Well here we go. We've reached the end of the line. It's time to nominate the best punk rock album of the 2000's. Yea, we know that this decade is only half over, but for the sake of being all inclusive, we didn't want to leave it out. That's just how we roll.

So check it out. So far, we have four albums entering the steel cage. Turtle and I were talking last night and we realized that those four albums make a pretty good punk rock starter collection. You have the Ramones, who were the originators, really, and the leaders of the New York scene. Black Flag, as an introduction to the harder side of punk rock and the whole LA scene. 7 Seconds for your hardcore/straight edge needs. And the Dwarves? Well, they're the Dwarves. They break stuff. In your face, offensive, fast and punk as fuck.

So who will be next? Listen, I'm not gonna lie. The 2000's, as far as punk goes, doesn't do much for me. But what do I know? I think the best album released in the 2000s so far is by QOTSA, so I'm all messed up on this one because that's not punk by any stretch of the imagination or the rules. And I know there's gonna be stuff nominated that will make me cringe but hey, I'm sure that Dwarves record made some of you cringe and it's one of my favorites. So that's how it goes.

Honestly, I'm just hoping that no one here would have the nerve to nominate something like Good Charlotte or Simple Plan. You're going to be putting yourself out there for getting bagged on if you do. Not by us, but I know at least one or two people who will rip you up in the comments. And we're just gonna stand back on that. And tell you that Simple Plan is just not punk rock.

So who did put out albums in the 2000s? Well, you can do the research, but we'll get you started. I haven't really come up with anything I want to review yet, and I think Turtle's only choice for this decade is The Explosion. But for the rest of you, things you might want to consider: Bad Religion, Social Distortion, NOFX, Guttermouth, Offspring, MTX, Rancid, Bouncing Souls, Anti-Flag, Dropkick Murphys, AFI, US Bombs, Descendents, New Bomb Turks, Sleater-Kinney, Pennywise and....G..g..gr..gree.....n.....gah, I just can't bring myself to write it.

Ok kids. Get nominating. Make us proud. Come up with some good stuff here.

But first, we get our two in that will get shot down as usual. This is a thankless job.

The Explosion - Flash Flash Flash - T

By this part of the game, I know damn well none of my albums are even coming close to winning so I'm just giving up. I hope by the end of this some of you have heard some great new, or old music, and it made you smile. But if not, meh, it happens. This is the end. I had a tough time with this one. Sleater Kinney put out The Woods, but that was a dark album that only really hardcore fans would like. And in my opinion, not the record of the half decade. Boston seemed to be moving the most back then. Go figure. A band from there grabbed my attention at a show. Bunch of off kids pissed about us older punks fucking up.

The Explosion. OK. This moves. Grooves and beats like old style hardcore. Our rock will fuck you. You gotta love that motto. This was punk rock. This whole album is about asking us what happened. Why are we selling out? Good question. Fuck if I know. I quit your race along time ago. When bands like (insert your most hated fake punk rock industry band name here) came out. Why do little kids and teenage girls have punk rock belts on? Why do they wear punk rock shirts from the 70's? Well, I guess that's ok. But, then from the 80's? 14 year old girl wearing a Black Flag shirt? The album just talked to me and asked the simple question. Why is there a store called Hot Topic?

Well, it didn't say that entirely, but the point was we are lost and if we want this to fall, we can let it fall. If we want to pick it up, we can pick it up. This was entirely our call. Look around you. Take a good look. Remember everything it took to get us here. To get us this far. And now you are watching it being destroyed. Right in front of your eyes. There's no revolution anymore. And that's your fault. Kinda grabs you by the poo poo and makes you think. No revolution anymore. We were sold out and were too drunk to care. They just wanted to let us know we suck. And so does Hot Topic.

The Explosion No Revolution

Cro-Mags - Age of Quarrel - M

Ok, some sites say this came out in 2000, some say in 1999. Let it be known the official Cro-Mag's site says 2000 so don't argue with me on this one. Or quarrel, as the case may be. Basically, this album is a reworking of Age of Quarrel, but I don't care because I'm really hard up to find something to review for this decade and this is gonna be it.

This is hardcore punk with a good dose of metal. It's powerful, angry and brutal, like a kick a in the face. But a kick in the face you kind of enjoy. Does that make sense? Who likes getting kicked in the face? Well, you know what I mean. This album is one big snarl. And even though the songs are a mixed up jumble of religion and violence, it works here. It's not even a kick in the face. Before the Quarrel is a head butt. You know when you see a bunch of guys in a pit and they're going at it and suddenly one will just up and head butt another guy, not out of anger or anything, but just out of raw emotion and needing something to do with all the power he's feeling at the moment? And the other guy, even though the head butt hurts like hell is like, fuck yea! Ok, that's this album.

So that's it. This is the last nomination of the decades. The others are done. Remember though that you are facing some stiff competition so what you might think is the greatest album now, might just become a dog chewie next year. Punch them up and let's get this thing going. Cause we want to see what happens in the end.

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