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Post by Horacewimp on May 10, 2015 9:05:00 GMT
This week I bring you one of the punk bands that apparently led to the downfall of ELO and other rock bands of this era, personally I don’t see it. My album of the week is Rocket to Russia by The Ramones. I saw The Ramones twice during the late 70s early 80s live, in fact they were one of the first live bands I saw, what a spectacle they were and I lost count of how many songs they played. Rocket to Russia is their third studio album and was released in 1977, it contains many of their familiar songs “Sheena is a Punk Rocker”, “Rockaway Beach” and “Surfin’ Bird” and many more. I have always had Ramones T Shirts in my collection however in the UK these days it seems a fashion statement to wear a Ramones top, how many of the kids wearing them could actually name a tune, not many I expect. They are always on sale at cheaper stores like Primark and Matalan, even my daughter number two has a Ramones top, they must have a good marketing team. Most songs are very short so "Hey Ho Lets Go 1-2-3-4", track listing is: 1 Cretin Hop 2 Rockaway Beach 3 Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 4 Locket Love 5 I Don’t Care 6 Shenna is a Punk Rocker 7 We’re a Happy Family 8 Teenage Lobotomy 9 Do You Wanna Dance 10 I Wanna Be Well 11I Can’t Give You Anything 12 Ramona 13 Surfin’ Bird 14 Why Is It Always This Way Playlist (For some reason doesn’t contain “We’re a Happy Family”) www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdHL2tfhDRp3krgv2kuxZm4Wob_dOrAE0Individual Tracks
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Post by jrmugz on May 10, 2015 12:25:16 GMT
Very cool, HW, I never played The Ramones before, I did hear "Rockaway Beach" on a Scooby Doo cartoon once. And I've heard "Rock and Roll High School", which I don't see on on this one.
Can't wait to check it out, look for my review later this week!
Jim
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Post by Helmut83 on May 10, 2015 17:20:48 GMT
Wow, Horace, you surprise me! I never thought you would like the Ramones. I'm looking forward to hearing this one.
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Post by Chippa on May 10, 2015 17:44:20 GMT
I swear I'm wearing my Ramones shirt as I type this. Gotta love some 3 chord punk, and the Ramones did it better than anyone.
Review coming soon!
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Post by Helmut83 on May 10, 2015 18:55:20 GMT
I have always had Ramones T Shirts in my collection however in the UK these days it seems a fashion statement to wear a Ramones top, how many of the kids wearing them could actually name a tune, not many I expect. They are always on sale at cheaper stores like Primark and Matalan, even my daughter number two has a Ramones top, they must have a good marketing team. Well said, Horace, I agree with you completely. Unfortunately the massiveness of bands is 80% due to that, marketing, and only the other 20% to music, and for some reason some pretty poor bands got to be huge merchandising sellers (like The Doors for example).
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Post by Horacewimp on May 10, 2015 19:19:27 GMT
I have always had Ramones T Shirts in my collection however in the UK these days it seems a fashion statement to wear a Ramones top, how many of the kids wearing them could actually name a tune, not many I expect. They are always on sale at cheaper stores like Primark and Matalan, even my daughter number two has a Ramones top, they must have a good marketing team. Well said, Horace, I agree with you completely. Unfortunately the massiveness of bands is 80% due to that, marketing, and only the other 20% to music, and for some reason some pretty poor bands got to be huge merchandising sellers (like The Doors for example). That's very true Helmut83 in the cheap clothing shops in the UK you can always find Rolling Stones, Ramones, The Who etc etc T Shirts, if ELOs management licensed the spaceship logo I'm sure these would also sell and would get the name out there and increase sales of the music.
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Post by unomusette on May 10, 2015 20:58:23 GMT
Inspired choice, Horacewimp ! Love the Ramones, and I'm right there with you on the atrocity that is the making of a fashion item of "vintage" shirts from bands such as this. Looking forward to getting my review in
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Post by Chippa on May 11, 2015 5:10:46 GMT
Cretin Hop - Immediately catchy and infectious. Pop/punk ear candy.
Rockaway Beach- A classic! The Ramones really did pick up where 50's rock pioneers left off, in my opinion.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - Almost an Elvis Costello vibe. Some nice rhythm guitar sounds, here. Very strummy. Locket Love- Great sing-along song.
I Don’t Care - Early 70's style classic rock , with some decidedly British sounding vocals. Simple, but effective.
Sheena is a Punk Rocker - Great Beach Boys-style rocker. Irresistible!
We’re a Happy Family - Clever lyrics. Always loved this one.
Teenage Lobotomy - A real fist pumping, chant along song. Great stuff.
Do You Wanna Dance - Very cool remake of the classic 50's song.
I Wanna Be Well - The Velvet Underground most likely inspired this one. Love the organ in the background.
I Can’t Give You Anything- Good melody. A little different from the usual Ramones song.
Ramona - One of my favorites. The prototype for a million punk songs that came after it.
Surfin’ Bird - Fun cover of the Trashmen song. Really, I love most of the songs the Ramones have covered.
Why Is It Always This Way - Nothing different, but hey..who cares? It's The Ramones! You know what you're getting with them.
Overall, I give it a solid 9/10. If you like deep songs, then the Ramones aren't for you. But if you like fun, catchy, 3 chord rock that you can listen to without having to think too hard, then give it a go.
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Post by Horacewimp on May 11, 2015 7:30:02 GMT
Great review, thanks Chippa. It's funny you mention the Beach Boys, I've always been reminded of the Beach Boys when listening to the Ramones.
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Post by 88keys on May 12, 2015 15:49:10 GMT
As much as people associate The Ramones with punk, they really were huge fans of melody (The Beatles, Beach Boys..etc.)
It's hard to review the individual songs on this album, because they all kind of blend together. I'm not saying that as a put down; in fact, I kind of love that they didn't give a damn and just went balls out with the same formula- short,aggressive songs with three(maybe four, if they were feeling fancy) chords.
This album rocks, though. I can't find a negative thing to say about it.
I'm just really surprised that The Ramones never scored a top 40 hit in the US! For shame, 'Merica.....
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Post by queenofthehours on May 13, 2015 13:56:44 GMT
I'm a bit behind with my reviews but can't wait to hear some Ramones; it's been a long time.
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Post by jrmugz on May 14, 2015 18:26:29 GMT
OK HW, here's my review of The Ramones "Rocket to Russia" CD.
01. "Cretin Hop" - Mediocre. Somewhere between good and bad. Can't believe what an average time I have playing it. 02. "Rockaway Beach" - This song is the album's saving grace, for this cat. Has the most interesting chord progression of the bunch, for me. 03. "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" - If this is supposed to be a great vocal performance, these guys are in trouble. Thank God for a break from the formula, at least. 04. "Locket Love" - It's pretty good. I like how they keep it basic and don't try to be fancy. 05. "I Don’t Care" - Interestnig lyric. Not exactly Gladys Knight's Pip-like BGVs. 06. "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" - I just don't trust these guys, seems like totally trying to sound and be a certain way to make a buck. Too contrived. Reminds me of "OK, we're trying to make a buck, let's make a real quick simple song like this, everyone will eat it up, and they'll say we're a little bit punk, etc." 07. " We’re a Happy Family" - When you make a song, have a point, it makes it so much more enjoyable for the listener. 08. "Teenage Lobotomy" - Sounds like trying to imitate Mick Jagger. Did I not hear this same rhythm on all the other songs so far? 09. "Do You Wanna Dance" - Great cover song that didn't need a punk rock take; but at least more melodic than the other stuff. 10. "I Wanna Be Well" - Basic rock song expression of a universal sentiment. Pretty decent tune. 11. "I Can’t Give You Anything" - Really sounds like they're trying to be manipualitive by appealing to the side of us that wants to feel like we're losers. 12. "Ramona" - Way too shallow and self-centered for my tastes. 13. "Surfin’ Bird" - A mediocre-at-best tribute to the fifties; but will give them some credit for the sheer audacity of the vocal break. 14. "Why Is It Always This Way" - Like the chorus, pretty good.
Star Rating: 3 out of 5 Prime Cuts: "Why Is It Always This Way", "Rockaway Beach", "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" Bottom Line: Decent songs that suffer from a dull rock feel; should be more happy, not have the dull edge of punk chords and trying to sound punky. A case of a band being the victim of its own gimmick, IMHO. A good band with songs that are too contrived, IMHO.
I'm sure they've put out a numberof albums over the years, that I haven't heard, just like I never heard this one before. And I have no doubt they probably have some pretty good, maybe even great stuff. For these ears, I hear their potential on this album, but I'm betting they have some other stuff out that shows the in their full glory a little better. If anyone has a suggestion of a CD of theirs I might like better, I'm willing to give it a try.
All fussiness aside though, I can't honestly say I was bored by the songs, I did enjoy them for the most part, and I was very glad to have my curiousity satisfied by hearing what these cats are all about. So thanks, HW. Bottom line for all my fussiness is that it was a cool pick, and I did enjoy it, and gotta admit some of the melodies are starting to hook in my mind right now.
Jim
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Post by Chippa on May 14, 2015 18:45:57 GMT
Jim, I think you're missing the point of The Ramones. But hey, at least you're honest.
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Post by Horacewimp on May 14, 2015 18:48:30 GMT
Thanks Jim for the review, I'm glad you liked some of the tracks and maybe if you give them another play the Ramones will get you hooked. Most of their well know songs are on this album, but if you want to listen to some of their other popular songs then try the album End of the Century which was produced by Phil Spector and has on It Baby I Love You and Rock and Roll Radio, alternatively CD 1 of the Ramones anthology has just about every song you would need on it.
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Post by jrmugz on May 14, 2015 20:09:43 GMT
I'm not denying that I'll probably be in a restaurant sometime and hear one of the songs and say "Wow, I guess I really like that song after all." Because I know my history of not being particularly impressed with something at first and then it grows on me. Was just giving my first impressions. Like I say, I wasn't bored, which is half the battle, and I did give it three out of five, not two out of five stars, so hey. I should have mentioned, I appreciate the brevity of the songs too; John Fogerty would be proud! Jim
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