The Menzingers Albums Ranked

The Menzingers seem to be one of the more polarizing bands in the punk/punk adjacent genre in recent years. But it’s hard to argue against their incredible catalog of music. Whether you prefer their earlier records packed with raw energy, or their more polished records later in their career, almost every Menzingers album is chock full of some amazing anthemic rock songs.  

Read on to see The Menzingers albums ranked from least to most great. This list is purely our opinion and we’re sure yours might differ. We’d love to hear how you rank their records in the comments! Ridicule and flame us if you must, but our stance on this list will not waiver!!

Note – we will not include the LP “From Exile” here since it’s just a reimagined version of “Hello Exile”.

7 – A Lesson In The Abuse of Information Technology

Rating: 7/10

As far as debut records go, this one is pretty great! I’m not usually a massive fan of any band’s first record. This one though reveals a lot of potential and is very refined as far as debut albums go. The production is solid and everyone in the band is already super competent on their respective instruments. 

A Lesson In The Abuse of Information Technology is definitely the most “punk” Menzingers record, so if that’s your thing, this might be a good place for you to jump in if you’re not already familiar with the band. The thing that puts this record on the bottom of the list for me is the songwriting when compared to their later releases. I can hear where they want to go, but they didn’t quite get there with this one.

Best Song – Coal City Blues

6 – Rented World

Rating – 7/10

I’m not quite sure what the band was going for with this one. To me, it’s a pretty massive step backwards from their previous two records. Sonically Rented World sounds great and is The Menzinger’s “slickest” record at this point in their discography although the production values will soon be surpassed by After The Party. 

While there are still several good songs here, I think this record just kind of meanders around without hitting any major high points. It’s still worth a listen and is better than lots of records by lots of other bands.

Best Song – In Remission

5 – Chamberlain Waits

Rating – 8/10

Our Menzingers album rankings continue with Chamberlain Waits. This album to me is where The Menzingers are starting to become THE Menzingers. This LP sounds great, it’s inspired, it’s full of hooks! While their songwriting is becoming more melodic, Chamberlain Waits is still very much rooted in punk rock. But you can begin to hear the band start to transcend being simply a punk rock band.

If you are a newer fan and have only heard the last few LPs, you need to go listen to this one right now!

Best Song – flip a coin between I Was Born and Time Tables

4 – Some Of It Was True

Rating – 8/10

Some Of It Was True is the latest release from The Menzingers. To be honest, I did not like the record at all after my first listen. It has since begun to grow on me. I feel like the band was in a pretty impossible position here having to follow up two absolutely perfect records (perfect according to me anyway). The production is still slick, but definitely feels a little more raw and live than their previous two releases. This is most definitely a “rock” record and at times even borders on alt-country, which is fine, but different. 

It’s possible that Some Of It Was True still needs more time to grow on me, but until then it will sit here in the #4 spot. You could argue that it should be #5 and have a very strong case on your hands.

Best Song – Nobody Stays

3 – On The Impossible Past

Rating – 9/10

On The Impossible Past is where The Menzigers really hit their stride as a band. The record opens with four songs that could compete with the first four songs of any punk/rock record ever made. This album picks up right where they left off with Chamberlain Waits. The vibe is very similar on both albums, but I think this one tops Chamberlain Waits at about every level. It sounds better, the hooks are better, and they retain the punk energy and inspiration that fueled their first two releases. 

This LP is a MUST listen for any music fan that likes melodic punk music, alternative rock, or even straight up pop-rock. It’s a classic and will likely be an influential album for young songwriters for decades to come. 

Best Song – Good Things

2 – After The Party

Rating – 10/10

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that The Menzigers are a polarizing band, and After The Party is where I feel the polarization began. This record marks an end to the life of The Menzingers as a punk band, R.I.P. but it is the birth of The Menzingers, the rock band. I’m sure for many of the band’s earliest fans this one came as quite a shock. While many of the songs are still driven by distorted electric guitars, the tempos have slowed and there are lots of layered cleaner guitar tones. The production stands up against any of the releases from massive bands like Green Day or Foo Fighters. This is a big, slick rock album! I’m sure for some, that is a major turn off, but for others (myself included), it’s awesome!

From start to finish, the songwriting on After The Party is incredible. The lyrics are well-crafted and still feel very inspired and authentic. The arrangements of the songs are just as well thought out as the writing itself. It’s also hard not to mention the vocal performances here – both Greg and Tom deliver incredibly solid and soulful performances on every single track. Starting from here and going forward, you can rank these guys among the best singers in the genre. 

If you are a fan of rock bands like The Replacements, The Lemonheads, or The Pixies, After the Party is a great modern option for you to explore. 

Best Song – Midwestern States 

1 – Hello Exile

Rating – 10/10

Hello Exile and After The Party are pretty much a coin toss to me, but one of them has to be #1. So here we are. If I were to compare The Menzingers discography to The Replacements, After The Party is their Please to Meet Me and Hello Exile is their Don’t Tell A Soul (my favorite Replacements record btw). 

You can pretty much copy and paste everything I wrote about After The Party and put it here, and add that there are some even slower songs here and the production might even be more polished. 

Best Song – Hello Exile

About The Menzingers

The Menzingers, a punk rock band hailing from Scranton, Pennsylvania, formed in 2006 and quickly gained recognition for their heartfelt lyrics and anthemic sound. Comprising vocalist/guitarists Greg Barnett and Tom May, bassist Eric Keen, and drummer Joe Godino, the band embarked on a journey that saw them evolve from their early days in the Northeastern punk scene to becoming influential figures in the broader punk community. With a discography that includes albums like “On the Impossible Past” and “After the Party,” The Menzingers have consistently delivered raw, introspective storytelling wrapped in energetic and melodic punk compositions. Their ability to capture the essence of growing up, navigating relationships, and facing life’s challenges has endeared them to a dedicated fanbase, solidifying their place as one of contemporary punk rock’s compelling and authentic acts.

Thanks For Reading

We hope you’ve enjoyed our ranking of The Menzingers albums from worst to best. If you disagree with this list, please let us know in the comments. Are there other bands you would like us to cover? We’d love to hear which ones! 
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