Albums

The '70s birthed the origin of punk. During the '80s it survived in the underground. The '90s and 2000s saw it remerge with a poppy make over; and in the late 2010s it came back with a vengeance in the form of IDLES.

Although the group have insisted they are not a punk band, it's a claim that doesn't have much weight. Their first record is a blending of anti-authority sentiment, hardcore ferocity and post-punk DIY. This album will kick in your door, wake you from sleep and then comfort you when you feel scared.

The recording was an emotional time for frontman Joe Talbot. During the process, his mother passed away after a longterm illness. You can hear his grief explode into rage on tracks like Mother; a song that hears Talbot berate the injustices of the class system.

White Privilege, was Talbot's coming to terms with his wasted first year at university. Commenting on the ridiculousness of kids taking money from the government to go get wasted; it's a brutally honest look in the mirror for anyone who swindled their uni days.

Despite all the raw anger on brutalism, there's a joyousness to the music. Even with all the themes of grief and injustice the group remain definitely hopeful. It's a sentiment that would be compounded on their follow up album, Joy as an Act of Resistance.