playlist: the 52 best punk songs of january 2026

It was a deeply rough start to 2026, and people need help everywhere. Gaza’s infrastructure has largely collapsed and Minneapolis is occupied by the secret police. It’s been a month of anger and depression, so I’ve been making myself busy in a fruitless attempt to outrun it all. Countless people have talked about the inspiring nature of Minneapolis’ resistance and protest, and it’s important to remember that the end isn’t in sight. Anything you can do to donate or help is crucial.

It’s not a surprise that punks have been at the forefront of community organization. Music scenes require communication and wrangling skills. When someone falls over in that city, the community rises to meet them. When anybody says “it’s punk time,” they’re not just talking about protest songs (though there’s so many of those, including two on the below playlist titled “Fuck ICE”). They’re talking about organizing. I’m doing some organizing of my own—I’ll say more soon—because the punks are showing the way.

I’ve got plenty of stuff to plug, including that 2025 best punk of the year zine and the forthcoming see/saw year 2 party. Soon I’ll share flyers for more additional shows in Eau Claire and Minneapolis. The Punk This Week podcast just joined Ruinous Media and we shared the new Marked Men-featuring episode of the subscribers-only see/saw jukebox podcast.

Subscribe to see/saw for $4/month or $40/year to get bonus podcasts, weekly columns, and the radio archive. This is very much a passion project without a financial net outside reader support, so anything you can throw this way helps a ton.

But before you spend any money on my thing, please donate to some Minneapolis mutual aid funds amid the occupation.

the 52 best punk songs of january 2026 [embedded in browser]

Flower Power: Dream Warrior
En Kernaghan Band: Don’t Be Scared
Doe St: Same Day
Station Model Violence: Heat (Single Version)
Slut Intent: Bonkers Even
Teini-Pää: Haluisin kirjoittaa
Disket: Running
Itchy & the Nits: Secrets
D.B.R.: Smirched
DRAÜMAR: Atomvinter I
DRAÜMAR: Atomvinter II
Dry Socket: Rigged Survival
Institute: The Shooter
Smetti Subito: Lock Screen
The Arrivals: Just Like My Brother
Game Set Match: Want to Lose
Yuasa-Exide: My Psychic (Electric Version)
CP Westman Orkester: Adult Rock
Piko: Piko
Power Pants: FUCK ICE
Joe Glass: New Pose
Bungee Jumpers: The Beach
Today’s Milk: Party Store
Tylenol: Anal Drugs
Season 2: Abundance of Power
Waylon Thornton: Mercy Device
Straight Arrows: Middleman
The Moids: Maitland Man
Twerp: Stinkbug
Landowner: Rival Males
Van Goth: Secondary Location
Anytime Cowboy: Don’t Torture Me
PLANT: clepto
mangled: doug is my jug
Dru the Drifter: Caffeine and Nicotine
Rifle: The Flag
Wristwatch: Spells
J.A.R.T.A. Attack: Girls to the Front
Ace of Spit: Weapons Down
Hot Face: Pink Liquor
Fog Lamp: Hallway of Mirrors
Powerplant: Bridge of Sacrifice
Ben and the Blackwell Babies: Ben and the Blackwell Babies
Commitment: Dog Pound
Tomcat: Evil Job
Fuckin’ Warheads: New Age Gestapo
Cockring: Come and See
Giallo: Teeth of Glass
GYLT: Choked Up
Life Expectancy: Sold
Angel Guts: FUCK ICE
Rejecter: No Future