There was a time in life when this genre ruled the world—so much so that a bunch of us grabbed guitars, drum sets, or in my case, a bass, and started jamming, putting our feelings into music.
I love music; I love how it can shift your mood in an instant. You could be feeling down, but then a specific riff hits your ears, and suddenly, you're smiling. As the youngest in GENESYS, a 90s/early 2000s kid, I had to compile a list of the pop punk albums that shaped my life.
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
An incredible blend of 90s grunge and 2000s pop punk lyrics, this album is the epitome of emo/punk, standing the test of time even after 20 years. And let's not forget "The Middle"—that track alone seals its legendary status.
Paramore - Riot!
The quintessential Paramore record. Yeah, I know they've shifted more towards alt-pop since then, but "Riot!" was just perfect. It introduced me to Paramore with tracks like "For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic" and "That’s What You Get." And "Misery Business"? Still so good—it keeps getting sampled today. Plus, it made Hayley Williams a rockstar!
Sum 41 - All Killer No Filler
Who would've thought that a bunch of Canadian rap and metal-inspired punks could drop one of the best albums in 2001? "All Killer No Filler" isn't just a clever name; every song on this debut album is a banger. If you've only heard "Fat Lip" and "In Too Deep," you're missing out. Trust me, listen to the whole album—it's INCREDIBLE.
Blink 182 - Enema Of The State
Yes, it's incredibly immature and stupid, but it's also bursting with charm and recklessness—the embodiment of the pop punk movement like almost no other album. "Dumpweed," "Don't Leave Me," "Aliens Exist," "Going Away To College," "Mutt," etc. I dare you to find one bad song on this album. It's just perfect, and every time I hear it, a smile lights up my face.
Green Day - Dookie
An ode to slacking off and doing nothing, "Dookie" is THE album that broke every mold of pop punk, inspiring the movement. With its Ramonesque spiky songs, this album became a worldwide hit. Just listen to it—it's a great album, period. Seriously, give it a spin!