Zen Arcade cover

Zen Arcade

Released

If hardcore was starting to become addicted to its own rules, St. Paul’s most intense smash-and-grab trio were having a blast figuring out how to subvert them. Zen Arcade is still hard/loud/fast, but in ways that flirt with psychedelia and folk and sounds not-yet-codified. The run on the double LP’s Side 2 alone (from the manic “Beyond the Threshold” to the lung-collapsing “Standing by the Sea“) is enough to mint lifelong zealots.

Nate Patrin

Recommended by

Suggestions
Double Nickels on the Dime cover

Double Nickels on the Dime

Minutemen
Punks Not Dead cover

Punks Not Dead

The Exploited
Pirate Radio cover

Pirate Radio

Pretenders
Bad Music for Bad People cover

Bad Music for Bad People

The Cramps
Greatest cover

Greatest

the Go-Go's
The Chemistry of Common Life cover

The Chemistry of Common Life

Fucked Up
Trio cover

Trio

Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt
Live at Hollywood High cover

Live at Hollywood High

Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables cover

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

Dead Kennedys
The Ungovernable Force cover

The Ungovernable Force

Conflict
Elastica cover

Elastica

Elastica
Toy Love cover

Toy Love

Toy Love