1995

Now we move away from 2005 and begin the Decade List, which consists of my top three albums from each of the last ten years 1995-2004. Maybe you’ll agree. Most likely not… We begin in 1995:

03.
Green Day
Insomniac

My favourite Green Day album, Insomniac got hammered when it came out and nearly spelt the end for Green Day, being both a critical and commercial flop. Weird to think that, when a decade later they’re world conquering American idiots. This used the ‘pop-punk’ blueprint that had appeared on Green Day’s previous three albums, but I just found Insomniac a bit more mature and consistent. I guess that’s what everyone else hated so much about it. Having said this, it was far from mature. Just less immature, perhaps (‘Panic Song’ actually had some progressive elements to it, almost the start of what many years later would become ‘Jesus Of Suburbia’). ‘Walking Contradiction’ is still my favourite ever Green Day song, but ‘Stuart And The Avenue’ also stands out. Uncomplicated sweaty music, ideal for the horrible, hormonal, male teenager, which is exactly what I was in 1995. “Mum and Dad don’t look so hot these days...” Ha.

02.
Pennywise
About Time

Pop punk again, though this time of the slightly more hardened SoCal variety, Pennywise released this to almost universal indifference, as they continue to do with their albums today. This and the follow up, Full Circle, were as good as it got though. About Time just came along when I was starting to form my musical taste, and gave me an unheard of ‘cool’ band to call my own (along with bands like the Foos and Green Day who everyone liked). Pennywise played (and still play) fast-ass pop punk, with songs about being a fuck up and hating everything. Catchy, mean and full of itself, this preached individuality and came at exactly the right time for me. I was 15 when this came out. Ideal. “screw the perfect people/fuck, they all look the same.” Not exactly high literature but it was what I needed to hear…

01.
Rancid
…And Out Come The Wolves

Completing a pop punk hat trick for 1995 (tellingly there will not be another one for the remainder of this entire list), is this awesome offering by Rancid. Yes, Rancid like The Clash. A lot. It doesn’t matter though, at least not for me, because they write better Clash songs than The Clash ever did. At least they did in 1995 (their newer stuff has never reached this quality). Rancid are American, but sing like they’re all from Norf Laanden. This is quality 70s punk with a slightly more poppy 90s feel and the odd dollop of ska. Their secret is that their bassist is bloody brilliant. The rest of them are all game, but nothing exceptional. The bassist, Matt Freeman, is a master. …And Out Come The Wolves is packed with simple/catchy two and a half minute songs (19 of the mothers) and they are all of the same high quality: no messing, dance about, wear doc martins, have silly hair, be yourself. It still sounds great. Impossible to keep your feet still to Rancid. And why would you ever want to? This is fun, pure and simple.