SCOTT:
Rancid
Right, let’s go and get this started. Rancid are one of those bands who have been with me as long as I have been into punk. The first album of theirs I heard was "Let’s Go" and it blew me away, this was how a punk band should sound said my impressionable teenage brain. I love the structure of the every single song on this album – the chord structure, Tim's slurring vocals and of course Matt Freeman's bass lines. Rancid was one of the first bands that really made me stand up and take notice of what the bass player was doing – you don't have to just play root notes you know, bassists :O. Rancid are one of the first bands that turned me on to ska as well. When I was younger I really didn't like ska at all (with the exception of Madness who I was brought up on), but Rancid's style of ska opened up a whole new world to me.
Pennywise
Pennywise, like Rancid, have been a staple of my punk rock CD collection since what feels like forever. Their album "About Time" is one of their best (along with Full Circle, Straight Ahead, Land Of The Free… okay they're all awesome albums). Fast, punchy punk rock that's perfect for driving to, perfect for drinking to (although not together), perfect for singing along to. Fletcher from Pennywise has been a big BIG influence on my guitar playing and sometimes when I go to a band practice and say "Hey look, here's a new riff I have" I’m greeted with "That sounds like Pennywise" (as if that's a bad thing?). Another great thing about Fletcher is he plays an Ibanez. Jim Lindburg’s vocal style has also been an influence on my "singing", although I’m not quite as musical.
Incubus
I think, like most people my age, Incubus will hold a special place in our hearts. “A Certain Shade Of Green” will undoubtedly have been played countless times in the numerous visits to the rock clubs of our youth. “S.C.I.E.N.C.E” and “A Crow Left Of The Murder” are two albums that I still love. Incubus HAD a magical way of fusing funk and metal. Fucking brilliant.
Madness
They got a mention earlier on so I thought it was about time to talk about them. Madness were my first introduction to the world of ska and it remained that way until about the age of 17/18, when I was discovering bands like Rancid, and went to an Out Of Spite weekender at Joseph's Well in Leeds and saw the Propagumbhis. But back to Madness, they’re just great. Suggs is a fucking legend. I had an official Video (yes an actual VHS video) that (I think) my brother got me when I was… I don’t even know, maybe 14? and I used to watch it relentlessly. Baggy Trouser still gets me skanking like a nutter.
Propagandhi
Power picking – one of my all-time favourite guitar techniques and it's something Propagandhi do in bucket loads. I can’t explain how much I love this band. I’ve only managed to get to see them play a handful of times so I was pretty excited to see that they were playing at MPF this year. “How To Clean Everything “, “Where Quality is Job #1” and “Potemkin City Limits” just sum this band up perfectly for me. It's great to see they’re back on form with their new album and I can’t wait to see them again!
ED:
Nirvana – Nevermind
I first heard this album when I lived in the States as a kid. I remember being struck by the sound as a whole. I related to the angst that predominates throughout the album, especially during my late teens. I’m still heavily influenced by not only Nevermind but the rest of Nirvana’s albums.
Pixies – Doolittle
When I was in high school a friend lent me this album. I listened to it and was hooked. The mixture of surf riffs with the Black Francis’ vocals drew me in. I have drawn heavily from this album whilst writing some of our more recent songs.
Sublime – Sublime
I moved to the states in 1997, the year after Bradley Nowell died. This album had just been released and the radio stations constantly played “What I got”, “Wrong way” and “Santeria”. I’d never heard anything like it before. What I love about this album is how Sublime tackle multiple genres. You’re taken on a journey through punk, hardcore, reggae, ska, hip hop and classic rock. Sublime never gave a fuck about fitting a specific genre, which is something I’ve tried to embody in my approach to songwriting.
The Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
My parents introduced me to punk with this album when I was about 12 years old. There was so much anger in this album, which reflected the political climate at the time, not too dissimilar to that of present day. The aspect that stood out most to me was Johnny Rotten’s vocals. The way he snarls his lyrics appealed to me and is something that I have tried to recreate in my own manner.
Fresh – Fresh
The only album in this list that is less than 20 years old. I bought this album on a whim a few months ago from Specialist Subject Records. I love this album and have told anyone who will listen about it. The way in which the songs tell a story of someone’s battle with depression is something I can relate to. This album has given me the confidence to put my heart on the line more as a songwriter in recent months. If you haven’t listened to this album, you need to!
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