100 Greatest Songs of the 00’s #56 The Distillers – Sing Sing Death House

Released: 2002

Where to go for punk in the decade without a name? Whereas it’s old sparring partner metal had been creatively revitalised – largely by absorbing elements of punk – for the descendants of ’77 it was hard to escape feelings of sterility. Sure, there were ever reliable bands like Bad Religion, NOFX and Rancid all still plugging away, but that’s they were – reliable, and around forever. It seemed a movement that once fomented anarchy was now happy to maintain a rigid status quo.

Australian born Brody Dalle met Rancid’s Tim Armstrong in 1995 shortly after they released the ..And Out Come The Wolves; after moving to Los Angeles, three years later she formed The Distillers, a band who musically at least had their roots in Riot Grrrl outfits like Babes in Toyland and Bikini Kill.

Gravel voiced and ferocious by nature, Dalle made sure The Distillers were around to fill in any perceived vacuum at punk’s summit, a succession plan mostly of her own design. The band’s second album Sing Sing Death House covered drugs, self image and even a love song for Armstrong, but it’s ferocious title track slammed between the eyes at hardcore velocity. “Ain’t nothing pure in here” she rasped, at once codifying punk rock’s mantra and reason for being. All it had needed it seemed was a little fresh new blood.