The Damned

Aside from the Ramones, the greatest punk bands developed and (gulp) evolved very quickly. And the Damned remain one of the best. The Black Album sees the group entering the 1980s at full power, matching punk energy and a true love of late '60s psychedelia and garage rock with gothic horror narratives and surreal British humor. Every household needs "Wait for the Blackout," "Silly Kids Games," "12th Floor Vendetta" and "Sick of This and That." The Damned were like a Bizarro Universe version of the Clash -- they fought the power with silliness instead of seriousness.