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Rating:
After three albums that are still an unsurpassed example of the most unrestrained and exuberant rock'n'roll primitivism, in 1978 the Ramones found themselves in a situation well-known to many other legendary bands: immense respect from their peers, a decent hardcore base of loyal fan-disciples, a myriad of other groups born from their three chords, but few bucks in their pockets and no significant chart success. It's a situation that often pleases fans more than the band, and in fact, our heroes didn't quite like it, especially because they were well aware they were making music far from devoid of commercial potential (and, in light of the resounding success garnered two decades later by pale epigones like Green Day or Blink 182, one cannot but agree with them). Hence, after replacing drummer Tommy, a victim of tour stress, with ex-Voidoids Marc Bell (Marky Ramone), the four recorded "Road To Ruin". Another example of rock'n'roll primitivism, but a tad more thought out.
Although the longer duration of the songs (which more than once exceed the 3-minute barrier), the cleaner production (among other things greatly benefiting Johnny's sound), and the presence of acoustic guitars and even micro-guitar solos scandalized some punk purists at the time, the rock essence of the Ramones was in fact not at all compromised. A certain craftsmanship is there, and you can feel it, but even the most pop-leaning tracks, namely "Don't Come Close", "Questioningly", and the acoustic cover of "Needles & Pins" by the Searchers, draw liberally from the rock'n'roll of the origins, from those 50s and 60s so dear to the Ramones, and do not sound awkward or affected at all (unlike the next three albums, which suffered from the often overwhelming presence of external producers).
Moreover, the arrival of Marky, who had played hard rock with the Dust, sometimes led to the adoption of more "heavy" and dragging rhythms: as in the initial "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do", which must have been loved by quite a few grunge bands. But the true gem of the album, which alone is worth the purchase (come on, it's 9.90 euros!) is "I Wanna Be Sedated", one of the band's iconic songs, probably their last great misfit anthem: unforgettable riff, melody, and chorus, a one-note solo (Johnny's ingenious response to those who accused him of not being able to play solos), all punctuated by Joey's "pa-pa-papa-pa-papa-papa". These things alone drink up entire discographies of the aforementioned 90s "punk" groups, and more.
If the review seems too emphatic to you, it's because yours truly was initiated into Rock by these individuals. And first love, etcetera etcetera.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 I Just Want to Have Something to Do (02:42)
"Hangin out on Second Avenue
Eating chicken feelin' blue
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight
Well allright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Wait-now
Wait-now
Hanging out all by myself
I don't want to be with anybody else
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight
Well allright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Wait-now
Wait-now
(4x)
Hanging out all by myself
I don't want to be with anybody else
I just want to be with you
I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight
Well allright
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight
02 I Wanted Everything (03:18)
I heard about the Easter bunny Presents under a Christmas tree
It was dreaming and fantasy There was no Mom or Daddy
I wanted everything I wanted everything I wanted everything
I had the world on my shoulder But I was getting older
Knew I was ready for it Some kind of employment
I wanted everything I wanted everything I wanted everything
All day working on a truck Bringing the groceries up
Not much of a salary No tip for the delivery
I wanted everything I wanted everything I wanted everything
There's no success for me Involved in a robbery
There's money in the supermarket And I'm goin' in after it
I wanted everything
03 Don't Come Close (02:44)
You know it's generally known You got everything at home
Kisses out of desperation Bring you more aggravation
And you don't come close You don't come close You don't come close
You bring out your souvenirs Soak them wet with your tears
You lose your imagination Out of more aggravation
And you don't come close You don't come close You don't come close
You turn red with rage But act your age
Only thing that your regret You need more time to forget
And you don't come close You don't come close You don't come close
06 I'm Against It (02:07)
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like politics
I don't like communists
I don't like games and fun
I don't like anyone
And I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like gee�s and freaks
I don't like circus geeks
I don't like summer and spring
I don't like anything
I don't like sex and drugs
I don't like water bugs
I don't care about poverty
All I care about is me
And I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like playing it fine
I don't like the Vietcong
I don't like Burger King
I don't like anything
And I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it!
07 I Wanna Be Sedated (02:29)
Twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go
I wanna be sedated
Nothing to do, nowhere to go home,
I wanna be sedated
Just, get me to the airport, put me on a plane
Hurry hurry hurry, before I go insane
I can't control my fingers, I can't control my brain
Oh no oh-oh oh-oh
Twenty-twenty twenty-four hours to go
I wanna be sedated
Nothing to do, nowhere to go home,
I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair, get me on a plane
Hurry hurry hurry, before I go insane
I can't control my fingers, I can't control my brain
Oh no oh-oh oh-oh
Twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go
I wanna be sedated
Nothing to do, nowhere to go home,
I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair and get me to the show
Hurry hurry hurry, before I gonna go
I can't control my fingers, I can't control my toes
Oh no oh-oh oh-oh
Twenty-twenty-twenty-four hours to go
I wanna be sedated
Nothing to do, nowhere to go home,
I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair, get me to the show
Hurry hurry hurry, before I gonna go
I can't control my fingers, I can't control my toes
Oh no oh-oh oh-oh
Ba-ba-baba baba-ba-baba, I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-baba baba-ba-baba, I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-baba baba-ba-baba, I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-baba baba-ba-baba, I wanna be sedated
09 Questioningly (03:22)
Questioningly her eyes looked at me And then she spoke
Aren't you someone I used to know And weren't we lovers a long time ago?
Looked at her close Forced her into view
Yes, I said, you're a girl That I once may have knew
But I don't love you anymore Why do you want to talk to me for?
You should have just let me walk by Memories make us cry
In the morning I'm at work on time My boss tells me that I'm doing fine
When I'm going home Whiskey bottle movie on the TV
Memories make me cry And I'm alone just me Just me questioningly
10 She's the One (02:13)
Yeah yeah she's the one
Yeah yeah she's the one
When I see her on the street
You know she makes my life complete
And you know I told you so
She's the one, she's the one
Yeah yeah she's my girl
Yeah yeah she's my girl
When I see her on the street
You know she makes my life complete
And you know I told you so
She's the one, she's the one
She's the one
Know I'll never find a girl like you
But in my heart I'll always love you
Yeah yeah she's the one...
When I see her on the street
You know she makes my life complete
And you know I told you so
She's the one, she's the one
She's the one
Know I'll never find a girl like you
But in my heart I'll always be true
Yeah yeah she's the girl
The best girl in the whole wide world
When I see her on...
She's the one
She's the one, she's the one, she's the one
She's the one, she's the one, she's the one
She's the one, she's the one, she's the one
12 It's a Long Way Back (02:20)
You by the phone You all alone
It's a long way back to Germany
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By Deep-Frenk
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