CJ Ramone
American Beauty

«And the first one who dares to strum upward, I'll break their phalanges, phalangettes, and little phalanges».

Thus spoke CJ to those poor two guitarists who blasphemed Johnny's name by demanding a solo in each song.

The drummer didn't even dare ask for space for a terrifying "Moby Dick" style solo and observed devout silence, bowing before the image of Tommy, who left in a hot New York summer three years ago.

Another little angel watching his back.

And so we start from here, from that little that doesn't work.

«Tommy’s Gone» I think not even Tommy would like it, and wherever all four of them are, Joey, Johnny, and Dee Dee are surely playfully dissing him, mocking him and whistling the tune of «Three Angels» 24/7.

That was the embrace in which we would all have liked to hug Joey, Dee Dee, and Johnny before the prophetic ending of «Pet Sematary» came true, with a smile on our faces and danced to the familiar rhythm.

«Tommy’s Gone», instead no, no drums, no electric, no bass, just a mournful acoustic guitar and a funeral march rhythm and CJ's sweet, low voice bidding farewell to a friend; I mean, you make Tommy's death feel horribly heavy and he certainly wouldn't have wanted that; just like Joey didn’t, nor Dee Dee, nor Johnny; just like you didn’t want when it came to putting in words and notes «Three Angels», but also «Low on Ammo» which is more or less the same thing.

And damn, they were the Ramones, and even Tommy's last name was Ramone, not one of those rock stars with money coming out of everywhere and the relationship with the fans who knows when it got consumed, both the rock star and the fan: «Nooooo, a Random-Name died. But why??? Was he still alive??? Come on, I’ll leave a bunch of flowers in front of his house and even take a selfie».

And damn, again, do you remember the ceremonies to remember your brothers?

They looked like parties for the dead like not even in Mexico, joy, cheerfulness and nonsense spilling out from everywhere.

So, no, «Tommy’s Gone» really doesn’t sit well, maybe it's also because it’s the first track I jumped on yesterday after unwrapping the album with drool in my mouth and I expected something else entirely, but it really doesn’t fit.

Everything else instead fits perfectly with the spirit of the Ramones, those at the end of their career with CJ on bass and capable of releasing three beautiful albums.

Having said that this is not as beautiful an album as «Reconquista» was for me, but not even a half misstep like, always for me, «Last Chance to Dance», then it’s a beautiful and dignified album that alternates punk pop and ballads in equal measure in the most classic Ramones style.

It kicks off with «Let’s Go» and «Yeah Yeah Yeah» just to announce the return to the road; and then proceeds with the remarkable «Run Around» opening the second side and CJ has a really nice voice but if Joey had been there it would have truly stolen our hearts; up to «Moral to the Story», which a month ago announced the album in the best way, and this yes, this would have been Tommy's favorite and probably is.

Every now and then you catch your breath, with the famous ballads: what a Ramones ballad is, it’s easier to go and listen to «I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend» than to explain it.

Whoever got the hint, enjoy «You’ll Never Make Me Believe», the first in the list and my favorite; but also «Before the Lights Go Out» which, if it wasn't CJ, would ignite the lighters at concerts, and tell me you love me before the lights go out, what a wonder of sugar and candied sweets; or «Without You», among the most faithful to the Ramones sound, and here Johnny would have also done wonders; not to mention «Be a Good Girl» and CJ singing babe babe babe in such a way that we can see Joey right there and it gives us a lump of joy in our throat that we have to lift the needle and go take a walk outside, even if it is late at night.

Since we already know it’s a wonder, we'll finish listening to the record another time.

By the way, the album is titled «American Beauty», like a movie from a few years ago.

It’s a great thing to be a Ramones addict.