8 Pennywise Songs You Gotta Hear

By Jeff Feuerhaken

I recently saw that Pennywise is playing three back to back shows at the Hollywood Palladium in March. They’ll be playing each of their first three albums, front to back, one album a night. Of course I got super excited about this cool idea, and then I started reflecting on how far the band has come since those first three iconic albums. While revisiting their catalog, I decided to put together a little list of the top 8 most essential Pennywise songs. If you’re new to this band, here are some of the classics that have punctuated their 25+ year career.

 

8) “Alien” (from Straight Ahead, 1999)

“Alien” was the band’s leadoff single from their 1999 album Straight Ahead, and it’s clearly a grab at (somewhat) mainstream recognition. Gone are the band’s usual characteristic blistering tempos and frenetic energy, and in its place is a more driving, structured composition with a deliberate hooky chorus. Of course, this recipe tends to result in a tough dish to swallow for a punk band’s core fan base. But in the case of “Alien”, it goes down just right. There had been a growing consensus that the band had gotten into a rut of writing very similar, familiar material leading up to this album, so it was a refreshing change to hear something a little different, yet still sounding like a Pennywise song. And that chorus is damn catchy.

 

7) “Let Us Hear Your Voice” (from All Or Nothing, 2012)

Ok, ok! Stop yelling at me! I know that Jim Lindberg is THE voice of Pennywise, and that no replacement, no matter how talented, will fill his shoes. I get it. I felt the same way when I first heard 2012’s All Or Nothing, Pennywise’s studio attempt to pick up the pieces after Jim left the band in 2009. In fact, at first listen I thought it sounded pretty good, but not really like Pennywise. I listened more, and I thought that it’s pretty freaking great, but still not Pennywise. Eventually I had to accept the fact that the album pretty much ruled, and I didn’t care who was singing. Zoli Teglas from Ignite was fronting the band at this time, and he sounds fantastic. The radio-friendly single “Let Us Hear Your Voice” is brilliant, with an epic chorus and outro, so I don’t care what everyone says, this song deserves a spot on the list. Even if it’s not really Pennywise.

 

6) “Fuck Authority” (from Land Of The Free?, 2001)

So much for symbolism and metaphor. “Fuck Authority”, off of the band’s 2001 release Land Of The Free?, boasts a message that leaves little to interpretation. The band channels their inner teenager to deliver a jam fans of any age can throw their middle fingers up to. The song has a heavy anthem feel to it, which earned it some heavy rotation on rock radio. I still hear them spin it on KROQ every once in a while, usually sandwiched in between some new electro-indie folk songs, or whatever else they’re playing these days.

 

5) “Knocked Down” (from The Fuse, 2005)

The opener off of 2005’s effort, The Fuse, is reminiscent of the high octane shreddery that defined the band’s early career. The double-time shift fest that occurs between verses and choruses keeps the momentum going from start to finish. The chorus is definitely one of their more memorable, as Lindberg weaves a catchy vocal melody throughout the musical changes. The lyrics, which demonstrate the trials of personal struggle, are hardly new territory for the band, but something about the way it all comes together just straight up kicks ass. If you haven’t heard this song yet, go (legally) download it ASAP.

 

4) “Peaceful Day” (from About Time, 1995)

The band’s third album, About Time, released in 1995, proved that the band had fully hit its stride. For whatever reason, however, the punk marketing gods had not shined thine holy light upon this release, and it wasn’t much of a commercial success. Yet a large number of the band’s fanbase agree to this day that it is one of, if not the best of their career. The leadoff track, “Peaceful Day” opts not to lean upon the crutch of the uber fast double-time drumming of the insanely talented Byron Macmackin, but instead relies on a mid-tempo groove to get the juices flowin. This album was the last to feature originial bassist Jason Thirsk, who died tragically at the age of 28 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

 

3) “Dying To Know” (from Unknown Road, 1993)

The band’s second album, Unknown Road, will always have a special place in my punk rock heart because it’s the first time I heard the band. At the time I wasn’t sure what punk really was, only that it involved leather jackets, safety pins in your nose, and yelling unintelligibly at the top of your lungs. Imagine my surprise to hear a band that was unimaginably fast, yet shockingly melodic and full of memorable hooks, and yet still was considered a punk band. Not only that, but the members all looked like clean-cut surfer dudes. My friends were quick to clarify that this was “new school” punk, but I didn’t care, I was hooked. I wore out my tape (yes, tape, I’m old) playing Unknown Road over and over again. In an album full of fantastic tunes, the standout for me is the song “Dying To Know”, because well, just listen to it. It rules.

 

2) “Bro Hymn (Tribute)” (from Full Circle, 1997)

Wait, what? “Bro Hymn” at #2?! Twist ending! Yes, this is the song everybody knows. Yes, this is the song every punk band ever assembled has covered in band practice at least once. Yes, this is the song you hear in the stadium when the Anaheim Ducks score a goal. Yes, this is the most lyrically poignant of their songs, which took on a tragic new relevance prior to the release of 1997’s Full Circle. So I’m not surprised you expected this song to be #1, but the fact is that for Pennywise, it’s just sort of a so-so song. The message, a tribute to friendship and honoring those we’ve lost, resonates with everyone, that much is undeniable. But for me, the song is just a little too simple to take the #1 spot. Pennywise is better than that. I must say though, that if you’ve never heard the 1997 remake (reboot?) of this song, you have to hear it, because listening to Jason Thirsk’s brother screaming his love for his lost brother at the top of his lungs on the second verse will give you chills.

 

1) “Living For Today” (from Pennywise, 1991)

For all intents and purposes, Pennywise the band was introduced to the world in 1991, with the release of their self-titled Epitaph records debut. The quintessential song on that album, the one that truly defined who this band was and what they were all about, was track #4 on this album, titled “Living For Today”. The music, that chord progression (which has since become very familiar), and especially the lyrical content is just straight up, pure Pennywise to the core. This is the song that characterized what these guys were all about and what they were going to do with their career. It is fast as hell, easy to sing along to, and it has a great breakdown in the middle to keep you on your toes. “Living For Today” is three minutes of pure Pennywise action. It announced to the punk community, and the music scene in general, that these dudes were going to be special. I can’t imagine anyone arguing that they haven’t lived up to these high expectations.

 

So there ya have it! I’m aware this article may spark some outrage by those with differing opinions, so let’s hear what you got! What’s your favorite Pennywise song? Which ones did I leave out! Which ones did I rank too high? Let me know in the comments!

Now go listen to a Pennywise song already.

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