We recently caught up with Break Anchor drummer Dan Stover to get his take on the songs that got him in to punk rock. Check out his list here.
1. Less Than Jake – “Automatic”
“This was the first song I heard by Less Than Jake and the first album of theirs I owned. It hooked me immedietly and they became my favorite band with every other album I listened to. This song inparticular totally captures the sound and feel of this band. Fun, catchy and aggressive. The whole Losing Streak album got me addicted forever and despite the million times I’ve listened to it, it still is a regular in my rotation. I do love all the following and previous albums, but nothing compares to when you hear the first song and remember it changing your whole paradigm of music.”
2. Green Day – “Basket Case”
“Probably the first punk song I heard at the tender age of 6 or 7 years old, but it didn’t really impact me until a little later in my life. My older brother had this album when it first came out and Basket Case was just a powerful single that said so much about the band all at once. Green Day was undeniably one of the most influential bands of the early 90’s and still today. But, it all started here. Tre Cool is still one of my favorite drummers because of this song and this album. A fast punk-rock diddy with sweet F*cking drum fills, Bass riffs and harmonious vocals would be all it takes to capture anyone.”
3. Operation Ivy – “Here We Go Again”
“What else can be said? Op.Ivy is just one of those bands that seem to be mandatory in the punk (or ska-punk, I guess) library. I’m no different in that respect. I was 14 years old when I first heard ‘Here we go again’ and it just stuck. I had to hear the rest of the album. I did and was not dissapointed. Op.Ivy really opened the door for me, as it did for so many others.”
4. Bouncing Souls – “Gone”
“This was my first Bouncing Souls album that my good friend introduced me to. Drummer Michael McDerrmott … Holy shit. This whole album is break neck speed on drums pretty much the whole time. Break beats. Lightning fast fills. Cheering choruses. This album has it all. But, the cherry on top is the final song on the album, Gone. All of the speedy excitement of the album leads up to this chilled out and mellow ballad. Im do have an affinity for my music to be nice and fast and despite Gone being a slower song (next to streetlight serenade), it is still so powerful.”
5. Flogging Molly – “Drunken Lullabies’
“Those who know me know that I come from a proud Irish family. I am a proud Irishman myself, Tattoos denoting that, etc … FM is the perfect mix of folk storytelling and punk mentality. Their songs range from slow, depressing ballads (How typical of irishmen) to drink-til-you-fall-down jigs (Once again, how typical). it also doesn’t hurt that their violinist is from Detroit (SCORE!). I believe this album was the first that I heard of theirs, and while it is difficult to pick just 1 Flogging Molly song, Drunken Lullabies just makes you want to get up and dance and throw a few shots down. So many of their songs are just irrisistably good. Some favor Dropkick Murpeys and it’s not that I don’t like them, but FM just hits me a little deeper.”
“I feel as though no explanation is required.”
9. No Doubt – “Different People”
“Say what you will, No Doubt rocks fucking hard. Adrian Young is one of the first drummers I ever noticed. Just his attitude and absolute expertise on drums blows me away. Tragic Kingdom is an amazing record. I really feel that enough can’t be said for how well they’ve done and how they keep inspiring so many people.”