How to Make a Punk Playlist

Whether you're manning the decks for a DJ night, or sharing obscure sounds that your friends haven't yet experienced, compiling the fiercest punk rock music is definitely an art. The public may have trouble telling one Sex Pistol from another, but in reality, a staggering variety of styles exists under the punk umbrella. To ensure a successful playlist, you'll need to understand the differences as you develop a feel for the genre.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Compact disc burner
• Punk music blogs
• Punk music websites
• Punk music reference guides
• Various artists compilations (vinyl and CD)

SETTLE ON A DIRECTION

1. First, make up your mind -- are you sticking with American bands or looking to Great Britain, Europe and beyond? If you're familiar with punk rock's recorded history, gleaning the finest blasts from the 1976-77 British (Clash, Damned, Sex Pistols) or American scenes (The Dead Boys, Ramones, Television) may be the safest course. That said, a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar bands goes down well, too; it's your creativity that makes the difference.

2. If you're clueless or unsure about what might appeal, consult reference books -- such as the All Music or Rough Guide series, and their related websites -- and study their critical picks. Armed with this basic knowledge, you can hit fan blogs and websites to further evaluate what music works, or doesn't, for your playlist.

3. Set some boundaries for what your playlist will accomplish. Are you only interested in a cross-section of better-known names, or in introducing obscure bands that listeners might not otherwise hear? If you're inclined, you can further break down your list by region, subgenre or time period. The possibilities are endless, and limited only by your imagination.

CHERRYPICK THE BEST TRACKS

4. Write down a cross-section of the bands whose music might move yourself or your potential listener. Don't expect to cover it all; most radio shows average one to three hours, and compact discs max out at 80 minutes, so you'll want to keep the proceedings moving.

5. Track down the songs you want, after settling the final list -- either by downloading them from approved websites or browsing used record and CD store bins for various artists' compilations that have many of the selections you seek. This is less daunting than it sounds, since many classic punk tracks -- like the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy In The UK," for instance --have been licensed numerous times.

6. Mind the pacing between tracks; the safest route is to start with a couple of fast songs, followed by a mid-tempo or slower selection, then pick up the pace again. Test your choices on a CD player before burning them on a disc for good - -that way, you'll weed out more filler. Nothing's worse than a playlist that drags.

7. Burn your final choices onto a blank CD and be ready for whatever feedback you get. Take listeners' suggestions into account if you're doing a weekly radio show -- after all, it's their ears that matter, and even the most anti-establishment personality seeks to please her audience somewhat!

Tips & Warnings

• In your search for the ultimate playlist, enlist a friend who is committed to punk music. If you don't know such a person, seek one out at local clubs, coffeehouses, record stores or similar hot spots.
• Visiting fan-driven, mass marketed websites like amazon.com-- where people post their own lists and recommendations -- is another good source of information.
• Be mindful of mixtures among subgenres -- fans weaned on a steady diet of classic '80s hardcore might find classic first-generation sounds intolerably slow, while listeners who prize lyrical content above virtuosity might show little tolerance for the mile-a-minute-riffery that characterizes metalcore, for instance. Use judgment and common sense.

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