Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death

Their final release, a post-breakup compilation, Give Me Convenience... documents the wild career of one of the most important punk bands of all time. Where many of their peers relished in sloppy playing and shock value schtick, the Dead Kennedys brought two major distinctions to the table; stellar musicianship and whip-smart political lyricism. Hailing from the Bay Area, the core group of inimitable frontman Jello Biafra, guitar virtuoso East Bay Ray, and bassist Klaus Flouride (accompanied by several drummers and an occasional keyboardist) churned out a wealth of slyly intellectual and gleefully subversive material over the course of less than a decade, with many songs remaining popular — and surprisingly relevant — over 20 years later. Infusing their songs with unexpected stylistic flourishes like surf music and Flamenco breakdowns, and employing incendiary imagery to great effect, they were undoubtedly the smartest punks in the room. This includes classics, hard to find B-sides and unreleased gems. It's all great stuff, but if you're new to DK, check out "Holiday In Cambodia," "Police Truck," and "California Uber Alles."