Top 10 Punk Rock Gift Ideas 2007

If, like me, you are a vinyl junkie, you have a ton pf punk records that you listen to at home, but you'd also like the ability to slap them on an MP3 player without having to buy them on CD as well (or, as is the case with a lot of punk, you probably also have a lot of records that never saw digital release). USB turntables allow you to rip your records to MP3 pretty easily.

Personally, I own an ITTUSB and it speaks to both the audiophile and the gadget junkie in me. It's easy to use, and it’s a lot of fun as well. I’ve spent a lot of time plugged into mine, not just ripping my records to MP3 but also using the included Audacity software to clean up to sound, removing some of the crackles and hisses from older records.

If you know any punks with kids who have suffered their way through countless replays of horrid kids' music, this is a great gift idea. Jam Toast is what happens when a hardcore musician wanted to create a punk rock record that was kid-safe, so that he could share his love of punk with his kids. Jam Toast's songs are fun, and the subjects and lyrics are goofy and kid-friendly, ranging from learning the ABC's to songs about sandboxes and roller-skating wiener dogs. His two sons even share vocal duties.

It's probably not something that you'll be playing without the little ones around, but it is definitely something that punk rock parents can play when they're hanging out with their kids, without getting Wiggles-induced headaches.

This is a great record that goes to a great cause. With 19 tracks in all, a wide range of punk bands cover George Tabb's music (from Furious George, Iron Prostate, Letch Patrol and Roach Motel) and also offer up some original music. All proceeds from the record go to help legendary punk George Tabb pay his medical bills for a wide variety of conditions, all a direct result of his exposure to toxins in New York after 9-11.

Even though the legendary New York Club shut its doors last year, and its legendary owner passed away this year, you can still capture the feeling of catching a show there with an album recorded live at the club by one the many bands who've made their way to it's tiny stage.

A number of bands have released live albums from CBGB shows, including Bad Brains, The Dead Boyz, The Vibrators and Agnostic Front. There are even various artist compilations. Pick up one of these and it's like being there, only you get to use a clean bathroom (and if yours isn't, well, that's your fault).

If you saw their booth at this year's Warped Tour, you're already familiar with Skullcandy. They make DJ-quality headphones in a wide variety of hardcore designs that are decidedly punk rock.

My personal pick is the MFM Pro, which in addition to being headphones ports a built-in MP3 player. But if you don't want to spend as much, and are going strictly for a nice pair of headphones so you can give the perfect gift to a punk fan without listening along to their music, go with the GI, which features a camo pattern and bullet accents.

Your first punk show is a life-changing experience, and this book has done a great job compiling a ton of stories explaining why.

For My First Time, AK Press has assembled 40-some stories of writers, musicians and assorted scenesters from all over to write about their first punk show stories. The assembled writer list is pretty impressive; it includes pro skater Scott Bourne, Blag Dahlia of the Dwarves and Chumbawamba’s Boff Wheley.

It's a great gift for everyone who remembers their first punk show, and they'll be able to relate to everyone's realization of the world being opened up.

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Before punk rock had a name, there was the MC5, and the MC5 never would have happened without John Sinclair. In addition to being the band's one-time manager, Sinclair was the leader of the White Panther Party, a legendary Detroit poet and the unfortunate victim of the government's crackdown on hippies and political activists.

A compilation of vintage footage and contemporary interviews, including the MC5’s Wayne Kramer, and also a large amount of commentary from Sinclair himself, 20 to Life is a great documentary for anyone wanting to know about this charismatic figure as well as the political environment that lead to the birth of American punk rock.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past few years, you're already aware of how awesome the Guitar Hero line of games is, and they just keep getting better.

Guitar Hero III is here, with a nice selection of punk tunes, including the Dead Kennedys ("Holiday in Cambodia"), Social Distortion ("Story Of My Life"), Gallows ("In the Belly of a Shark") and even a newly recorded version of the Sex Pistols "Anarchy in the UK".

Even if you haven't played the previous two, this one has the best list of songs yet, and it's definitely going to top everyone's wish list this year.

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Regular readers of this site will know my affinity for former Husker Du frontman Bob Mould's live performances. He is simply one of the best songwriters in punk rock, and one of its most charismatic singers.

The first fully authorized live concert release by Bob Mould, Circle Of Friends was filmed live at the legendary 9:30 Club in Washington, DC in 2005, and features Mould playing music that spans his career, including songs from Husker Du, Sugar and his solo work. The chemistry on stage is great too, seeing Mould joined onstage by Brendan Canty (Fugazi), Richard Morel (Morel), and Jason Narducy (Rockets Over Sweden). Even if you know nothing about Mould prior watching this film, you'll walk away a fan.

For over 15 years, Profane Existence has been a collective focused on releasing music and building a stronger and more politically active punk rock movement. They've been successful at both.

Their Vinyl Retentive Series will appeal to fans of the type of music PE releases (brutal hardcore and crust punk) who are also record collectors. Each month, the label puts out a limited-edition record, and their first three releases (Warcollapse, Mouth Sewn Shut and Extinction of Mankind) have all been great.

If you want in for you or for someone on your gift list, you'll have to move fast. In order to truly make this a collector's club, only 150 memberships are available. Last I heard, the slots were about half gone, and when it's full, that's it.