playlist: the best punk songs of november 2024

It’s winter in Wisconsin. Snow’s covering the ground outside and my two-year-old is wondering why he has to wear a shirt. I’m trying to take more walks for my mental health. I’m trying not to post too much about how I’m feeling on Bluesky. It’s probably worth getting into some of it here, though. For better or worse, these monthly playlists serve as check-ins + personal reflection points.

The year started really bad—the kind of shitty that still feels unshakeable sometimes. My way of coping, I think, has been to try and outrun it. Go to a ton of shows, do some interviews, co-host and edit a podcast every week, start a radio show, write a ton, make zines, and so on. I’m extremely proud of the work. I think it’s representative of who I am creatively. It’s very “fuck it, I can do whatever I want,” which is liberating in its way. People seem to like the work, so that’s definitely good.

But when I think about the year to come, it just feels like a chaotic and unknowable mess. I’m approaching the anniversary of the layoff, so it’s a time of year that feels inherently fraught. I’m trying to focus on the day to day and week to week. Who knows what’s coming, but see/saw will be there. Punk records will be there. I’ll be here writing about them, slowly trying to find more and more people who enjoy this thing that I do.

There’s a year end zine coming and a one-year anniversary show. I hope people like those things. I wrote a little Thanksgiving thank you note to everyone who subscribes. To reiterate: Your support this year really has meant the world.

Here are some songs from the past month that I’ve loved. If you like this, please subscribe! I’ve written about most of these songs across the last month in my weekly column. The embedded playlist is in the browser, otherwise the link is below.

the best punk songs of november 2024

Sonia: Sonia
Visual Learner: Runaround
(+39) 375-649-94-64 My Telephone Number: C’est Magique
Cimitero: Seppelliscimi in Piedi
Straw Man Army: Extinction Burst
Miracle Debt: Attitude Problem
Lavender Jets: Finding Peace (For Now)
Qlowski: Desire
No Drama: Papershop
Henrik Appel: Shadows
The Circulators: On the Loose
Psychbike: The Rite
Licklash: Slip
Polyglots: A Cleansing Cure
Mugger: Crank It Up
Woolen Men: Change Life
Z.O.R.G.: Lazer Curtain
Waylon Thornton: Madhouse Father
Head Wound: Air Koryo (Allow Me to Speak)
Low Lying: Tethered
Dream World: Vertigo
Perfil Bajo: Tu interior
Witch Piss: Brighton Front
Piss Wizard: Mothman
HONG!: Tamak
Blenko: Unlucky Bag
Marble Fields: 24 Hour Dreaming
Poo Poo Talks: Party Poopers
Monda: Ponderous Leviathan
Body World: Eyes of the State
Impotentie: Nat Vuile Land
Lexan: Fun House
GEM: Got It Right the First Time
Bobo: Feedback
VVM: Crucial Burger
Las Tetas: The French Song
Buckaroo: No Absolution
Benzin: Die Idioten
Larry and Thee Jerrys: Kicked in the Head (By Joe Davola)
Government Sex: Life in the Death Lane
Viscus: Numerical Emanation
Kidder: 2nd Portion
Fast Johnny and the Slow Burners: Dog Eat Dog
Dog Bus: Motion Ghost
The Unfit: Gatekeepers
Data Unknown: European Locals
Ack Attack: Ack of the Shoe
Human Paste: Alt-Right Said Fred
Snuki: Diehard Townie
Gun Leash: Carbine
Bart and the Brats: What’s In It For Us?
Variety: The Light
Thank: Woke Frasier
Johnny and the Rotten: Beat All Them Gobs
SCRÜE: Tragedi
Grocery Bag: No One
Thirdface: Meander
Brower: Hard Road
Sex Mex: I Love Everyone
IGNORANCE: Dull Mind
Night Court: Miranda July
PAPRIKA: Catatonic Pisser
Second Death: Inanity
D.U.I.: Shut Up