615 Ramones - End of the Century (1980)

 615 Ramones - End of the Century (1980)

Studio Album - Punk



About the Act:

The Ramones were an American punk band that existed from 1974 to 1996. They were one of the most influential punk bands in the New York punk scene in the late 70s. They have been recognised in many lists as being of the most significant rock bands, well, ever.  

Unlike other punk bands who's style often included colourful dyed hair, the Ramones adopted long hair and leather jackets as a kind of uniform. Also, all members of the band adopted stage names with the surname "Ramone" even though they were not related. The "classic" line-up was Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone, Tommy Ramone and Johnny Ramone, all of whom are now dead.  

Their music was categorised by fast beats, raw, simple rock and short, abrupt songs. Later, they diversified into more poppy music.

About the Album:

This was their sixth album, and was produced by Phil Spector. There seem to be many contradictory stories about the album, about whether Phil threatened them with guns to stay and work in the studio, about how much time was spent, and about whether or not (and when) what you hear is in fact session musicians. It contains a cover of the Motown song Baby I Love You.

My History with this Album:

None

Review:

So this is the seventh Ramones album on this list, and yet again they have failed to impress me. Mercifully, like the others, it was short. They brought in Phil Spector to produce, in an attempt to gain popularity. It worked, and this was their best-selling album.

It's kind of rocky, loud guitars and so on, simple chords and simple songs, with crunchy rock guitars. At times they do sound more rock than punk (look, don't ask me what that means... a deeper guitar sound maybe?) It doesn't have the unpolished rawness of other punk, but it still retains an urgency. It's still not that good, though, either as an anarchic punk album or as a rock album. It's unfortunately pedestrian.

Some of the lyrical content is questionable, Chinese Rock is about heroin for example. Most of the time, the vocals are kind of empty of quality, either of singing ability or expressiveness, and again I might forgive that if the overall thing was more punk. 

I think most of the Ramones albums I have encountered in this list have been later in their career. I wonder if they were better earlier. My encounters so far have mostly led to a "meh" opinion from me. Not impressed.

5.8/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4AZArreHFJ5m8mo1SZT3Iv

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBnJv6rImVe_HKhoRYIYlMBhiQc5_1ffE

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_the_Century



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

944 Manu Chao - Próxima Estación Esperanza (2001)

Image
 944 Manu Chao - Próxima Estación Esperanza (2001) Studio Album - World Music About the Act: Manu Chao is a French-Spanish musician of Spanish descent who grew up on the outskirts of Paris. In the mid-80s he was in a Spanish/English rockabilly group called Hot Pants. In 1987, with his brother and cousin he founded the band Mano Negra, combining punk and world music influences and playing on the Paris Metro. This band took off and had 4 studio albums. In 1995 Manu "went solo", forming the band Radio Bemba Sound System to be his backing band. The punk elements were less prominent, but he started to make music that "replicates the sound of street music and bar scenes from a variety of cultures". He has been really popular in parts of Europe.  About the Album: This album was Manu Chao's second studio album as a "solo" artist. In Spanish, the name means "Next Station: Hope", after a real station on the Madrid Metro. The album reached top 10 slots ...
Read more

840 Various Artists - The Best of Girl Groups Volumes 1 and 2 (1990)

Image
 840 Various Artists - The Best of Girl Groups Volumes 1 and 2 (1990) Compilation (double) - Girl Group (Soul/Bobby Soxer/Do-Wop) About the Album: This is a highly acclaimed compilation in 2CDs by Rhino Records. It's the sort of thing that in this country you might expect to see at 3.99 in a Garden Centre. My History with this Album: None Review: There are not many multi-artist compilations in this series for reviewing. There is not information about it on Wikipedia, but the reception seems to have been positive. It is choc-full of hits with a smattering of lesser-known songs, and it's hard not to imagine Grease or similar situations - girls with cardigans and white socks, listening to the juke box while sipping milkshakes in the drug store. On one level it's a fun collection of songs that you could use to feel nostalgic, or as the music for a themed party. On another level it's kind of like a cultural artefact. I feel honour-bound to describe it, even though if I drop ...
Read more

843 Chambers Brothers - The Time has Come (1967)

Image
 843 Chambers Brothers - The Time has Come (1967) Studio Album - Psychedelic Soul About the Act: The Chambers Brothers are an American Psychedelic Soul band from LA, who were formed in 1954 and are still going. They were at heart four brothers, but I think they have now all left the band.  About the Album: This was their debut album (12 years on from forming as a band), and it spawned their most successful single Time Has Come Today. My History with this Album: None. I had never heard of the Chambers Brothers before this list. Review: I am not an American, nor a Social Historian, but I think I can accurately claim that in 1960s America there was a certain separation between the Black community and other communities. As a result of this, and for marketing reasons, the idea of music that was created with a Black audience in mind was an actual thing. I'm not sure if today we would be quite so sure about what constitutes "Black Music", but then, I think, they were generally q...
Read more