5. Face to Face - Face to Face (1996)

Face To Face - Face To Face (1996)

Face to Face is probably one of the most underrated punk bands of all time.  They have a knack for writing catchy, melodic punk tunes. The drumming incorporate some great fills and rhythms without being too flashy.  The bass locks in with the drums nicely and has a really great tone to it.  There is some really great guitar work on this album as well.  I particularly love the guitar solo in “Blind.”  The vocal melodies make it almost impossible not to sing along to.  I can’t really pick a favorite song off this record, because they are all so good in their own way.  One of the first songs that Dan and I ever played together was a Face to Face cover, so they are definitely a big reason that Broken Frequency exists.  This album gets better every time I listen to it. Unfortunately their later efforts never quite lived up to their earlier work, but this album is definitely a classic in my book.  I was able to see them live on their recent reunion tour, and they definitely sound as good today as they did eleven years ago when I first saw them perform.

4. Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)

Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)

Pearl Jam’s music was very important to my development as a rock drummer.  This was one of the first albums that I truly listened to over and over again.  Although Dave Krusen would leave the band shortly after “Ten” was recorded, his drumming on that album is quite solid.  Although most of the beats are straight forward rock rhythms, he accentuates the songs with some great fills.  His playing just has a great feel to it.  The rest of the band also display some serious talent on this album.  Its actually hard to believe that this was their first album. They left little room for improvement when they recorded “Ten” and definitely set the bar pretty high.  Pearl Jam also happens to be one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen, and that’s no easy feat.

3. Rancid - And Out Come the Wolves (1995)

Rancid - And Out Come The Wolves (1995)

I first heard Rancid when I saw the video for “Salvation” (from 1994’s “Let’s Go”). When “And Out Come the Wolves” was released a year later I really got into this band.  The combination of punk and ska styles seemed rather inventive at the time, and this album still remains one of my favorites.  The Clash is definitely a huge influence on Rancid, as their use of the electric organ on tracks like “Daily City Train” and “Time Bomb” clearly illustrates.  Matt Freeman’s bass playing on tracks like “Maxwell Murder” and “Journey to the End of the East Bay” is simply incredible.  He is truly the backbone of the band.  Brett Reed’s drumming isn’t bad either.  He utilizes some cool syncopated rhythms at times, but keeps things pretty consistent throughout.  The desperation of Tim Armstrong’s vocals made this album easy to relate to as a teenager.  This album brings that youthful feeling back every time I listen to it.

2. Green Day - Dookie (1994)

Green Day - Dookie (1994)

I was just starting to play the drums when this album came out, and it changed everything for me.  Tre Cool’s style definitely influenced the way I play drums.  He has a great sense of timing, but isn’t afraid to throw in plenty of fills.  The guitar work is definitely not groundbreaking, but there’s something really genuine about its simplicity.  The bass lines tie the guitar and drums together nicely.  Although all of the songs are relatively fast, they manage to keep things interesting and catchy.  Green Day didn’t reinvent the wheel, but they certainly put their own spin on it.  This album really spoke to me when I first heard it.  It’s interesting to see how Green Day’s sound has evolved over the years, but “Dookie” will always be my favorite Green Day record.

1. The Clash - London Calling (1979)

The Clash - London Calling (1979)

I can still remember the first time I heard “London Calling”. It was unlike anything I had ever heard before, but yet somehow familiar at the same time.  The Clash were a huge influence on most of the bands that I grew up listening to, so its not a total shock.  Topper Headon’s drumming on this album is incredibly original.  His hi-hat work on songs like “I’m Not Down,”  “Lost in the Supermarket,” and “Rudie Can’t Fail” definitely influenced my playing style.  The Clash utilize so many different sounds on this album.  It’s hard to classify them as just a punk band, because they were really so much more than that.  “The Card Cheat” is a perfect example of this point.  It’s a piano driven ballad and really stands apart from the rest of the album in a good way.  Headon also used a lot of auxiliary percussion; cabasa, vibra-slap, guiro, triangle, etc., which really add a lot to their sound.  The use of brass and saxophone also adds a lot to the vibe of this album.  The great song writing and thought provoking lyrics don’t hurt either.  Overall, this is just an incredible record from start to finish.