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