29. Anberlin “Never Take Friendship Personal”
Lots of uncertainty around this record. My kids ask questions like “Isn’t friendship supposed to be personal,” and “Is this technically even punk?” and “Do we have to go to church on Sunday if we listen to this band?” I dont know/kinda, no idea, and absolutely fucking not, respectively.
28. Escape The Fate “This War Is Ours”
I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD I WILL TURN THIS CAR AROUND AND NO ONE WILL GET ICE CREAM IF YOU DON’T STOP FIGHTING. AND I’m turning this album off. I don’t care, you can pick the music when you start behaving.
27. Nada Surf “Let Go”
This album doesn’t get a fair shake, because I put it on when the baby is due for a nap and being insufferable. Sometimes only a car ride will calm him down. The older two aren’t fans, though, and when I tell them they can come along for the ride but we’re listening to Nada Surf, they usually decline the invite.
26. Silverstein “Discovering the Waterfront”
The most underrated album on the list, my middle child is the only one who likes this classic. The nasty riff face he makes at the end of “Ides of March” is enough to make an aging punk father well up with pride. All my kids smile in their sleep. Parenting is the best.
25. The Used “In Love and Death”
I think I doomed this absolute banger of an album for them when I started threatening punishment with “See that toy? I’m gonna TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE IT AWAY if you don’t start listening!” It’s kind of funny how they’re not listening anyway.
24. Saves the Day “Stay What You Are”
My kids roll their eyes when this one starts, because they like it, but it’s always preceded by me having a serious talk with them. Every parent eventually has to brace themselves for tough conversations with your kids; death, sex, bullying, etc. Luckily, you can kill all these nightingales with one stone and just play this album.
23. Armor For Sleep “What to Do When You Are Dead”
One of my favorite albums on the list, my kids aren’t huge on it mostly because I keep dodging their questions about the subject matter. “Daddy, why is the car underwater? We’re not going underwater are we? What’s heaven?” Ask your mother.
22. A Day to Remember “Homesick”
Welcome to the family, kids, where even our pop-punk has to have breakdowns. I play this one on the way home from vacation when it’s obviously time to get to our own beds. All three like the clapping and chanting at the beginning, but only the badass middle child likes anything else.
21. Basement “Colourmeinkindness”
My kids don’t get why I like this one so much, and I don’t know how to explain to them that when you’re my age and grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, anything with a grunge tinge is going to put a smile on my face. You know nothing of real pain; you’re a child and you are spoiled.