Various Artists

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Amazon

Proving that the DIY aesthetic didn’t begin in the 1970s with punk, Nuggets convincing makes the case for 60s garage rock as the roots of punk. The original Nuggets album released in 1972 and reissued in 1976 was so influential that it has been credited with kicking off the punk revolution in the late 1970s. Whether or not that’s actually the case, it’s clear that the one-hit-wonder bands on Nuggets embraced a similar do-it-yourself spirit, three minute burst of energy and joyful noise as their 70s brethren.

Personified by hits like “Louie Louie” and inspired by the British Invasion and groups like the Rolling Stones and the Animals in particular, American garage rock blossomed from 1965 to 1968 before the monstrosity of prog rock gained an unfortunate toehold. But in that brief period, bands like the Knickerbockers ("Lies"), Nazz (an early Todd Rundgren band), The Beau Brummels, Paul Revere & The Raiders and literally hundreds of others kept the original rock ‘n’ roll spirit alive. 

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