Dillinger Four’s album “Versus God” is an album everyone should own.

It came out on Hopeless Records in 2000 and has been changing people’s minds about pop-punk ever since. In the time between this album and Dillinger Four’s 1998 phenomenal “Midwestern Songs of the Americas,” Dillinger Four realized it was the best punk band on Earth, and this album shows it. “Suckers Intl. Has Gone Public” is possibly the best punk song written that isn’t an 18-minute NOFX song. “Who Didn’t Kill Bambi?” is a classic opener, and if you’re able to listen to “Let Them Eat Thomas Paine” without doing one fist pump, you might be a robot.

I was 15 when I bought the album. I’ve had to purchase it again, and I also own it on vinyl (if the mail order ever gets here). I encourage the fringe punk listeners to listen to this album. It will change your mind about what pop-punk has the potential to become.