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Rating: First of all, it is necessary to clear the field of any potential misunderstandings or misconceptions. In my opinion, the Ramones ARE punk.
Sure, they may not have the same dissident provocative energy of the Pistols and other English bands, they may have a more street metal image with their long hair and leather jackets adorned with pins on full display, but ultimately, there must be a reason why in my elementary school music book, to briefly explain what punk was, the photo was of the Ramones and not Sid Vicious or the Clash.
The Ramones’ punk was certainly more genuine and spontaneous than the English punk. Behind them was only themselves, with their instruments bought with the proceeds of some part-time jobs in the unsuccessful attempt to cover the Who or the Rolling Stones, and not that farsighted commercial operator known as Malcom Mclaren.
The fact that all this happened in the mid-70s, and, that is, some time before the explosion of British punk, is just a statistical detail that supports this thesis. A thesis, moreover, confirmed by Joe Strummer who knowingly stated that the Ramone brothers played before everyone what is commonly believed to have arisen in England.
After this small but necessary introduction, let's move on to the discussion of the album being reviewed. “Mondo Bizarro” is rightly considered the album of the Ramones' second youth. After creating albums that will be remembered in the whole history of music like their self-titled debut album, “Leave Home,” “Rocket To Russia” and the live, indeed, “It’s Alive,” the 80s were very controversial and full of ups and downs. Between experiences with drugs and alcohol that undermined their health, various brawls, and issues with the American political entourage due to Joey Ramone’s heavy criticisms of former President Reagan, but also arenas packed with spectators during their concerts, especially in Europe (in this sense, the performance in Amsterdam was symptomatic, with almost 250,000 spectators attending), the 80s decade was consumed between highs and lows.
At the end of the decade, Dee Dee Ramone's mystical crisis towards rap music led him to leave the band, and he was replaced by C.J. Ramone. “Mondo Bizarro” is the first Ramones’ work without the founding bassist (even though some of the songs on this album were composed by him) and with his replacement C.J., who, among other things, delights us with his voice in “Main Man” and “Strength To Endure”. It is an energetic, visceral, punk rock album to the nth degree, like all the music and nature of the Ramones.
How can one not be overwhelmed by the energy of “Censorshit”, a fierce diatribe against censorship, the anger of “The Job ate in my Brain”, the obsessive “Anxiety” (I’m crazy, crazy, crazy, in a crazy world…), the riffs of “It’s Gonna Be Alright” and “Heidi is a Headcase”? Not to mention “Cabbies on Crack”, a fantastic example of a song that slightly departs from the usual punk rock standards with a riff almost of heavy style, and the fast-paced and irreverent cover of the Doors' "Take it As it Comes.” But the peak of the album, in my opinion, is reached with the engaging melody of the sophisticated "Poison Heart,” which one cannot help but sing along to.
In conclusion, I extend a heartfelt invitation to all the kids who believe that punk rock is that shabby and commercial form of pop that MTV forces upon them. Guys, open your eyes to what real punk rock is. Do like I did when I discovered the genre and the band precisely with this album. After awakening to new life from this discovery, go back and listen to the historic masterpieces of both the Ramone brothers and all true punk. The real one.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Censorshit (03:13)
Tipper, what's that sticker sticking on my CD?
Is that some kind of warning to protect me?
Freedom of choice needs a stronger, stronger voice.
You can stamp out the source, but you
Can't stop creative thoughts.
Ah, tipper come, ain't you been getting it on?
Ask Ozzie, Zappa or me.
We'll show you what it's like to be free.
Ah, tipper come on, it's just
a smoke screen for the real problems:
S&L deficit, the homeless, the environment.
Hey, hey all you, all you senators wiwes,
Better take a good look at your own lives
Before you go preaching to me
Your definition of obscenity.
Ah, tipper come on, ain't you been getting it on?
Ask Ozzie, Zappa or me.
We'll show you what it's like to be free.
Ah, tipper come on, it's just
A smoke screen for the real problems:
S&L deficit, the homeless, the environment.
The irony it seems, it seems to me. It's un-american
policy. Yeah, we've come so far but still only to find
people like you with ignorant minds.
Ah, tipper come on, ain't you been getting it on?
Ask Ozzie, Zappa or me.
We'll show you what it's like to be free.
Ah, tipper come on, it's just
A smoke screen for the real problems:
S&L deficit, the homeless, the environment
04 Anxiety (02:04)
Anxiety, anxiety, keeps me happy.
Anxiety, anxiety, keeps me happy.
Always stiff, all day long.
Nothing's right till it's all wrong.
It makes no sense until I'm tense.
Always laughing at your expense.
Anxiety, anxiety, keeps me happy.
Anxiety, anxiety, keeps me happy.
Always biting on my nails.
Always stiff, it never fails.
Now I think I'll pick my nose,
wipe it on my sweaty clothes.
Anxiety, anxiety, keeps me happy.
Anxiety, anxiety, keeps me happy.
Always screamin' at someone.
Got a temper like a gun.
Hair trigger personality.
Anxiety, anxiety, keeps me hap-happy.
(bridge)
And I'm crazy, zrazy, crazy in a crazy world.
I'm crazy, zrazy, crazy in a crazy world.
I'm crazy, zrazy, crazy in a crazy world.
I'm crazy, zrazy, crazy in a crazy world.
A-N-X-I-E-T-Y
A-N-X-I-E-T-Y
Anxiety keeps me high, cross my heart and hope to die. ANXIETY
ANXIETY
ANXIETY
ANXIETY
05 Strength to Endure (02:59)
Walking through the cross fire heart
Feeling heavy and hopeless
Wonderin' how I ever will see through this darkness
Every drop of blood can be so beautiful
And I sure was bleedin' the drops by the bucketful
I have the strength to endure
And all the love so pure
I have the strength to endure
Because, because...
I'm not afraid to tell her
Just how things work
Ride a hurricane through the fast lane
Always looking over my shoulder
She said, "there's something about you, and neon lights always glow hot
Baby we can see this through
Just give all the strenght you've got"
I have the strength to endure
And all the love so pure
I have the strength to endure
Because, because...
I'm not afraid to tell her
Just how things work
Ride a hurricane through the fast lane
Always looking over my shoulder
She said, "there's something about you, and neon lights always glow hot
Baby we can see this through
Just give all the strenght you've got"
I have the strength to endure
And all the love so pure
I have the strength to endure
Because, because...
07 Take It As It Comes (02:08)
Time to live, time to lie.
Time to laugh, time to die
Take it easy baby.
Take it as it comes.
Don't move too fast if you want
to love to last and you've been moving
much too fast.
Time to walk, time to run.
Time to aim your arrows at the sun.
Take it easy baby.
Take it as it comes.
Don't move too fast if you want
to love to last and you've been moving
much too fast.
Glorious blow. You like it more and more.
Take it as it comes. Mission lies it anymore.
Take it easy baby.
Take it as it comes.
Don't move too fast if you want
to love to last and you've been
moving much too fast.
Moving much too fast.
Moving much too fast.
11 Cabbies on Crack (03:00)
Got into a cab, Broadway, 59 Took off like a blast
Almost lost my mind - oh, oh, oh
Cabbies on crack
It first felt like at thrill ride Excited for a while
Got pretty scary swerving at 100 miles an hour - oh, oh, oh
Cabbies on crack
I want to get out, out of this yellow shell
I want to get out, crack cabbies straight from hell
And I don't wanna die before I live
Cabbies on Cabbies on crack
Cabbies on crack Want my money back
Disco blasting out, Stomach in my mouth - oh, oh, oh
Cabbies on crack
Times Square was approaching He braked for the light
At 90 miles an hour, flashed by, I saw my life - oh, oh, oh
Cabbies on crack
I want to get out, out of this yellow shell
I want to get out, crack cabbies straight from hell
And I don't wanna die before I live
Cabbies on Cabbies on crack
And I don't wanna die before I live
Cabbies on Cabbies on crack
Cabbies on crack
12 Heidi Is a Headcase (02:47)
Headcase baby She's a cool kind of crazy
Wild and she's willing Into early Dylan
She drives me crazy, oh yeah, ooh ooh yea
When I look into her big brown eyes I'm so glad to know she's mine
My little headcase, yeah Ooh, ooh, yeah, my little headcase, yeah
Ooh, ooh, yeah
Heidi is a headcase, a rebel and a rouser Cranks up her Rickenbacker
Blasts away for hours What's she doin' now on the escalator
Snorting up some speed on the picture of or Stiv Bators
What 'cha doin'?
When I look into her big brown eyes I'm so glad to know she's mine
My little headcase, yeah Ooh, ooh, yeah, my little headcase, yeah
Ooh, ooh, yeah
Ooh, baby baby, whatever you do now Don't ever go away
Ooh, baby baby, whatever you do now Don't you ever go astray
Don't you ever go away - ooh, ooh, yea
Don't you ever go away - ooh, ooh, yea
Heidi is a headcase Heidi is a headcase
Heidi is a headcase Heidi is a headcase
13 Touring (02:52)
Well, weve been to london and weve been to l.a. spain, new zealand, and the u.s.a.
Europe, japan, and pango-pango canada, siam, oz and kamoto
The kids all come from miles around
The party gets started when the sun goes down
A holiday inns the only home I know
Rock-n-rolls alive cause we got the power baby
Crusing down the highway at 500 miles an hour baby
We got a fuel-injected tour bus, man it really flies
With a video tape deck inside
Lets go, rock-n-roll, everybody cmon
Lets go, rock-n-roll, everybody cmon now
Touring, touring, is never boring touring, touring, is never boring
Touring, touring, is never boring touring, touring, oh baby, touring
Especially with your favorite girl touring, touring, all around the world
Well weve been around this great big world
And weve met all kinds of guys and girls
From kamoto islands to rockaway beach
No, its not hard, not far to reach
American girls knock me out, ya know
Fast cars, cold beer, and rock-n-roll
America is the only home I know
Lets go lets go lets go lets go 500 miles to mexico
Lets go lets go lets go lets go 200 miles to tokyo
Lets go lets go lets go lets go
Drive, drive, drive the night away
Straight on through to the break of day
Drive, drive, drive the night away
Well, its in your blood, its in your blood
Touring, touring, is never boring touring, touring, is never boring
Touring, touring, is never boring touring, touring, oh baby, touring
Especially with your favorite girl now
Touring touring, all around the world touring touring, all around the world
Touring touring, all around the world
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