REVIEW: Ramones, Hey Ho Let's Go! Anthology (Rhino)
- Bob Gajarsky
Long before Green Day was even a thought in their parents' minds, the Ramones were writing two-and-a-half minute anthems to a new generation and, along with Blondie and Talking Heads, turning the East Side dump CBGBs into a shrine and homage to the punk revolution.
Now - a quarter century after leaving a cloud of dust behind those guitar chords - the definitive 58-song collection of the Ramones, Anthology, has hit the stores. But with more compilation albums (both live and hits) than most bands this side of the Moody Blues, why would a fan need to purchase Anthology?
Quite simply, the issuing label - Rhino Records.
Living up to their well-earned reputation for dedicated efforts, Rhino includes a 74 page booklet along with this double CD. With a foreword by manager Danny Fields and extensive liner notes by David Fricke, the history of the Ramones - and their environment - is lovingly resurrected and recounted as if it were happening yesterday.
But $30 doesn't justify the purchase of the liner notes. Instead, the meat of the package comes in the music.
Much more than the now frat/jock anthem "I Wanna Be Sedated", the Ramones' form of pop punk covered politics ("My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down"), fun ("Blitzkrieg Bop", "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Rockaway Beach"), other artists' songs ("Surfin' Bird", "Needles & Pins") and of course, forms of getting high ("53rd & 3rd", "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", "Somebody Put Something In My Drink").
While their musical style may not have varied much during their lengthy career, fans always knew that they could count on the Ramones to deliver a musical punch. Rhino has captured that feeling wonderfully on Anthology.
