 | Tracklist:
Cretin Hop Rockaway Beach
Here Today Gone Tomorrow Locket Love
I Don't Care
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
We're A Happy Family
Teenage Lobotomy
Do You Wanna Dance
I Wanna Be Well
I Can't Give You Anything
Ramona
Surfin' Bird
| Ranking: #9 for 1977 | |
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On 20 Lists
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5 of 5 thought this review was well written
By 1977, the punk scene had exploded. It began on the lower east bowery in New York City, in clubs like CBGBs, and spread across to the United Kingdom, where bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash were starting to make a racket. After Johnny Ramone had heard the single release of "God Save the Queen," he was ready to record the next album, and prove to the people that were "ripping them off" who the real punks were. Rocket to Russia was mainly written on the road throughout late 1977, and released the same year as their second album, Leave Home. Rocket to Russia is the Ramones' best album. Every one of the songs on here is perfect, and none of them fail to impress me. The Ramones were the true masters of simplicity.
Rocket to Russia possesses a very clean, well-produced sound. This is very evident from the beggining, and is an obvious progression from Ramones to Leave Home, which had better production values, and then to this. Joey's voice is at his most melodic and queer, hiccuping the lyrics with an odd, British sounding voice. On the Trashmen cover "Surfin' Bird," he even does some odd noises, and perfects the very 50s and 60s "pa pa mow mow" lyric. Johnny's guitar sound is still ferocious, with constant down-stroking, but it sounds much cleaner and smoother than before, which adds to the perfect pop sensibilities of the songs. Dee Dee's bass playing is fluid and always plays the root note to what Johnny is playing, another example of the sheer simplicity of their playing. Tommy's drumming is the trademark *doo chh*, with swirling cymbals that almost sound like a whole 'nother effect.
The album kicks off with the joyfully stupif "Cretin Hop". There is a brief guitar intro, with the band coming in full swing eventually. Joey's singing is absolutely wonderful, with such joyful lyrics like "There's no stoppin' the cretins from hoppin', yeah". "Rockaway Beach" is quite possibly one of the greatest Ramones songs, about the rather filthy beach where junkies hung out, and they seem to make it sound like the greatest place in the world, which is the whole brilliance of the surf-punk song, as is "Sheena is a Punk Rocker," which is another great, surf-rock song, and is very siliar to "Rockaway Beach". "Here Today, Gone Tommorow" is a slow love ballad, with, *gasp*, a solo. Dont' worry, though, because it's very brief and short. "We're a Happy Family" is about a dysfunctional family, which every member, except Tommy, grew up in. The song is one of the funniest Ramones songs, with lyrics like "Sittin' her in Queens / eating refried beans / we're in all the magazines / gulpin' down Thorazines". "Do You Wanna Dance" is the other cover, alongside the campy surf-punk "Surfin' Bird," and is a Beach Boys cover, further representing their obsession with 60s surf music, which people tend to forge. To me, the Ramones are the Beach Boys on steroids. At least, they were at this point. "Teenage Lobotomy" is another Ramones classic, with an instantly recognizable drum intro, and the chanting of "Lobotomy!". The lyrics are absolutely distasteful, as anyone would espect from a song called "Teenage Lobotomy". Rocket to Russia is quite possibly the quintessential punk album. It represents everything that the Ramones had to offer; dumb lyrics, catchy melodies, the constant barrage of guitars, everything. Everyone should own this album.
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Yet another great review from you, good sir. It's short and the to the point without being too short. You get my kudos and a thumbs up.
:thumb:This Message Edited On 07.16.05
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This album is the real deal.
| | | Album Rating: 2
Man I truly hate The Ramones. They are weak and bubblegum. I think this thread explains it all.
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155921&page=1
I was bored one day and wanted to piss of Hey Mr. Light Man whose user name used to be ramonesrule. Hahah, I like rereading these old threads. So young back then.
Digging: Brother/Ghost - Black Ice | | |
Have you ever heard them live?
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the ramones rule
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The Ramones are one of the greatest like Punk bands of all time..
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RAMONES
thats all i have to say
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The Punk Movement Started in the United Kingdom with bands like the buzzcoks , the clash etc etc..The yanks just wanna claim every as there own..which it isnt! now im not english...but i just know.
Good review though.
Hey why did you call it rocket to russia?..
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The Clash formed in 1976, a full two years after the Ramones. As for the Buzzcocks, I believe they were formed in '75 or '76, also. Singles Going Steady is a great album.
Hey why did you call it rocket to russia?..
What are you talking about?This Message Edited On 07.20.05
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Ramones rule end of. I have the Clash - London calling and it's a steaming pile of crap!
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hahaha. You, sir, have problems :thumb:
| | | Album Rating: 5
Seriously, The Ramones played their first show before Joe Strummer ever thought of leaving the 101ers.
Great album. My 3rd favorite by these guys!  This Message Edited On 08.18.05
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doesnt mean the clash doesnt own the ramones!
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[quote=danje]Ramones rule end of. I have the Clash - London calling and it's a steaming pile of crap![/quote]
You do have minor problems. I wouldnt say steaming, maybe simmering.
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The Ramones are better than the Clash, in my opinion.
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Clash>Ramones
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i would say the clash are better musicians but as a band the ramones were so much better. also the clash didnt really have what it takes to stay together cuz they broke up in 83(i think). the ramones toured for 20 plus years
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Ramones would be alot better if the sound quality was up a notch and the singer was better
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I must buy it then :eek:
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Vocals suck, guitars are so boring that I can't stand them. why do people like the ramones so much?
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