Top 10 Teenage Angst; (pop)punk style by soufex

I am notoriously bad at top tens, on account of I am fickle and find it hard to play favourites with things that interest me a lot. However, upon the awesome Ripper’s suggestion, here we go: my top 10 (pop?)-punk songs about teenage angst, because I’m sure everyone’s locked themselves away with a song on repeat because everything sucks.

#10 Dick Lips – Blink-182

Nothing to lose, a boy who went out when he finished all his chores

Classic Blink, possibly underrated, very awesome. One of Delonge’s finer moments on Dude Ranch.

#9 Tiny Voices – Boxcar Racer

Sixteen long years in, hale the bullshit in

Two scores racked up for Tom: Boxcar Racer’s album is something I can listen to over and over and over (and I have). This song documents the awkwardness and anger of a teenager’s growth into an adult, and how maybe it doesn’t get any easier.

#8 Basket Case – Green Day

Do you have the time to listen to me whine?

I heard this (consciously) for the first time when I was 14 years old and since then I have adored it; it was the first song I taught myself to play on guitar, and I would crank the volume on my amp right up and play it to myself every night. To me, this song is anthemic!

#7 Kids of the Black Hole – Adolescents

Our days of reckless fun are through

Bleak, angry, kick-ass punk rock from the legends that are the Adolescents, by name and nature. I heard this song on a Fat Wreck Chords podcast, remembered that I had their sel-ftitled album and fell in love with them all over again.

#6 Rise Above – Black Flag

We are tired of your abuse

You can’t have angst without even more 80s hardcore! Loud, angry music about oppression and misunderstanding sung by loud, angry, misunderstood Henry Rollins. Anger breeds empowerment in disillusioned youth, after all.

#5 Institutionalised – Suicidal Tendencies

I’m not crazy, I’m institutionalised

Who hasn’t ranted about their parents being too overprotective? More importantly, who doesn’t love Suicidal? (FYI, Senses Fail covered this and it’s actually pretty neat.)

#4 I’m Just A Kid – Simple Plan

I’m just a kid and life is a nightmare

Maybe it’s because I just got back from a Simple Plan show, maybe it’s because at heart I am often, disturbingly, 14 years old, maybe it’s just because this a gorgeous little pop song about growing up, but it gets my vote.

#3 Why Doesn’t Anybody Like Me? – No Use For A Name

Life is short, this chapter takes so long

Props to my girlfriend for reminding me of this. This was one of my favourite songs when I was 15 years old, it was the first NUFAN song I learned to play on guitar.

#2 Chemistry – Jawbreaker

Call me your names, make them stick; I laugh until I am sick

This only just makes the #2 spot; I would put it at #1 but it was already reserved for another song. It is no secret that I love Jawbreaker, and Blake’s high school lament is nothing short of beautiful.

#1 I’m Not Okay – My Chemical Romance

I’m not okay!

As if this needs any explanation… I’m not okay!

further listening
Prisoner Of Society – The Living End
All I Want – The Offspring
Depression – Black Flag
Hate Every Beautiful Day – Sugarcult
Needle In The Hay – Bad Astronaut [it’s an Elliott Smith cover and it’s amazing] Rescue Me – Zebrahead

further reading
I Hate Myself And Want To Die – Tom Reynolds
Indestructible – Cristy C. Road

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