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5 Records That Embody Riot Grrrl’s Radical Punk Rock

From Bikini Kill to Bratmobile, these five records capture the radical politics and explosive punk sounds of riot grrrl.

Heavens To Betsy cassette

Riot grrrl originated in the punk scenes of Olympia, WA and Washington, DC in the early 1990s as an explicitly feminist rebuke to the sexism and macho attitudes still prevalent within what were supposed to be punk’s progressive and countercultural spaces. Composed of a network of bands, labels, and zines, riot grrrl brought third-wave feminist politics to punk and hardcore and created new paths and communities for female musicians, artists, and organizers.

While pointedly averse to mainstream media’s attempts at the time to document, categorize, and ultimately capitalize on the movement, riot grrrl nevertheless left behind a wealth of their own DIY documents, from zines to films and recorded music. The legacy of riot grrrl has gone on to inspire generations of bands, from Sleater-Kinney to the Linda Lindas and Arkansas-to-Olympia transplants the Gossip, whose 2024 album Real Power marks their first release in 12 years.

Discogs takes a look at 5 crucial records that capture the radical politics, ferocious punk sounds, and inspiring example of riot grrrl.

Bikini Kill

Revolution Girl Style Now (1991)


Heavens To Betsy

Heavens To Betsy (1992)


Bratmobile

Pottymouth (1993)


Huggy Bear

Taking The Rough With The Smooch (1993)


Slant 6

Soda Pop * Rip Off (1994)

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