Amazon.com

For its first new set of music since 2000's Warning, Green Day tears up the blueprint and comes up with something unexpected: A punk rock concept album built around elaborate melodies, odd tempo changes, and a collection of songs that freely reference classic rock warhorses like the Beatles and Pink Floyd. "She's A Rebel" and "St. Jimmy" might sound like vintage Green Day but the rest of the disc finds the Northern California trio trying on a variety of different guises: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is a cliché-strewn Foo Fighters-style power ballad; "Extraordinary Girl" floats on Indian strings; and the hushed "Wake Me Up When September Ends" wouldn't sound entirely out of place on a Jessica Simpson record. It doesn't always work. "Dearly Beloved" eerily resembles the Alarm's "68 Guns" while the title track eerily resembles something Green Day has already done far too many times. But, overall, American Idiot is represents a promising step forward. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great cd
Ok well I just have to say that the first time I heard this cd I knew that it would be my favorite greed day cd. I have listened to this cd at least 50 times since I've gotten it! In fact I'm listening to it while im typing this reveiw. My favorite song on the whole cd is holiday and I know that this cd will be my fav. cd for a long time.

I freakin' LOVE this CD
Go get this CD! It is awesome! It has both their traditional punk rock which is always awesome and some more slow music which is also awesome. It's not like any of their other albums before. It's also very opinionated, but you can decide whether that's a good or bad thing. I really don't care! All I know is that this is one heck of a rock opera and a must-have for any Green Day fan!

best cd since kerplunk
this is probally greendays best ccd since kelrplunk almost 10 years ago and its a great cd, get it

green day rox!!!
green day is sik! 1.american idiot 8/10 i loved this song on madden too bad i over played it 2.jesus of suburbia 8/10 catchy a bit long tho still kewl 3.holiday 9/10 'on holiday' 4.blvd of broken dreams 11/10 best song on the cd by far slow rock song but great awsome lyrics catchy tune just awsome 5.are we the waiting 7/10 probably my least favorite song on the cd 6.st jimmy 10/10 awsome i can see this song in the THUG 2 fast and a nawce tune 7.give me novacaine 6/10 i change my mind this is my least favorite slow and annoying i got nothing against slow but... 8.shes a rebel 10/10 catchy lyrics just all around good 9.extraordinary girls 8/10 i hat the begining like tribal drums or something waste of 30 seconds songs ok 10.letterbomb 8/10 ok 11.wake me up when september ends 7/10 catchy lyrics slow and doesnt really go any where remember slow is not bad (take for instence adam?s song by blink) 12.homecoming 8/10 kewl song long though 13.watsername 9/10 slow (see) kewl lyrics i averaged the scores and got 8.38461538461538461538461538... im a math idiot i giv the cd a easy 9/10 buy it!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Green Day takes the title International Superhits literally,offering a no-surprises compilation of all the songs that made a big dent oncommercial radio. From the pop-punk heroes' breakthrough album Dookie ("Longview," "Welcome toParadise") through Insomniac ("Brain Stew"), Nimrod ("Good Riddance [Time ofYour Life]"), and Warning("Minority"), if a record produced a hit, that song is on this album. There areonly two new tracks on the Superhits (both recorded a couple of monthsbefore the album's release)--the spazzed out rock & roll singalong "Maria" andthe puppy-dog love of "Poprocks & Coke." Because International Superhitsdoesn't pull from Green Day's early EPs and Lookout albums or offer any livevariations, though, this album is really only one for the serious-mindedcollectors who don't want to skip past a single Green Day release.-- Jennifer Maerz ... Read more

Reviews (142)

Green Day has always been my favorite band.
I've always loved Green Day, who were at their peak in 1994 and enjoyed many other hits afterwards, including Brain Stew, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), and Minority. Even with an album that only came out less than two years ago (Warning), Green Day is getting less and less recognition. With newer pop-punk bands such as Blink 182, Sum 41 and New Found Glory becoming more popular, Green Day has been ignored.

Let's get to the point. International Superhits is great for the casual listener, or just someone who wants to rediscover them. But unless you desperately want to hear Maria and Poprocks and Coke (which are decent songs), or J.A.R, I wouldn't recommend this to the fan who already has all of their Reprise releases. Unless you want a good cd to listen to all the way through, which this certainly is.

The songs are all good! There is not one song I can't listen to...truthfully, there isn't one song I don't like by Green Day. The two new songs, as previously mentioned, are both good...the catchy, but somewhat repetitive Maria, and the poppy love song of Poprocks and Coke, but they're not much compared to the others. You'll get every Green Day hit on this CD, from their first single (and possibly one of their best songs) Longview, to the timeless classic Good Riddance, to the melodic Waiting, the somewhat harsher Geek Stink Breath and Brain Stew, and the lesser known Walking Contradiction and She...they're all here. Green Day is a fun band to listen to, and this is a nice representation of them.

One thing that slightly peeved me is that there are no songs from their Lookout releases on here. I can't say I liked 1039 SOSH, but Kerplunk is my second favorite (after Nimrod). Beware! When you buy this, you're not getting the full Green Day experience...there are great songs such as Going to Pasalacqua, 2000 Light Years Away, Christie Road, and many others that aren't on here!

Oh yeah, if you want more Green Day, check out all 6 of their albums, you'll find some good songs that weren't played on the radio. They include, but aren't limited to, 86, Stuart and The Ave., Westbound Sign, Scattered, Jinx/Haushinka, Prosthetic Head ... Castaway, and Misery. ...

If you're that person who has heard songs like Longview and Good Riddance on the radio and liked them, but has never bought a Green Day release, by all means BUY THIS! Green Day fans with the entire collection, you may not want to get this unless you need something to top it all off or are just mad for the song J.A.R.

And J.A.R is a great song.

Green Day's best CD
Of course this is Green Day's best CD because it is a greatest hits CD. The album has all of their best songs , but I am a little disappointed that it had no songs from 'Kerplunk!' or '1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours', but never the less, all of the songs on the album are 'superhits' and it just reminds you what a good band Green Day are.

1. Maria

2. Poprocks & Coke

3. Longview

4. Welcome To Paradise

5. Basket Case

6. When I Come Around

7. She

8. J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva)

9. Geek Stink Breath

10. Brain Stew

11. Jaded

12. Walking Contradiction

13. Stuck With Me

14. Hitchin' a Ride

15. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

16. Redundant

17. Nice Guys Finish Last

18. Minority

19. Warning

20. Waiting

21. Macy's Day Parade

As you can see, most of Green Day's best songs and definitely worth buying. This album is definitely Green Day's best because the songs are better than the songs on 'Nimrod', 'Insomniac' and even 'Dookie'.

True Superhits
IF you are a punk rock fan, Green Day is your band. They are absolutely amazing and always will be. First of all, Billie-Joe Armstrong is a true rock revolutionary. He has and an unmistakable voice that will be recognized everywhere. His guitar skills are also quite accomplished. Mike "Dirnt" is by far the best bassist out there today. He is absolutely amazing. He plays the bass guitar like he is soloing on a normal electric guitar. Finally, the fantastic Tre Cool on drums. Another one of the best in his field. If you listen to the drums in the background, you will be blown away at how good he is.
International Superhits is by far their best CD yet, and it should be since it is a Greatest Hits album. Everyone of these 21 songs deserves to be on this CD and totally kicks ass. The CD starts out with two new tracks that are just as good as the rest. If you are a newcomer to green day, a casual fan, or even if you have all of their CD's, I recomend this CD. Every fan of Punk Rock or any type of Rock music for that matter should go out and buy this CD

Awesome
This is an excellent album for the summer's travels and just great for putting into your cd player and not having to skip every few songs. This album had all their hits and I fell in love with ALL of them. From the energetic and wonderful Maria to the most beautiful song Macy's Day Parade, this compilation is 21 of the best songs around. A must have for a Green Day fan or someone who has heard classics like Basket Case or Good Riddnance and want to see what this band is really made of.

Best Green Day CD Ever
hey guys, this cd is the best green day cd ever. just buy it, its awesome! its got ur fav, walking contradiction,when i come around, Longview, basketcase and much more! this cd rox and is one of the best punk rock bands i've heard. get ur copy now... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Take one part Ramones, one part Buzzcocks, and one part Husker Du, and you've got the basic foundation of Green Day, a punky, witty, melodic San Francisco Bay area trio who became overnight stars in 1994 when this album, their third overall release and major label debut, catapulted them to the top of the pop charts. Led by guitarist/vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong and their secret weapon, powerhouse drummer Tre Cool, Green Day put '70s and '80s punk in a compact '90s package with songs like "Longview," "Basket Case," "Pulling Teeth," and the hit semi-ballad, "When I Come Around." One the few modern alternative rock bands with a bona fide sense of humor. --Billy Altman ... Read more

Reviews (376)

A review of the brilliant Dookie (Green Day) by Daniel Bland
The album starts with the wonderful 'Burnout', which has a certain energy about it which makes you want to play it over and over again. 'Having a blast', has an addictive drum beat, and Billie Joe's punky voice adds that special touch. Billie Joe's lyrics are very modest in the 3rd song, 'chump', and towards the end there is a wonderful piece of music, without singing, which I love. 'Longview' has a lovely variety, with the majority of it being slow, and a great heavier chorus. 'Welcome to paradise's'brilliant chord structure possibly makes it the best track on the album. 'Pulling teeth', a slower song, but still, a superb song. Then, 'Basket case' and 'She', two similar songs - slow,fast,slow,fast. Theses songs will leave you speechless, at least until you come to 'Sassafras Roots'. Although, slightly repetitive, the parts which are repeated are excellent. On to 'When I come aroun', maybe their most famous song, maybe my favourite. Again, a slower song, ! but still, it will stick in your mind. Number 11, 'Coming clean'. A song which I found rather boring. After listening to the album a couple of times, you will skip this song and move straight on to 'Emenius sleepus'. Billie Joe, again his voice is brilliant, he's feeling sick and he wants to go home. But he'll have to wait, 2 songs left. 'In the end'. Another great song, with a supreme drum beat near the end. The last song, 'F.O.D.' The first 1 and a half minutes are very slow, and light, and then, an explosion. The music errupts. Something which has to be played at full volume. A bonus track, at the end of 'F.O.D' is 'All by myself'. Funny 6the first time, but something which is not worth waitng for. All in all a great album, and something which should not be missed

"Possibly the most influential album of its time"
In the start of a decade that looked to be filled with dance and rap as the dominating genres of that era, there was a shining glimmer of hope for fan of rock. The now legendary band from Berkeley, Green Day, released quite possibly the most influential album of its time, as it has triggered the start of many other bands in the area (Blink 182, No Use For A Name, etc.). In their release of this cd, they began their journey in the rock world, and in effective fashion:

ANALYSIS OF TRACK LISTING:
1. Burnout: 4.5/5-a fast paced, distorted guitar-blaring anthem that showed how people didn't grow up, but rather just burnout out.... A great start to the album with a great drum part in the bridge

2. Having a Blast: 4/5-possibly one of their most controversial songs (next to Platypus, on nimrod), it is a song about a person who is going to kill everyone in their path.... a very catchy song

3. Chump: 4.5/5-One of the un-appreciated tracks of this cd, Chump is about hating a specific person, though you've never even see them.... the instrumental in this is very good

4. Longview: 4/5-The original and only tribute to masturbation to date (at least to my knowledge).... despite it's widespread appeal, you may grow tired of this song, due to its excessive air time on the radio.... the bass part in this song is quite good as well

5. Welcome to Paradise: 4.5/5-A re-release track from their Lookout! Records release, kerplunk!, this track is about a young man who ventures away from home and eventually finds himself in paradise.... one of the best bass solo's i have ever heard

6. Pulling Teeth: 3.5/5-A slower-paced song, highlighting a true event of being busted up by the one you love (Mike Dirnt had both of his elbows broken while having a pillow fight with his wife Anastacia).... good, but a little bit too slow for my taste

7. Basket Case: 5/5-Quite possibly one of the best songs of all time, this song focuses on the mental instability of a single person and his ventures to find sanity.... A MUST LISTEN!!

8. She: 4.5/5-another great song, following up Basket Case.... it is mainly a reflective song giving advice to a girl that the person loves.... to stop yelling at them before they go insane..... Dirnt shows his talent with another great bass intro

9. Sassafras Roots: 4/5-a repetitive song that ventures the question "May I waste your time too....?" the lyrics will catch on, and don't be surprised if you end up singing it after hearing it a few times

10. When I Come Around: 4/5-a solid song, possibly their most well-known song on this album.... it is about getting somewhere that you need to be, and the one that matters knowing where to find you.... has a good guitar solo, and a solid bass and drum line

11. Coming Clean: 4.5/5-a better song than When I Come Around, it is a great increase of the pace that was held back by the previous track.... it is mainly about a person "coming clean" about being of an alternate sexual orientation.... a fun, quick and to the point song

12. Emenius Sleepus: 4.5/5-A continuation from the previous song, Billie Joe now sings how he's sick and wants to go home, since he doesn't know his friend at all anymore.... a VERY good song, as it keeps the pace of the album up as it comes begins to come to a close.....

13. In The End: 4/5-the second to last song, it provides a clear message: not liking what you see in the future and hoping that you're not dead when somethin important comes around.... it has a solid bridge yet again, and brings us into the final "official" track of the disc......

14. F.O.D. 4.5/5-the final track of the CD, it is a mellow beginning, but then a loud and very clear anthem.... it mainly just says how the person wants everyone to F.O.D., which if you listen to the song, you will figure out what it means.....

Hidden Track: All By Myself 3.5/5-a very funny track that the guys recorded while they were high in one of their friends basements.... funny, but it won't be worth the wait for much more than two times

really cool; good for any fan
Really awsome for any Green Day fan, but if you're not, step away. I, being a HUGE Green Day fan, think that you'll LOVE most of these songs, I recomend "Pulling Teeth","Basket Case", "Longveiw" and "Welcome to Paradise". The only song on this CD I don't LOVE is "Coming Clean", not really interesting. All really strict parents who hate cuss words as small as "crap", this is a bad CD for your kids.

The one that started it all...
the downfall of real/street punk, that is. This is when Green Day "sold out", but they were never realy punk, they and their friends at clubs had a skewed version of what punk is. They think it is about spreading peace or some sissy stuff like that, and it is not, Anarchy is the opposite of peace, it is unadulterated freedom, real, true, freedom to do whatever you want. And punk music should be noisey and aggressive. This is one of those bands(the leader, in fact) that made people think this poppy crap is punk, and almost completely killed real punk rock. If it wasn't for bands like the Casualties, punk would truely be dead, but it isn't dead, and won't die. Punk is back and it's here to stay! I HATE GREEN DAY, BUT AT LEAST THAT SISSY SONG ISN'T ON THIS!

Not Bad
Fun lightweight pop-punk. Nothing terribly interesting or in any way groundbreaking, but not horrible either. I'd burn a copy, no way would I pay for it. To call these guys punk is ridiculous. They're very mainstream in terms of attitude and desire for acceptance. If these guys had showed up at a Black Flag concert back in the day they would have had their arms and legs ripped off and thrown in a pile. This is safe enough for your 13 year old daughter and makes for a pleasant listen when driving your kids to and from soccer practice. ... Read more

Album Description

Formed in NYC in the mid-'70s by David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison, the Talking Heads evolved out of their now-legendary humble beginnings at CBGB's to become one of the most adventurous and influential bands ever. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the Heads' visionary, polyrhythmic sound daringly combined funk and punk, African beats, avant-garde minimalism, and pure pop. From their 1977 debut through their Brian Eno-produced classics to their '88 farewell, Naked, they both pushed artistic boundaries and delivered indelible radio hits like "Once In A Lifetime" and "Burning Down The House." ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Nimrod came along two years after 1995's Insomniac and was the first indication of Green Day's willingness to stretch the boundaries of punk rock. The fullness of the record is first hinted at on "Hitchin' a Ride," which starts out chug-a-lugging and then breaks into a raging rocker."Redundant" is accented with some psyched-out guitar work and has Billie Joe Armstrong singing a good deal more than usual. The wonderful "Platypus (I Hate You)" speed-rocks with abandon and recalls the early days of L.A. punk (a little Dickies here, a little Descendents there). The biting "Take it Back" is a snarling throwback to hard punk, and "Prosthetic Head" is an infectious ditty that counts among the very best on the album. Most surprising is "Last Ride In," an instrumental nod to the sensual surf-and-sun life. Of course, the crown jewel of the collection is the sentimental, acoustic "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," which seemed nearly inescapable when it was released. Beyond these standouts, even the "usual" Green Day fare here has punch. --Lorry Fleming ... Read more

Reviews (371)

NIMROD IS THE BEST!
Very possibly the best album ever created, Nimrod is just another example of Green Day's talent and versatility. Billie Joe Armstrong's lyrics just keep getting better and better, Mike Dirnt's bass playing is just amazing, and of course, Tre Cool's drumming, ever changing, is a great part of the album.
Nimrod is a great cd that really led the transition from Insomniac to Warning well. It is so versatile, with ballads, a surf type song, hard metal type songs, typical Green Day music, and much more. Aside from different subgenres of the music, many different instruments are used such as harmonica, the bongos, and of course, the baseball bat. ^_^ Green Day has really matured with this album.
There is not a single bad song on this cd, each one gets a 10 from me.

Nice Guys Finish Last-a great song to start the cd out with, was one of the first songs that really got me into Green Day. Mike Dirnt does extremely well on the bass in this one.

Hitchin A Ride-incredible, excellent song, one of their best. Although it takes a while to get used to, it is really incredible. The drumming in this is very VERY good, I know from playing it on my drums that it takes a lot of skill to get it right.

The Grouch-hilarious lyrics, it's a really good, driven song, explicit, but humorous. Also has a very catchy tune.

Redundant-can't say anything about it except that it's a masterpiece. It's a really beautiful song with really beautiful lyrics. You can tell what a good songwriter and guitarist Billie Joe is, what a good bassist Mike Dirnt is, and what an INCREDIBLE drummer Tre Cool is from just this one song.

Scattered-just another one of Green Day's incredible songs. Possibly one of the best tunes, Billie Joe's voice really stands out in this song. One lyric that I really liked was "Story to tell and I am listening." You can tell they've grown up, because since when is Green Day listening?

All The Time-I know not many people really like this song, but I'm hooked on it. It's not as catchy a tune as some others, but when you get used to it, it's really great. It's one of those songs that you'll be singing for days and days after hearing it just once.

Worry Rock-Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL LYRICS! I love it, it's a really sweet song and it's incredible. Another song in which Billie Joe's voice really stands out.

Platypus (I hate you)--A very good song, it is very hard core and although you can barely understand a word of what Billie Joe is screaming out, it's worth it. You can really tell his emotions through the lyrics.

Uptight-Possibly one of the greatest songs on the cd, the ending is incredible. The beginning verses are also very good, but what really stands out is the ending choruses, the "Uptight, I'm a nag with a gun, All night...." part. It makes a very good transition from Uptight to Last Ride In.

Last Ride In-my favorite instrumental by any band. Sure, not many people are into it because it is sort of slow and instrumental, but it's the one instrumental I can listen to the whole thing through. The guitar and bass really shines, but the main thing to me (thenagain, being a drummer, it would be the main thing) that shines through is Tre Cool's drumming. He strays from the normal "punk rock boundaries" in drumming and really goes to the extra by using more latin drumming. I've heard tons of that drumming in Latin music, believe me.

Jinx-an awesome tune, awesome guitar, awesome song in general. I really like the lyrics in this one, and once more, the vocals are incredible in this song. The tune is very different than many other songs you would find, and it makes a nice transition to Haushinka.

Haushinka-not such a liked song by many people, but after listening to it for a while it can really grow on you and you can see what a great song it is. It is more old style Green Day, as it was written during the time of 1039 Slappy Hours, yet not placed on the Kerplunk cd. Very good song.

Walking Alone-this could very well be one of my favorites, it's got an incredible tune, very relatable lyrics, and harmonica! well, the harmonica is very fun and it is always great to see bands going the extra mile to use different things rather than the normal, set instruments. Green Day makes their own rules.

Reject-this song was written about a person who wrote a hate letter to Green Day, you can really see the emotion in it and the anger through the lyrics. Another harder song on the cd, it's a good one.

Take Back-not really one of my favorite Green Day songs, yet it is pretty good to. A nice job on the harder, metallic rock that's very enjoyable.

King For A Day-even if the song isn't as catchy as others, the lyrics and the horns really make up for it. A hilarious song, a sort of ska song, even if it is about drag queens, it's just way too funny to pass up!

Time Of Your Life-well, everyone knows this one. The classic Green Day song that led them into even being played in soft music radio stations like Warm 106.9 (I've heard them on it), it's a masterpiece. It's very very pretty, I also like the violin in the back.

Prosthetic Head-a wonderful closing song, Prosthetic Head's tune is very good and very catchy. It's a song I got stuck in my head the whole day and ended up writing the chorus lyrics on every paper and wall I could find in a craft store I was dragged into.....

Anyway, in closing, this is an EXCELLENT cd, and passing it up would be...a crime.

An incredible album that shows all sides of Green Day.
This truly is a great CD, not only becuase every single song on it is strong and original in its own sense, but also that it features such a wide variety of alternative music! Green Day's other albums (Dookie, Insomniac, etc.) are all great, but the variation of the musical content on them is not nearly as wide as on Nimrod. There are great punk and rock songs, fast, furious, and to-the-point, such as "Nice Guys Finish Last," "The Grouch" (an extremely funny song), "Platypus (I Hate You)," and "Reject," to name a few. If you like slower stuff, then there are several slower tracks, like "Redundant," "Worry Rock," "Uptight" and "Prosthetic Head." Other notable songs include the hilarious, hord-driven song "King For A Day," the moody instrumental "Last Ride In," and the widely popular acoustic ballad "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)." For both music lovers and Green Day fans alike, this album is a must-own.

A Refined Green Day
I owned this album, but it got stolen, and I have regretted that ever since. I'll probably get it again some day, when I have spare cash. I remember I really liked it, and it spent a lot of time in my CD player. I liked every song on the album, some more than others, obviously, but I don't ermember skipping any tracks. My favorites were:

2. Hitchin' a Ride
3. Grouch
4. Redundant
7. Worry Rock
8. Platypus (I Hate You)
9. Uptight
12. Haushinka
13. Walking Alone
14. Reject
16. King for a Day
17. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
18. Prosthetic Head

Now I know why it got stolen! LOL

Not bad, but could have been better
As Green Day progresses, their mean sound improves, though their really good ones are no better or worse than they always have been. A big difference on this CD from the norm, is that their popular songs are not always good. Their skippable songs have decreased in number from the beginning, and they have the same number of really good ones, so I'd say this CD is overall better than one like Dookie.

The only songs that I skip regularly are "Walking Alone," "Take Back," and "Last Ride In." Walking Alone just doesn't excite me much, it's not really bad or anything, just not anything special. Last Ride In is boring the first few times you hear it, but it's so freakin catchy, now I listen to it almost every time I get to it. Take back is probably the worst song on the CD. Green Day isn't all that great at screaming songs.

The songs from the CD that most people will recognize easily are "Good Riddance," "Nice Guys Finish Last," "Hitchin' A Ride," and "Redundant." The first two are good; Good Riddance isn't as great as the first time I heard it, but when you hear a song 6 billion times, that happens. Nice Guys Finish Last is one of the best songs on the CD. Check out the video on their website, it's almost as good as the song is. As for the other two, they really aren't anything special. I don't know why they're so popular. Redundant is catchy, but its only real redeaming quality is a good video. Hitchin A Ride isn't as catchy, maybe a little better song though. Neither are anything worth talking about. However, as I said earlier, their "not worth talking about" songs are still not half bad, not as skippable as their subpar efforts on Dookie were. Other mediocre songs are "Scattered," Uptight," and "King for a Day" (which is a bit ska).

The songs worth talking about, other than the two mentioned earlier, are these. "The Grouch," is easily one of the top songs on the CD, I don't really like the language, but it makes it pretty funny. "Life's a bitch and so am I. The world owes me so f*** you." Not sure why I like "All the Time," and it isn't awesome, but it is a cut above the other mediocre songs. "Worry Rock" I think is the best song on the CD. A bit slow, though not as slow as Good Riddance, and short, but completely awesome. Another great one is "Platypus." The only problem with that one is the language. Incredibly speedy, hard to understand lyrics, punk at its finest. "Jinx" is another fast punk song, though not as much as Playtpus, and is another favorite of mine. "Haushinka" flows from Jinx, as Jaded does from Brain Stew, but is not nearly as good. The only good part is the bridge, the rest of it is pretty mediocre. "Reject" is typical Green Day pop-punk, but is a pretty good song nonetheless. "prosthetic Head" I originally thought was the worst song; actually, I treated it as filler, not even as a real song. However, the more you listen to it, the catchier it gets, and I love the lyrics; not one of the greats, but not bad.

By the way, why are Green Day's hateful songs always some of the best, from "Playtpus" to "FOD" to "Ha Ha, You're Dead."

The Best CD of all time!!!!
Nimrod is my favorite Green day album.It is a great record which everyone oughtta have. ... Read more

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Collection of Blondie Hits that Accompanies the Band on their Winter 2002 Tour. This Disc Updates the Collection and Adds their Comeback #1 in the UK "Maria" to Make this the Most Up-to-date Blondie Set Ever Released. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Crystal clear hit sounds
This is the best Blondie hits compilation by far and the sound is crystal clear; the hits are not arranged chronologically however, which makes it impossible to chart the development of the band. But that doesn't matter - this collection demonstrates the band's versatility - compare their early punk-pop Rip Her To Shreds or X Offender with the hypnotic synthpop-disco of Heart Of Glass or Atomic! My favorites include the wistful I'm Always Touched and the bilingual Denis (a classic slice of sixties pop), as well as Tide Is High with its percolating reggae rhythm, plus Sunday Girl (more lovely 60's pop). In my opinion, their best albums are Parallel Lines and Plastic Letters, and these are well represented with 6 of these gorgeous 19 tracks. I wouldn't call this a "Best Of" since there are some album tracks that I like more than some of these hit songs. These include Fan Mail and Bermuda Triangle Blues from Plastic Letters and Fade Away And Radiate from Parallel Lines. But this was never intended to be anything else but a greatest hits collection and serves it purpose very well. It just goes to show that classy pop music is timeless, and Blondie always had that special something, whatever the style they chose to do it in.

For Blondie's Hits, This is the Place to Go
Over the past twenty years, there have been at least a couple dozen collections of Blondie's hits put on the market. However, only two of those compilations have given an effective overview of the group's career- THE BEST OF BLONDIE from 1981 and PLATINUM COLLECTION from 1994. But fortunately, this GREATEST HITS edition can also stand alongside those two retrospectives, rather than be buried among the other budget collections that have probably picked up plenty of dust over the years.

To put it bluntly, the title says it all- GREATEST HITS collects nineteen of the biggest hits Blondie has scored from 1976 to 1999. Besides including their biggest hits on both sides of the Atlantic- "Heart of Glass"; "Call Me"; "The Tide Is High"; "Rapture"- this collection also includes lesser-known US hits ("Dreaming," "One Way or Another," "Atomic"); songs that only became hits in the UK ("Sunday Girl," "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear," "Maria") and standout album tracks ("X Offender," "Rip Her to Shreds", "In the Flesh"). So basically, every essential hit and album track that Blondie scored during their career is here (with the exception of the UK hit "War Child," which is barely a loss at all). Hardcore fans will likely have a personal favorite or two missing, but GREATEST HITS pretty much tells everything a casual fan needs to know about one of the greatest new wave bands.

If there is any complaint about this collection, it's that upon listening, it may seem that more than one group is being represented, for GREATEST HITS does not sum up all of Blondie's styles into one effective mix. That may actually be nitpicking, but casual fans should still consider purchasing THE BEST OF BLONDIE instead, for not only does it focus on the very best of Blondie (and for the record, everything from BEST OF BLONDIE is on GREATEST HITS), but its nonchronological sequencing actually works so that it showcases only one group- a group that was seemingly consistent. But if you want to get virtually every essential Blondie hit and album track on one collection, then you should purchase GREATEST HITS.

BLONDIE IS BLONDIE
It's undeniable that Blondie has to be one of the best band out there(diggin' many musical styles and territories a fine example to groups like NO DOUBT), her last single GOOD BOYS represents the band at their best if you haven't heard it. So without a question this new compilation includes all their charted hits and some exclusive favorites, it would be out of place to describe each song because the titles of the songs speak for themselves, HEART OF GLASS, ATOMIC, CALL ME, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER all classic songs of the late 70's early 80's, this is one of the best compilations of Blondie around today, + include here is their hit MARIA, not available in another GH package...so delightful Blondie will always be Blondie...a must have.

The Price of Admission
"Dreaming" is one of the best pop songs ever written and makes this CD worth purchasing. The rest is great, too.

A TRUE GEM!!!
There is no doubt about it, Blondie is the band that has redefined music in a whole other way! They have gone from pop to rock, from disco to jazz, from rap to punk, and they have even done country! Every song on this compilation deserves to be here!

THE SONGS
Dreaming- A mix of pop and Debbie Harry's voice can really make some sweet music!

Call Me- One of my favorites!!! Also the theme from American Gigolo. (which happened to be a great movie)

One Way Or Another- Truly a great ROCK N' ROLL SONG!

Heart Of Glass- A true gem!!! One of Debbie's finest songs.

The Tide Is High- A happy summertime beach song! FUN!!!

X Offender- Classic as always!!!

Hanging On The Telephone- A great punk-rock tune!

Rip Her To Shreds- Reminds me of some of the girls at my school.

Rapture- I think Debbie can rap!!!

Atomic- You can really dance to this one!!! Or at least I think so!!!

Picture This- A nice sweet song thats likeable.

In The Flesh- Sounds like something out of the 50s. But its a great song!!!

Denis- Gotta Love Denis!

(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear- Not my favorite, but I like it.

Union City Blue- A great vocal performance!!!

The Hardest Part- Loved It!!! She Can Sing!!!

Island Of Lost Souls- Catchy tune!

Sunday Girl- Love the French!

Maria- Another true pop gem!!!

Blondie is a band! (A great one I might add) And I am so glad they made such enjoyable music! Thanks!!! Peace Out!!!

Blondie Is: Debbie Harry
Chris Stein
Clem Burke
Jimmy Destri ... Read more

Amazon.com

After two years off following the release of the genre-expanding Nimrod, the usually insouciant trio Green Day are open to some weighty self-analysis. Gone are the raging rants, cartoonish antics, and anthropological musings about the punk scene, replaced by an introspection that brings to mind Michael Stipe and Bono. Like the U2 frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong still hasn't found what he's looking for, but he knows where he's been and is eager to move past the days when Green Day were considered the clown princes of rock. Witness "Jackass," which cautions, "Everybody loves a joke, but no one likes a fool." Proving that they aren't fools, Green Day take a substantial step forward, exploring new rhythms, sonics, and subjects. While many of the tracks are still cheeky and infectious, the deceptively simple melodies belie a quest for meaning, faith, and fulfillment. There's a tentative optimism here that's tempered by irony and flashes of self-loathing. Still, Warning transcends the darkness that clouded 1995's Insomniac. No longer so under the sway of the Buzzcocks and the Ramones, this time Armstrong and company dip into the early rock canon--the Beatles and Bob Dylan, among them. As a result, their first self-produced album is more "Nowhere Man" than "Blitzkrieg Bop." --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (423)

Sellouts? I think not. Can you say "growing up"?
Green Day does it again, like they do every single time. Every time they are met by a skeptical crowd. No one wants to accept the growth, and the fact that things change. People change and grow. Little BJ isn't 18 anymore. Is a 27 still gonna write songs about leaving home, or about that girl he likes? Nope, unless theres a serious problem. He'll write about problems he faces with his wife, relationships, things he's learned. Things such as that. The first thing you need to know before listening to this wonderful band is that they are Green Day. They are not pop, they are not punk, they are not anything... but Green Day. They're in a group of their own. Lets get down to the music, shall we? The lyrics are the deepest I've seen. Witty, catchy... they really make you think. Also, the actual music is really great too. Theres a lot of variety. Some songs are slower (Warning), some are faster and more energetic (Jackass), and some are catchy and fun (Blood, Sex, and Booze).

What else can I really say? I could take up pages talking about Green Day and their music. I must cut this short, though. If any of you would like to talk, get in touch with me. Green Day fans are the best people in the world!

Warning is hopefully, only a test
It might be possible(I hope) that "this is only a test" (-lyric from the first song) to see whether or not fans will like this music. I'm a big fan of Green Day and have all their cds minus their imports 'cause their expensive. I went and got the new Green Day album this morning and I'm a little confused. This album is definitely more layed back than previous albums. It seems to be more thought out but I find it to be boring at times. I've gotten into an alarming appreciation for Green Day's music in that I can just plop the cd into the player and not worry about not liking any of the songs because I like all of them. The new cd changed all that. About half the songs off "Warning" are dull and irritating. I read the review for the "warning" album off of Amazon.com and I was upset at how a band can change so much because of a little name calling and a search for some sort of self identity. I don't think they're the clown princes of rock and it was because of those early albums that Green Day has become as well known as they are today. I waited 3 years for this CD people! I hope that future albums aren't like this. It gets 3 stars 'cause it's Green Day and I liked about half the songs.

'Cause I'm thinkin' 'bout a brand new hope.....
Green Day is a good band but they just like Metallica, eventually slowed things down. Nevertheless this is a good album with some highlights like Blood, Sex and Booze and the incredible beautiful and fantastic Macy's Day Parade. This song is really great, and definetly their best ballad.
NI!

Different in a really good way
Green Day was already my favorite band and this cd ranks right up there with all the rest of their cds and maybe even exceeds them. It's different than their other cds, but you still get the same good vibe. My favorite songs are Warning, Minority, Deadbeat Holiday, and Waiting. I think more than half the songs on this cd should be on "International Superhits." In closing, I recommend it to any fan of the band.

great cd...not my favorite
green day is my favorite band...i dont know what cd is my favorite but not this one. but i still really like this. its got a lot of different sounds on it.

1. Warning - one of my favorites...you might have heard this on the radio or something. its funny. 5/5
2. Blood, Sex And Booze - this song is good. 4/5
3. Church On Sunday - its funny...goes from Blood sex and booze to Church on sunday....sex and booze to church....ooo bad. okay i'm weird....this is one of my favorites..dont know why. i like it. 5/5
4. Fashion Victim - this song annoys me 3/5
5. Castaway - i like this song. 4/5
6. Misery - oh man this song....way to funny. 5/5
7. Deadbeat Holiday - wake up the house is on fire...and the cats caught in the dryer....yay the best lyric. 5/5
8. Hold On - this song is cool with the harmonica....4/5
9. Jackass - this song annoys me...its got a saxiphone guy in it....3/5
10. Waiting - oh you've all heard this....4/5
11. Minority - yeah this song is good. 5/5
12. Macy's Day Parade - this is my favorite song on the whole cd. its slow and just really good. 5/5

yeah that was no help but i'm bored. ... Read more

Album Description

Formed in NYC in the mid-'70s by David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads soared out of their humble CBGB's beginnings to become Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and one of the most adventurous and influential bands ever. The onstage energy that propelled their rise to fame was documented in the 1982 double-LP set THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS TALKING HEADS, now available on CD for the first time. Following them through several early evolutions from '77-'81, this live gem - a 1982 Top 40 Billboard Album- is a riveting portrait of a stellar band on the rise. For its CD debut it's been expanded with over 30 minutes of rare and mostly previously unreleased bonus material. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Call them the Nine Inch Nails of punk. Like NIN, the Offspring preserve the essential ingredients of their chosen genre--guitars grinding out three chords, shouted vocals, and plenty of vitriol--and layer them over a melodic base that packs considerable popular appeal. The singles from Smash, the Offspring's breakthrough album, still receive considerable radio airplay: "Gotta Get Away," "Come Out and Play," and "Self Esteem."With these and Smash's 11 other tracks, the band chronicles the adolescent experience with clarity and surprisingly incisive wit. That pretty much describes all of their albums, but this is the one to get. It's got more shape than their earlier material and isn't as disturbingly poppy as their more recent recordings; it's the perfect blend of riffs and rage. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (316)

I would recommend it
Hard to believe that it's been almost a decade since the Offspring released what was to become their best work, "Smash". Brewing with Dexter Holland's so-cal voice, clever lyrics, and nice all-around punk energy, Smash represents the prime of one of the Epitaph labels best bands.

But to label the Offspring as just another Epitaph band would be wrong. This is a punk album, make no mistake about it, but if you're looking for something along the lines of noFX, Randcid, or Pennywise, you might be in the wrong place.

Not to say that "Smash" isn't up to par with "Punk In Drublic", "...And Out Come The Wolves", and "About Time", but it definetly has a sound of it's own when compared to those three.

If I could, I'd rather give this 4 1/2 stars, but unfortunatly, Amazon.com only allows me a 4 or a 5 so I'll go with the latter, because though it's not exactly a 5 star CD, it's definetly not a 4 star. Here's a quick track by track listing.

1. Time To Relax: Simple introduction. Kind of pointless, but it's not bad as far as introductions go.

2. Nitro: Very fast and energetic track. It sets the tone for the rest of the album very well. As the chorus states, it's about "living like there's no tomorrow".

3. Bad Habit: Like many other Offspring songs about serious subjects, Bad Habit's take on road rage is surprisingly up tempo (save the first 50 seconds or so, and somewhat comical.

4. Gotta Get Away: Arguably the best track on the CD. Very nice, but somewhat slow and monotonous. Still manages to have one of the best choruses ever. It's about a person suffering from paranoia.

5. Genocide: Fast song. One of several on here dealing with political issues. As the title suggests, it's about genocide. "Dog Eat Dog, every day, on our fellow men we pray".

6. Something To Believe In: Self explanatory. One of the more pointless songs on the album. It sounds almost exactly like all the songs around it.

7. Come Out And Play: The unreleased single turned hit. For a song about gang-violence, it's surprisingly up tone and seems better suited for a party than such a serious issue.

8. Self Esteem: At this point you reach the peak of the CD (although Smash helps bring it back to that level near the end). Come Out And Play and Self Esteem might be the two best songs on the CD and they come right after each other. It's about a guy being abused in a relation ship.

9. It'll Be a Long Time: Yet another political song. Deals with how world leaders may never set aside their differences for the greater benefit of all.

10. Killboy Powerhead: About as significant as the title leads you to believe.

11. What Happened To You: Poppiest song on the album. Deals with a guy's best friend turning into a druggy before his eyes and him not being able to help him. Once again however, very uptone for a serious subject.

12. So Alone: Quick fast, swearing. It wasn't meant to be anything deeply meaningful, and it doesn't have to. It's great just the way it is.

13. Not The One: Voice of a generation. Scoffs at youth being labeled as causing the problems in society while so many of the worlds problems were caused by past generations.

14. Smash: As good as any of the other songs on this album. In my opinion the best. An anthem for all of those who don't fit in and don't care what the "mall-ratts" think about them. I'm sure that if it wasn't for the constant swearing, this would've been their first single.

So there you have it. The Offsprings Smash. Very good, but not Great. But still, good enough that I'd recommend it to you. Check it out. You won't regret it.

An absolutely amazing cd.
It's hard to say which Offspring cd is the best, many people say this one. Although I'm not sure I agree (too much competition for me) those people have good reason to call this the best Offspring album.

Time to Relax, a good intro, a little bit worse then disclaimer and Neocon. No rating

2. Nitro, a good opening track, the guitar sticks in your head badly. The lyrics dont make much sense but they sound cool. 9.5/10

3. Bad Habit, a fun song about road rage, this is the one I heard first off this album. One of the songs that shows what the Offspring are like. 9.5/10

4. Gotta Get Away, an awesome song with a great chorus. Has some cool lyrics and a weird music video. 10/10

5. Genocide, a song with an awesome guitar riff (used at the end of the album and in the Ixnay song Change the World). A fun song to sing aloud because of the dog eat dog line. 10/10

6. Something to Believe in, I don't know why people dont like this, it has an AWESOME chorus and a great interlude. 10/10

7. Come out and Play, a really fun song that I still hear on the radio all the time. The lyrics are hard to figure out but they are good. 10/10

8. Self Esteem, another single, a cool song that I heard awhile before I bought this album. A little slow but has good guitar. 9.5/10

9. It'll be a Long Time, the only song on the album I don't love. It's ok but not spectacular. 7/10

10. Killboy Powerhead, The 2nd worst song on the album, but
that dosent mean its bad, 7.5/10

11. What Happened to You, pretty good and funny 8.5/10

12. So Alone, I get it confused with All Along from CO1, I'm not sure which is better. 9/10

13. Not the One, awesome awesome lyrics with cool guitar, I love this one 10/10

14. Smash, aaaaaaaaah the best song on the album. Awesome lyrics and cool guitar. The bridge is AWESOME AND COOL. Wow this is good. 11/10

Offspring's Finest
Smash is the album that made the offspring famous and its deffinatly their best work. Sure, this CD might be from 1994, but it's still awesome

1)Time to Relax- an intro, so nothing to worry about. no rating
2)Nitro (Youth Energy)- a catchy drum line at the beginning and powerful sound. the song has great lyrics that will fill you with energy. the song is basically a song about teens doing what they want. 10/10
3)Bad Habit- a very funny song that starts out w/ just slow bass, then turns into a really rocking song. the lyrics are amusing and shows the humor that these guys posess. the song is about someone w/ road rage 10/10
4)Gotta Get Away- 1 of the hits, it's got a great sounding intro and a catchy sounding chorus. the song is about someone who is paranoid and can't stand himself 9/10
5)Genocide- its got a very catchy punk sound w/ good but not great lyrics. the song is about how people fend for themselves and walk all over the little guy 10/10
6)Something to Believe In- 1 of their political songs, its about society falling apart. the song starts out slow, but gets faster and has a good sound 9/10
7)Come Out And Play- 1 of the hits, its the song that made them famous. the song has kind of a strange, but catchy middle eastern sound to it. it also has a great sounding chorus. the song is a sarcastic look on teenage gang violence 9/10
8)Self Esteem- 1 of the hits, the song has a more mid-tempo sound and is organized strangely, but has awesome lyrics. you can just visualize the situation going on- the guy trys so hard to look for love, but all hit gets is abuse. but that's all made up for when he gets sex(...) 10/10
9)It'll Be a Long Time- 1 of their political songs, it gets faster and has a more punk sound as it goes a long. the song is about how the the superpowers (ie usa and brits) do what they want, but in turn harm the rest of the world 9/10
10)Killyboy Powerhead- a dijets cover, the song has rather pointless and repetitive lyrics, but an ok sound with good guitar 7/10
11)What Happened To You?- a very fast paced song w/ high energy and almost a ska sound. the song has some good lyrics that move fast. it is about a good person who fried their brains on drugs 9/10
12)So Alone- the hardest sounding song on the CD, it is about loneliness and depression. however, the song is so short (a minute 15 seconds) that its hard too enjoy 7/10
13)Not The One- 1 of their political songs, it is about how society's problems are passed on to the next generation even though they didnt cause them. the song has a good punk bass and drum beat 9/10
14)Smash- the best song on the CD! it has an awesome sound and a great solo. it also has the perfect lyrics for a punk song and it is about doing what you want and not conforming. the song is actually 3 minutes long, but if you keep listening, there are about 5 minutes or so of instrumental pieces, after it 10/10

this is why everybody likes offspring
this album rocks. the singles for this are the kinda songs you dont mind hearing over and over on the radio. the rest of the songs in this are good and is the best offspring cd out there. they may not be the most hardcore punk band out, but who cares?

Their best. Perioud.
This is the best independent CD sold to date. And that says enough. If you like any of the other albums, you'll love this. ... Read more

Album Description

Subtitled - Their Toughest Hits. 2002 collection, compiledby Joey Ramone, stuffed with the band's 30 loudest punkhits spanning from 1976 to 1995. Sire/Rhino. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

RAMONES...LEGENDS
This is a pretty well done compilation. I think Johnny Ramone picked alot of the Ramones greatest hits here. Except for a few others that needed to be included. I think "Poison Heart" would have been a better choice than "The Crusher". But overall, this album is great. I really like the bonus 'Smash You: Live '85' disc. It has some great live songs such as "Too Tough To Die", "Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La" & "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?".I have been a Ramones fan for about 3 years now. Each year I get closer & closer to the greatest band ever, The Ramones!

A GOOD COLLECTION OF SONGS FOR OLD OR NEW RAMONES FANS
Johnny Ramone personally selected the songs that appear on this album, and he did a good job of picking a variety of songs that give a retrospective of the band's entire career. There aren't many songs from the band's final years, but that's OK - their best songs were recorded in earlier years. As for the song selection, some are obvious ("Blitzkrieg Bop," "I Wanna Be Sedated," and "Rock N Roll High School"), while others are less well known ("Glad To See You Go," "I Wanted Everything," "Outsider," and "Highest Trails Above"). I would have probably selected some different songs to appear on the album, but I'm not about to question Johnny's choices. With his punk rock icon status and unwavering devotion to keeping the Ramones real, he's earned the right to do whatever he darn well pleases. What really makes this album worth having is the limited-edition bonus disc containing eight live songs recorded in 1985. Most notable is "Smash You," a B-side that was performed in concert very few times. This alone makes the album a must-have for the serious Ramones fan.

THE original
THE original punk band.If you like the Ramones,this is THE cd to buy.If you're just starting to get into the Ramones,or don't have any of their cds,this is the one.With some of their most popular hits, "I wanna be sedated","Blitzbkrieg Bop","Judy is a punk" and "The KKK took my baby away" this is a must for any lover of punk music.

FIRST RULE IS - Buy this cd.
The Ramones are possibly the greatest punk band ever. Every song on this cd is a gem. This greatest hits album rivals his colections such as The Beatles Red and Blue albums combined! Plus its half the price of either one. This is what punk truely is, not Charlet, NFG, of Avril

Coolest of the Ramones Compilations
Like so many groups whose appeal surfs through multiple generations, The Ramones have had a bunch of compilation albums, and we will probably see more in the future. I have yet to come across a lame Ramones collection, but this particular compilation gives you the greatest adrenalin rush for your buck.

The first three tunes are identical to their debut album, but instead of easing into the sweet "I Want To Be Your Boyfriend," they follow up with more high-energy ear fuel with "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment," and "Commando." No Lagardian pauses here, folks! In fact, if you want a wide variety of Ramones songs that include their semi-mellow side, you are best off buying each individual album instead of any compilations, since most of these collections focus on their high-octane classics (which, I admit, is what they did best!)

If you are one of those Ramones fans who preferred their earlier years, "Loud, Fast" delivers more of their classics, but gives their later years a decent backseat. A nice addition to these memorable cuts are several solo tunes by Dee Dee Ramones, including "The Crusher." Very trippy,as Dee Dee's material strayed from the traditional Ramones aura; he had a unique vision!

The only reason I would discourage anybody from buying this CD has nothing to do with flaws. I believe The Ramones are one of those rare groups who put out so much great material, so much which didn't wind up in any "Greatest Hits" collections, that buying each and every one of their releases is worth every penny. But--- to each his or her own, so if you want to buy just one Ramones CD, and get a great sampling of their work, this is the album to buy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Ramones' April 1976 debut, recorded for little more than $6,000, long ago passed into legend. Its exalted status as the inspiration for thousands of punk bands worldwide, though, hasn't overshadowed its monolithic roar, the knowing hilarity of its lyrics ("Judy Is a Punk" crams the SLA, the Ice Capades, and a salute to Herman's Hermits into a 90-second frame), and the impulse to blast it for everyone within earshot: Hey, listen to this. Embracing and rewriting rock & roll history at once, Ramones speeded up heavy music, adding a pop patina to songs inspired by horror movies and glue sniffing, and claiming a great Chris Montez tune ("Let's Dance") from the supposedly fallow period that had fallen between Elvis and the Beatles. Absurdist, yeah (how could anything with Joey's super-affected Liverpool-via-Queens accent be otherwise?) and also smart: "Havana Affair" is the greatest song about the cold war this side of Dylan. This remastered edition complements the original LP with a slew of demos, including a Spectoresque "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," and the single version of "Blitzkrieg Bop," that, equally prophetically, puts Joey's vocal through a mixing trick that makes him sound like he's on the mic at a football game. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (58)

A true piece of Americana
If the United States were to bury a time capsule, the music representative should be this record. Not only is it great to listen to on an induvidual basis, but it's importance to popular music today is incredible. Johnny's roaring guitar fuzz, Dee's Dee's heart stomping bass, and Tommy's pulsating drumming capped off by Joey's vocals kickstarted an entire new musical genre. At a time when popular music was dominated by bands like Led Zeppelin and Rush playing eight and nine minute songs with four minute pointless guitar solos, as well as that thing called disco, the Ramones took rock and roll back to what it was in the first place, a simple and fun song. That is what this album is, a collection of real rock and roll songs. These sound quite simply like Beatles-esque songs played very loud and very fast. This record is essential for any comprehensive collection.

The shot heard 'round the world
In retrospect, it's easy to overlook how revolutionary and different this album was when it hit the streets in the second half of the '70s. Just play a Yes album, a Styx album, or an Emerson, Lake & Palmer album beside it to try to get an understanding.

Recorded for barely over $6,000, The Ramones' debut album broke all the rules of pompous '70s rock and a new type of music was "invented" in the process: punk rock. Not very different from '50s and '60s rock, just a lot louder and faster. No solos, just a bunch of power chords and catchy melodies.

Not counting the bonus songs, there are 14 songs on this album. None of them are longer than 2:32, and many of them come in at under two minutes. It's all over in less than half an hour. But there's more packed into those 30 minutes than many bands pack into an entire career.

The sound quality is very raw. However, the remastering has made the lows a bit lower and everything a bit crisper, making everything seem even more powerful than before. Dee Dee's bass is shoved into the left speaker, Johnny's guitar screams from the right, and Tommy's drums thud relentlessly in the background. On top of this, Joey spits out his lyrics with his unique accent and equally unique delivery.

And even though this album would have been a landmark just for the aforementioned qualities, the songwriting is strong as well. Everyone knows "Blitzkrieg Bop (Hey Ho Let's Go)," but every one of these tracks is fantastic. "Judy is a Punk" is my personal favorite, with three verses, three choruses and an instrumental break all packed into 90 seconds.

After this album was released, a whole new batch of bands started up. Suddenly, it didn't matter if you couldn't play like Keith Emerson or Steve Howe, all that mattered was how much you believed in yourself and your music. The Ramones were probably the first somewhat popular band to use its limitations in a positive way, and many other soon followed: The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Blondie, Talking Heads, U2, etc. Had it not been for The Ramones, these bands might not have formed, let alone have been signed to a major record label.

Quite simply, one of the most important - and fun - albums ever made.

REAL PUNK!!!!
I don't know what the HELL Infedel is talkin about!! The Ramones INVENTED punk!! Avril isn't punk, she is pop (IMO she is crap). The Ramones rule, best damn band ever!

Don't Listen to the Infidel
The Infidel, I pray to God you were kidding. This music is incredible. Avril Lavigne is not punk, she's pop. blink-182 is not punk, it's pop. Good Charlotte is not punk, it's pop. The Ramones are punk. They invented punk. If it weren't for The Ramones, Avril Lavigne wouldn't be able to call herself punk. But anyways, onto the cd. This cd is incredible. Has some of the best Ramones songs on it, and the one song that when you think of the Ramones you think of, Bliztrkieg Bop. This might be a bit corny, but go get one of your friends and say to them: "Hey Ho! Let's Go!(buy The Ramones)!"

The 6 Thousand Dollar Album
Gentlemen (chuckle), we can rebuild the seventies. We can make the world's first Junk Rock Record. The RAMONES will be that record! It will bet better than it was before: simpler, LOUDER, FASTER. We will use Marshall amps and turn it up to 11. We will abandon guitar solos and over the top jamming, as well as replacing every drum solo and fill with screwed up 4/4 signatures and cymbal crashes. We will boil syrupy 70's schmaltz ballads in the battery acid of our amplifiers and make the record sound like the whole decade is being ground up in a garbage disposal. We will pay tounge-in-your-girlfriend's- cheek homage to horror movies (Chainsaw), child abuse (Beat on the Brat), drug abuse (I Wanna Sniff Some Glue), political abuse (Havana Affair), dope fiend street hustlers (53rd and 3rd), romance (I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend), and the inevitable bust ups (Loudmouth). We will also bookend this plate of punk with the ultimate gameplan (Today Your Love, Tommorow The World), and the epitome of glorious calls to trashing good fun in Blitzkrieg Bop. We will crush everything the 70's has smeared on us or we will scare the record buyer right out of the friggin store..oops, we scared the friggin record buyers right out of the store and developed a rabid cult following instead. Oh well, who needs those pinheads anyway! Count it Dee Dee! "1234." Belt it out in your best Mersey-meets-Queens accent Joey, "Hey ho! Let's go!" ... Read more

Reviews (146)

Another Great Green Day Album.
This punk band just doesn't stop. This CD, their fourth one so far, exceeds the quality of Dookie and is almost as good as Nimrod. It's only 32 minutes long, though, but in those 32 mintutes they never stop. It just one roaring song after another. The best ones are "Armatage Shanks," "Brat," "Stuart and the Ave.," and "Brain Stew," which is definitely one of Green Day's best songs. In fact, here's my list of what I think are Green Day's top five songs. 1. Good Riddance (Nimrod) 2. When I Come Around (Dookie) 3. Brain Stew (Insomniac) 4. Basket Case (Dookie) 5. 2000 Light Years Away (Kerplunk!)

Don't ignore insomniac
Green day's 4th album - released in 1995, 'Insomniac' came between Their best selling albums Dookie and Nimrod. It may be easy to ignore this one because it is not rated as highly as dookie and nimrod and probably rightfully so. But this album still has a few very good songs spread over 14 tracks.It has been said to be Green day in their purest punk form and it does have a different feeling to it. This is how I rate each track.

1. Armatage shanks - 9/10 great start to the album and one of the better songs.
2. Brat - 8/10 - catchy tune and fast paced but it is about wanting your parents to die to get your inheritance - kindof funny in a disturbing way.
3. Stuck with me - 9/10 - this song really grew on me 4 some reason - one of the better songs again.
4. Geek stink breath - 8/10 - has a cool guitar rift in the middle.
5.No pride - 10/10 - probably my favorite song on this album.
6.Bab's uvula who? - 5/10 - dont really like this 1.
7.86 - 10/10 - great song as well - maybe 2nd best on album
8.Panic song - 7/10 this 1ns alrite.
9.stuart and the ave - quite a catchy tune but not one of the best on the album - 7.5/10
10.Brain stew - 5/10 - this is supposed to be the best song on this album but its all a bit slow and repeditive for me.
11. Jaded - 5/10 - really just a wind down from Brain stew. Both of these songs made it to International superhits?
12. Westbound sign - 8/10 - fast paced song again - cool tune.
13. tight wad hill - 6/10 - nothing special.
14. Walking contradiction - 9/10 mean lyrics and a good end to the album.

So there are some good and some average songs on this album but it is still worth buying/ripping from Kazaa or sumthing.Don't ignore this if you already have dookie and nimrod - it might take a while to get used to as well.

Nothing skippable
When I listen to Warning, I ignore the first four songs and then play the rest (which is all brilliant) straight. With Dookie, I always skip Pulling Teeth, Chump, and Sassafras Roots. On Nimrod, Take Back and Walking Alone are clearly subpar. Insomniac may not have some of the greats, but the CD is great because it has practically nothing weak.

Armatage Shanks- Very good starting song. It's not "Nice Guys Finish Last," but it and "Burnout" compete for GD's best opener. Only one weak point in the whole song, a part where they kinda echo; I think it detracts from the song, but the rest is genius. 9.5/10

Brat- One of my two least favorite on the CD. I don't know why, this just isn't my favorite. 7/10

Stuck With Me- Definately top 3. I loved in on Superhits, and the more you listen, the more it grows on you. 10/10

Geek Stink Breath- Very nice. Just not up to par with some of the greats. 9/10

No Pride- Also a very good song. "Dignity's a landmine," and "to hell with unity" are good lines. 9/10

Bab's Uvula Who?- A bit repetitive, but still quite good. 8/10

86- The other weak point of the CD. A lot lighter than the rest. This reminds me a lot of something No Fun At All would do. The chorus makes me think of "Celestial Q&A." It's one of NFAA's better songs, but it's one of Green Day's weaker ones. Shows the difference between the two. 7/10

Panic Song- This one depends on how you listen to it. A long (two seconds short of two minutes) instrumental intro begins to get boring if you're focused completely on the song, but when your attention is divided, it pulses with energy, the excitement growing as it gets closer to the beginning of the lyrics, which are awesome. "The world is a sick machine breeding a mass of sh*t." 9/10

Stuart and the Ave.- Great lyrics, insanely catchy. Definately top three on this CD. "Destiny is dead in the hands of bad luck. Before it might have made some sense, but now it's all f*cked up." 10/10

Brain Stew- everyone knows this song. At first I thought it was boring, as it is very repetitive, but it's also very catchy, and not a bad song as long as you don't get Jaded by listening to the radio to often.- 9/10

Jaded- speaking of Jaded...I don't think you CAN get Jaded with this song. By far the fastest song on the CD, and I like fast music. Easily the best on the CD. One of GD's best. 10+/10

Westbound Sign- It slows down a lot whenever they say "West...something." The other parts are cool. Especially the bridge. 8.5/10

Tight Wad Hill- This definately sounds like another GD song, I just can't place which one. It's really bugging me too. Sounds maybe a bit redundant due to the familiarity. 8/10

Walking Contradiction- A good song, but the lyrics make it a great one. "Talk is cheap and lies are expensive," and "Call 'em as I see 'em even if I was born deaf, blind and dumb." 9/10

By the way, songs usually repeat the title a bunch in the lyrics. Not here. Four songs ("Walking Contradiction," "No Pride," "86," and "Westbound Sign" repeat the title multiple times in the lyrics. "Stuart and the Ave." says the title once (in the first line) and "Geek Stink Breath" also says it once, though it's in an almost unintelligable last line. I think "Brat" may use that word once or twice. The other SEVEN songs make no reference at all to their titles. Weird, but pretty cool.

Green Day Get Pissed
If "Dookie" is a sort of concept album about the trials and tribulations of growing up, then its followup, the equally great "Insomniac", is about what happens when everyone turns against you.
Almost of these fourteen songs are attacks to all of the kids and critics who called them sell out or said that Green Day weren't real punks.
"Armhatage Shanks" starts off the proceddings and tells you all you need to know about the record: musically, its the same old Green Day, but lyrical, Billie Joe seems to be hurting from the backlash. The record follows suit for the next fourteen songs, rarely treading on Green Day's formula of two and a half minute power pop songs, with only the hardcore edged "Jaded", changing things up.
But this is all okay by me. This record is just as good, if not better, than "Dookie". The songs are just as catchy, the lyrics just as anthemic, and the record holds up just as well. Sure it didn't have hits the size of "Basket Case" or "When I Come Around", but that makes this one even better. You don't hear anything off "Insomniac" on the radio, with the exception of the records one weak point, "Brain Stew", on the radio every bloody day.
You should all ready know if your going to like "Insomniac", and nothing I'm going to say is going to change your opinion. But if you like Green Day and don't have this yet, then you are in for yet another great record from Green Day.

insomniac won't put you to sleep!!!
Insomniac is a very good cd. It has my favorite song on it and it has some other good songs too. If you don't have this cd, then you should buy it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like most true originals, the Ramones embodied a dizzying array of contradictions. As punk godfathers, they became the archetype for a rebellious musical ethos that could often confuse the baby for the bath water, yet at heart they were 1960s pop- and bubblegum-worshipping reactionaries. The seeming unity symbolized by their street-hood uniform (ripped jeans, deck shoes, and black leather jackets) and name (nicked from an early nom de plume of Beatle Paul) belied turmoil both personal and personnel. And the dumber-than-dumb stance of the likes of "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue," "Cretin Hop," and "Teenage Lobotomy" actually masked some of the shrewdest rock ever recorded. If Rhino/Warner Archive's two-disc anthology seems like hardly enough room to document a band with a quarter-century legacy, it's good to remember that the Ramones prided themselves on stripping every song they attempted to its elemental core, then halving it again with their patented buzzsaw, double-stop tempo. Journalist David Fricke's enclosed history is telling, if ironically packaged in a glossy hard-back edition that seems more befitting the likes of Fleetwood Mac. The nearly five dozen tracks here, reaching from the early '70s to the late '90s, stand remarkably outside of time--just like true originals. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (73)

The end of 'pinhead' reviews...
Okay, a lot of the die-hard Ramones geeks have cast their ballot in favour of trashing this superb compilation, simply because it's not full of b-sides that were relegated to b-side status for a very good reason! This is a review on the album as a 'greatest hits' collection, not a mindless gripe on what songs should have been put on according to the pettiness of a few kids.

Having said all of that, the only reason this collection doesn't get 5 stars from me is because there are too many Ramones compilations on the market already. And by the time the boys decided to (finally, thankfully) call it a day, they had released so much tripe in the later years that they forgot to put together a 'definitive' collection that includes the last ten years or so.

This is the one to get. It's chock-full of their best material (including the import-only "Carbona Not Glue"), and their most representative material as well. Most of the video-based tunes are here, and the selection is chronological, unlike the mind-warping 'Best of Smiths' albums. The liner notes are decent, and they've put on JUST EN0UGH to satiate even the die-hardest die-hard for his/her desert island collection.

Anybody who complains about why there isn't a box set is missing the point; until there IS a box set, this is the one to buy. Especially recommended for the uninitiated.

This is a good starting point
Ramones claim to be the first punk rock band in the world, and this would mean that punk rock originally came from America and not from England. Well, it depends on your definition of punk rock, so I'll leave it up to you' In my opinion, Ramones have something attractive to them, not taking the whole thing so bloody serious. But Ramones were also more talented than many of the other punk rockers, who obviously were in it mostly for fame and the opportunity to shock your parents. To me, Ramones are more of a traditional rock band than a punk-rock band, and they sure have their place in music history as an important band that influenced rock 'n' roll.

Throughout their career, Ramones have been rather uneven, making some brilliant songs but also a lot of .... On the excellent side you got songs like 'Sheena is a punk rocker', 'Beat on the brat', 'I wanna be your boyfriend', 'Poison heart' and 'I believe in miracles' among others, and they're all present on this compilation. If you're not a dedicated Ramones fan, I'm sure this 'best of' is all you need. You'll probably discover that you love a lot of the songs but also that a decent amount of tunes will do nothing at all for you. I think it would be fair to say that one half of the included songs are very good, while the other half is rather bad. As far as compilations goes, I think this one is great and although there's a lot of songs I don't like at all I'll lean toward giving it all 4 stars.

Never Mind The Sex Pistols, Here Come The Ramones!
Hey Ho Let's Go! Ramones Anthology(1999). The Ramones' Second Compilation.

Back in the Mid. to Late 70's, Underground Punk was taking the world by storm, with bands such as The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and The Pixies dominating the Punk Scene. But one lone American band, taking influences from The New York Dolls and The Stooges, called The Ramones, were just as popular. Adding more traditional Rock N Roll to Punk, The Ramones were one of Punk's most influential bands, and were one of Kurt Cobain's biggest influences for his band Nirvana. Although nobody would say they were incredibly talented, The Ramones were able to mold a catchy, hooky, Punk tune, emphasizing vocals and inane lyrics to appeal to listeners, while always having the chugging guitar right behind it. So it's no surprise, at the Turn of the Century, The Ramones released a massive 2-Disc career retrospective, containing almost 60 songs, and a booklet containing The Ramones ENTIRE career. So how does Hey Ho Let's Go-Ramones Anthology stack up? Read on to find out?

PROS-

-ALMOST SIXTY SONGS ON TWO DISCS!- The Ramones Anthology has 58 songs on TWO(!) discs, so you can expect bank for your buck!
-HAS ALL OF THE RAMONES' BIGGEST HITS!-The Ramones Anthology has instantly recognizeable hits such as "Blitzkrieg Bop", "California Sun", and "I Wanna Be Sedated", which won't fail to please Casual fans!
-SO MANY UNDERRATED MASTERPIECES!-The Ramones Anthology is basically made up of underrated masterpieces, including "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio?", "Judy Is A Punk", and so many more!
-COVERS ALL OF THE RAMONES ALBUMS- From 'The Ramones' to 'Adios Amigos', The Ramones Anthology has songs from every album, making this a superb retrospective!
-EACH DISC FULLS UP THE 80 MINUTE LIMIT!-Unlike most compilations, The Ramones Anthology takes up almost 80 Minutes on each Disc, showing you get what you paid for!
-THE BOOKLET IS A VIRTUAL HISTORY ON THE RAMONES!-The Booklet for The Ramones Anthology is 80 pages(!), making it the longest, most detailed, and interesting booklet I've ever read through! Great!

CONS-

-EXPENSIVE!-The Ramones Anthology will set you back 30 Dollars, while 'The Ramones Mania' and 'Loud, Fast Ramones:Their Toughest Hits' will only set you back Fifteen Dollars, making it less accessible to casual fans.
-NO NEW TRACKS!-The Ramones Anthology has no new tracks, so it's basically worthless to Diehard fans, and it's too expensive for casual fans, making it very inaccessible.

Overall, Hey Ho Let's Go- The Ramones Anthology is a very good and detailed compilation, but casual fans and diehard fans may be turned off because of its lack of new material and price. But, if you were only going to buy one thing by The Ramones, I would suggest picking this up. If your a casual fan, I recommend the 'Ramones Mania' compilation, because it's also very good and a lot cheaper.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO BUY ONE THING BY THE
RAMONES, YOU SHOULD BUY THIS! IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SHELL OUT 30
DOLLARS, IN THE END THIS COMPILATION IS WORTH IT!

Also Recommended-

The Essential-Clash
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here Come The Sex Pistols!-Sex Pistols
The Very Best Of-The Pixies

Thanks For Reading!

Most overrated band rock has ever known
Accalimed by all sections of the critical community for supposedly having revitalised music at a time when rock was supposedly being taken to excess, the Ramones have enjoyed the status of legends especially since the death of lead singer Joey Ramone after a long battle with cancer and bassist Dee Dee Ramone from a drug overdose a year later.

It is thought by so many that the Ramones placed into rock and roll a completely new attitude of not caring about what others thought and of wanting no acceptance. In fact, this "don't care" attitude has been typical of famous rockers for many years, and even at their most confrontational that Ramones were not nearly dangerous than most of the heavy metal they went out to destroy.

Moreover, the Ramones'music really can only be described a childishly simple and at the same time mechanical. Whilst there certainly is room for childlike naïvette in music (say, with ESG's superb "A South Bronx Story"), the Ramones on a song like "Now I Want To Sniff Some Glue" are totally calculated to sound like children in order to annoy grown-ups and for no other reason at all. The lyrics, to put it bluntly, are designed to appeal perfectly to young children who want to vet out the most trivial complaints or express the most simple and shallow desires. Such songs as "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" and "Judy Is A Punk" say it succintly enough of themselves.

The music, whilst truly stripped-down, actually has no more emotional power than most rock and roll of the time, and it must be seriously described as grating in its inane repetitiveness. There is never anything more than guitars, bass and drums played in a format that aimed to update to a louder and faster extreme the basics of 1950s and early 1960s rock and roll but ended up hitting no targets whatsover: it can seem OK at first but really it is in no way likeable. Claims of the band's supposedly great influence of succeeding generations of alternative rock seem dubious in most repects, for there is no hint of darkness in the music, nor depth. Moreover, if the Ramones' playing was simple, it was not because they were naïve and had no understanding of rock music: it was because they wanted strip music of any ornations, subtlety or thoughtfulness just to make it "fun". In the latter repect, the Ramones cannot be said to have succeeded, either.

I might be brave in saying this, but for all their acceptance the Ramones must be seen as the most overrated band in the music world. There is music much more distinctive, much more powerful, and much more beautiful to be heard.

Never Mind the Sex Pistols, Here Come The Ramones!
Hey Ho Let's Go! Ramones Anthology(1999). The Ramones' Second Compilation.

Back in the Mid. to Late 70's, Underground Punk was taking the world by storm, with bands such as The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and The Pixies dominating the Punk Scene. But one lone American band, taking influences from The New York Dolls and The Stooges, called The Ramones, were just as popular. Adding more traditional Rock N Roll to Punk, The Ramones were one of Punk's most influential bands, and were one of Kurt Cobain's biggest influences for his band Nirvana. Although nobody would say they were incredibly talented, The Ramones were able to mold a catchy, hooky, Punk tune, emphasizing vocals and inane lyrics to appeal to listeners, while always having the chugging guitar right behind it. So it's no surprise, at the Turn of the Century, The Ramones released a massive 2-Disc career retrospective, containing almost 60 songs, and a booklet containing The Ramones ENTIRE career. So how does Hey Ho Let's Go-Ramones Anthology stack up? Read on to find out?

PROS-

-ALMOST SIXTY SONGS ON TWO DISCS!- The Ramones Anthology has 58 songs on TWO(!) discs, so you can expect bank for your buck!
-HAS ALL OF THE RAMONES' BIGGEST HITS!-The Ramones Anthology has instantly recognizeable hits such as "Blitzkrieg Bop", "California Sun", and "I Wanna Be Sedated", which won't fail to please Casual fans!
-SO MANY UNDERRATED MASTERPIECES!-The Ramones Anthology is basically made up of underrated masterpieces, including "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "Do You Remember Rock N Roll Radio?", "Judy Is A Punk", and so many more!
-COVERS ALL OF THE RAMONES ALBUMS- From 'The Ramones' to 'Adios Amigos', The Ramones Anthology has songs from every album, making this a superb retrospective!
-EACH DISC FULLS UP THE 80 MINUTE LIMIT!-Unlike most compilations, The Ramones Anthology takes up almost 80 Minutes on each Disc, showing you get what you paid for!
-THE BOOKLET IS A VIRTUAL HISTORY ON THE RAMONES!-The Booklet for The Ramones Anthology is 80 pages(!), making it the longest, most detailed, and interesting booklet I've ever read through! Great!

CONS-

-EXPENSIVE!-The Ramones Anthology will set you back 30 Dollars, while 'The Ramones Mania' and 'Loud, Fast Ramones:Their Toughest Hits' will only set you back Fifteen Dollars, making it less accessible to casual fans.
-NO NEW TRACKS!-The Ramones Anthology has no new tracks, so it's basically worthless to Diehard fans, and it's too expensive for casual fans, making it very inaccessible.

Overall, Hey Ho Let's Go- The Ramones Anthology is a very good and detailed compilation, but casual fans and diehard fans may be turned off because of its lack of new material and price. But, if you were only going to buy one thing by The Ramones, I would suggest picking this up. If your a casual fan, I recommend the 'Ramones Mania' compilation, because it's also very good and a lot cheaper.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO BUY ONE THING BY THE RAMONES, YOU SHOULD BUY THIS! IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SHELL OUT 30 DOLLARS, IN THE END THIS COMPILATION IS WORTH IT!

Also Recommended-

The Essential-Clash
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here Come The Sex Pistols!-Sex Pistols
The Very Best Of-The Pixies

Thanks For Reading! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1972, when rock & roll was all but dead in Manhattan, five cross-dressing glam punks from the boroughs convened and began hammering out crude, sub-Chuck Berry rock for the downtown in-crowd. It took another year before a record company dared to sign them, thus foisting The New York Dolls on an essentially uninterested world. Taking their cue from the band's guitarist/Keefalike Johnny Thunders, hardcore Dolls fans pooh-poohed Todd Rundgren's production as wimpy: twenty-five years after its release, songs like "Personality Crisis" and "Looking for a Kiss" sound more trashily invigorating than ever. With the Rolling Stones finished as a vital force by '73, the doomed Dolls were there to step into the void. A classic. --Barney Hoskyns ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Nearly A Classic....
I know what I'm saying might be regarded by some of the other reviewers here as heresy (especially as - and I probably should declare this - I'm a big NY Dolls Fan), but this album should be better regarded as a bold statement of intent to what was to come on "Too Much, Too Soon". So what's the deal? One absolute, all-time classic "Lookin' for a Kiss", three or four really good songs, another three or four good ones, the rest indifferent - the problem is the album is too unfocussed; You're blown away by the opening pairing of "Personality Crisis" and "Looking For A Kiss" (probably the best start to an album I've ever heard...) and then unfortunately you're into the pretentious dirge of Vietnamese Baby. Things improves with the pleasant pop of Lonely Planet Boy, and then quickly disimprove with the over-the-top epic Frankenstein. After this, it's easy to understand why people might be dissuaded from going to side two.

Which is a pity - "Pills", "Subway Train", "Trash" are all great trashy glam-blues-punk-whatever rock songs and the rest isn't bad either. The problem really is in the Track selection - why couldn't "Frankenstein" and "Vietnamese Baby" have been left off and instead replaced by some inspired covers, as on Too Much Too Soon? "Give Him a Great Big Kiss" springs to mind.

In case all of this is a little too bitchy (it probably is), "Lookin' for A Kiss" is worth the price of the CD alone, and 80% of the rest of the album is damn good. I'll give it 4 stars, but (sigh) it could so easily have been a 5...

What? You don't already own this?
Having just re-listened to this album a few days ago, the same recurring thought hit me every time the record ends: why can't they make 'em like this anymore?

From beginning to end, this is uber-classic rock'n'roll at its finest, and what's still amazing is that over 30 years later, it's still as vital and fresh as ever.

From the gutter-punk raunch of "Trash", "Personality Crisis", and "Looking For A Kiss", the album subtle melds Chuck Berry to Iggy & The Stooges, but injects more than its fair share of original licks that have yet to be topped even to this very day. "Lonely Planet Boy" is the doo-wop classic that never was, and "Pills" sounds just as potent unplugged as it does here in this steamrolling version.

My personal favourite has to be "Subway Train", which crystalizes the ethos of the Dolls in under 4 1/2 minutes. The follow-up "Too Much Too Soon" is equally good, but less rife with classics. Get 'em both anyway.

would have been bigger then life.
In the 70's the new york dolls did a tour with two off the biggest bands ever areosmith and kiss. The only thing about this tour was that the new york dolls headlined the tour. If it wasn't for horione the new york dolls would have been bigger then life itself, and johnny thunders would have been in the rock and roll hall of fame buy this album listen to great music buy some of the greatest.

raw and beautiful and full of energy
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It is so raw and beautiful and full of energy and emotion and no one plays the guitar like Johnny Thunders...

I've gone through so many copies of this recording, the cassettes wore out, the vinyl is thrashed and now the CD needs replacement. That's a lot of listening and it's still not enough. From start to finish this record is great - no filler or throwaway songs to speak of. Just full on rock and roll at it's finest.

"Mick who?"
Ah, the Dolls. More than any other band, they were the epitome of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle (them and The Stooges..but that's another story). They didn't just burn the candle at both ends--they used a blowtorch on the middle. All the drug-crazed, trashily androgynous, Rolling Stones-in-drag insanity of the New York Dolls was woefully short-lived, but the result was a breakthrough 1973 LP that was a huge influence on the future punk movement. The Ramones (guitarist Johnny Thunders was a friend of Dee Dee Ramone's) and the Sex Pistols (Malcom McLaren managed the Dolls before there even was a Johnny Rotten) probably wouldn't have existed without Johnny Thunders and David Johansen to show them the way.

Way grittier and wilder than their glam rock kin (David Bowie and T. Rex), the Dolls basically updated the early rock 'n' roll of Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. What the Dolls lacked in instrumental prowess they made up for in reckless sexual abandon and crazy R&B swagger. Thunders' guitar is HUGE, sloppy, and manic, and his filthy riffs and solos are what make this album. But let's not forget the trashy wit and great singing of Johanson, Sylvain Sylvain's piano, Jerry Nolan's crashing drums, and bassist Arthur Kane...well, he sucked, but you barely heard him over the wonderfully shambolic boogie anyway.

The opener Personality Crisis establishes everything the Dolls were about--stomping piano, riproaring guitar, and Johanson's cocky swagger and crazy vocals. The 1-2-3 punch of Personality Crisis, Looking For A Kiss, and Vietnamese Baby is then followed by the short reprive of Lonely Planet Boy. The epic Frankenstein brings the rawk back, and it is immediately followed by the insanely addictive sing-a-long Trash. The album ends with Jet Boy, which hooks you with the biggest freakin' chorus ever. Filler? What filler? Every song rules. They're so good that you will almost forget about Todd Rundgren's godawful production. Almost.

The New York Dolls' first release ranks up there with The Stooges' Fun House and The MC5's Kick Out The Jams as the definitive proto-punk album. Barring that, it may be the greatest pure rock 'n' roll document EVER. You need this one. ... Read more

Reviews (93)

The best Green Day CD
I got into their later stuff before this. But I must say, this is green day at their best. Each song on here gives you a totally different vibe as to what is going on in their lives. At this point in time in their careers they were so unknown that it made their music so much better than it could be now.

1. 2000 Light Years Away - Catchy and almost too sweet, but perfect for everyone's 'long lost love'

2. One For The Razorbacks - Another catchy tune, great placing on the album

3. Welcome to Paradise - This is the pre-dookie version of this song, and it is the better version. It's more punk than the dookie version and you get more of a feel for what Billie Joe is saying...just listen to both versions and you'll get what i mean

4. Christie Road - This is one of my favorite songs on this album, it's very hard to explain why. But Billie Joe turned a place where he and his friends used to smoke pot into a wonderful punk song.

5. Private Ale - Another catchy punk rock tune. It's a hard to explain though.

6. Dominated Love Slave - Tre Cool's entrance into the band comes from this song. It is an earlier, more redneck, version of Blood Sex and Booze (From WARNING:). It's enough to give anyone a laugh.

7. One of My Lies - Another catchy great writing job by Billie Joe

8. 80 - This song is about Billie Joe's wife Adrienne, this song is ridiculously sweet, but it is so easy to relate to.

9. Android - The lyrics to this song almost seem like a predecessor to "basketcase" but all the same its an awesome song.

10. No One Knows - My second favorite song on this album. It is a great song about being confused and not knowing what to do. It's more mellow than the rest and has an awesome bass line.

11. Who Wrote Holden Caulfield? - My personal favorite. This song was written after Billie Joe read "Catcher in the Rye". This song has an awesome guitar line to it.

12. Words I Might Have Ate - Another great catchy tune, and wonderful writing job by Billie Joe.

13. Sweet Children - You can totally get the vibe of this song just from the title.

14. Best Thing In Town - This is another great song by Billie Joe

15. Strangleland - same as best thing in town, just a great song.

16. My Generation - A cover of The Who's song, but a very good one, i believe that Mike Dirnt has a little lead vocal on it in the beginning, all very cool.

This is the best green day album in my personal opinion, and i think that any green day fan should get it...it's just an awesome cd, and it foreshadows how great their other albums will be.

Kerplunk is Green Day kerPUNK!
Green Day's second and final album with Lookout! Records, and much better quality than the first album off the Lookout! label (more funding went into this one). Includes first recording of the punk rock trio's hit 'Welcome To Paradise'. 'Christie Road' is a slower paced song about a place to escape to, much in the theme of the young Green Day. 'Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?', a song based on the main character in the classic book 'Catcher In The Rye' by J.D. Salinger, and The Monkees inspired 'Words I Might Have Ate' closes the album before the 4-track recording of the very early Green Day, Sweet Children. These and many more Green Day material make up the Kerplunk collection, which seem to be very much inspired by singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong's early musical interests. A fantastic Green Day album if you're into them, 'Kerplunk' has many punk-pop tunes that should keep you entertained until they release something new!

Damn good old school green day
before"warning''and "waiting"green day's sound was a fast paced,melodic punk sound that could get stuck in your head for a year.This album is catchy as hell and has great melodic punk beats.Standout track are "80"and "2000 light years away"

Getting Closer To Becoming Alternative Rock Legends...
After Green Day released 1,039/Smooth in 1990 and going on their first tour, they released their second album, which would be their last for Lookout! Records. Also, this was their first album with Frank Edwin Wright III (better known as Tre Cool) behind the drum kit.

If 1,039/Smooth was more unpolished and punk, then this album has slightly more of a "Dookie" feel, but still raw. For "Kerplunk!", Green Day's overall feel was, 'If it ain't broke, why fix it?'. And fix it they didn't. For the most part, it features Green Day's now infamous and loved three-chord, two-to-three-minute punk-pop style. But WAIT! That's not all. For a few tracks, Billie Joe and company tried some experimentation...

A hick love song. ("Dominated Love Slave")
Acoustic Guitars. ("Words I Might Have Ate")
A ballad. ("No One Knows")

And, also on this CD, are four extra tracks recorded by Green Day when they were 15, under the title "Sweet Children". The songs on here are actually really good, including a punk rock version of The Who's "My Generation". (Take that, Wimp Bizkit.)

One thing to notice on this album: Green Day improved their songwriting skills. Take this line from "One Of My Lies": "Why does my life have to be so small / and death is forever / and does forever have a life to call its own?". Or "No One Knows": "Call me irresponsible / call me habitual / but when you think of me / does it fill your head with schemes? / Better think again / 'cause no one knows." Somehow I doubt that the Juliana Theory can come up with that. (Or anything beyond breaking up with your girlfriend.) So there's talent to be had here.

Anyway, if you want to hear some great vintage Green Day, check this one out.

(Insert Exciting Adjective Here)
Following up the excellent "1,039", Green Day had a lot of work to do. And even though "Kerplunk" isn't better, it is still an excellent view of the lesser known indie records.
The sound is still the same as it was before and the way it would stay for a while. The guitar chords are punchy, with Mike Dirnt adding in bass lines infectious you will be humming them for weeks, and new drummer Tre Cool doind his best imitation of the Ramones on the drums.
The take of "Welcome to Paradise" doesn't really differ from its "dookie: counterpart" except for the production value, and their cover of the Who's anthem "My Generation" wears down after a few listens, but the rest of the songs on here you'll want to hear over and over again.
Add to that a funny little story in the booklet, and "Kerplunk" is well worth your time and hard earned money. ... Read more

Album Description

Green Day's first album "39/Smooth" is back in a brand new deluxe edition. Originally released in 1990 and selling over 900,000 copies to date, this album was the world's first glimpse of Green Day's unique blend of punk rock energy, melodic riffs and self depreciating charm. Green Day is the most popular punk band in the world today with millions of fans all over the world. Every track has been re-mastered from the original tapes by Bernie Grundman in 2003. This historic album sounds better than ever, and is available at a new low price. More for Less, how can that be wrong? Special Features * Enhanced CD! * Over 20 minutes of live video performances from 1990-1991 * Vintage photos, handwritten lyrics by Billie Joe and flyer art * Live radio performance and interview from 1991 * Included are the band's first two 7 inch EPs "1000 Hours" from 1989, "Slappy" from 1990 plus a compilation track from 1991 * The CD package has been redesigned by the original artist into a deluxe embossed digipack with a twelve page booklet including more art and photos from the original vinyl releases. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

It *does* sound better...
I'm not going to review this album again, considering I already did a couple of months back. Instead, I'll just answer the big question: is the new remastered, enhanced version really worth the purchase?

I think so.

Here are a few reasons why:
1. The enhanced CD features are really neat. You can look at old, previously unseen pictures of the band when they were young, listen to acoustic versions of "Paper Lanterns" and others that were previously only on the radio, etc.
2. New artwork. It's not much, but it's pretty cool to have.
3. The remastering. Honestly, when I first put it in my CD player, I said, "That's it?! It doesn't sound any different to me!" But then I put it in my discman... I was wrong. There's a difference. Now everything sounds louder and clearer, and like another reviewer said, it breathes new life into old songs.

Also, there is a version out there that has a free large Green Day t-shirt and sticker pack for the same price. That's the one I got, so look for it, although I don't know if it's limited edition or not.

Overall, if you don't have the original copy of 1,039/Smooth, and you want to buy it, make it this one. It's got all the extra features listed above, it sounds better, and oh yeah, it's cheaper. If you have the original, it's also worth checking out. Snoogins.

greendays great debut
The fact that this album is less known is unfortunate, because its green day at their best. This cd and Kerplunk are the oldest but the best of their albums. Some guy in an old rundown cd store (school feild trip), had this cd on his counter several years back. I had never seen it and had all the other green day cds to date. I asked him about it. He said that it was very rare and couldnt be bought in US. He said it was in his personal collection but that he would sell it to me for 35 bucks.Ass hole. Me (not knowing you can buy it almost anywhere) bought it for 35 dollars. Although i was pissed off when i found out, i think it was worth the money. A must have for any green day fan.

Same old Sound
Disappointed for the most part...the extras are cool but not nearly enough to justify a re-release. Other bands I've been a fan of have re-released old stuff, but took the time to make the music 100 times better....redid guitar tracks, vocals, etc., made it more polished. The actual music from the album sounds exactly like it did in 1991. A great album, don't get me wrong, but don't expect a wall of guitar sound now. It's the same as it was. If a couple of songs off a concert video interest you or a handful of songs from an old radio show interest you...spend the money. If you're a fan and have never purchased this album...spend the money. If you're old like me and bought this in 1991, save your money....it's been there, done that. On the bright side, I didn't buy the last couple Green Day albums so I'm still ahead in the long run. ALL, no ALL!

Better than Before?
I will readily admit that I was a bit skeptical about this re-release, but my fears have been silenced after purchasing it. It breathes new life into old songs, and gives this album the sound it deserves. A MUST OWN for Green Day fans - even if you have the original version.

My favorite Green Day CD
That's right I like this one the best. I can't believe only one other person left a "review" for this so far. So for those who missed out on this one becuase it was released before Green Day was a popular group, you really should check this one out. There are a lot of good songs on here, and it's a MUCH better album compared to the last Green Day CD I bought, "Warning". Totally recommended for Green Day fans or fans of punk rock in general. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Maybe hanging out with Jello Biafra put the fun-loving spring in Offspring's step. Or perhaps it was just the royalty checks, hot babes, and fast cars. Whatever the case, the band's fourth record, Americana, is its most lively offering to date, replacing angst and rage with energy and sarcasm. The novelty single "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" matches infectious riffing and shout-along vocals with fly-girl chants of "Give it to me, baby" and lyrics about wannabe scenesters; and a storming punk-rock version of Morris Albert's "Feelings" sees the band hitting a new level of, er, (in)sensitivity. Elsewhere, the humor is slightly more subtle; "She's Got Issues" cops a new-wave guitar line from the Cars songbook, "The Kids Aren't Alright" opens like an Iron Maiden anthem, and "Why Don't You Get a Job?" is a blatant reggae-style spoof of the Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." Musically, Americana offers no real revelations, but the songs are a bit craftier and more diverse than the rest of the Offspring oeuvre, veering haphazardly between anthemic punk metal, blistering hardcore, and near-psychedelic experimentation. --Jon Wiederhorn ... Read more

Reviews (748)

Is pop sucess really all that it's cracked up to be?
That's the question i was asking when i heard the Offspring's fifth album to date "Americana". The pop vibe of this 11-track disc makes it almost ubearable to hear some of the songs. The parady punk "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" may have made it onto MTV's Total Request Live but it wasn't really a good song. The regaee-feel of the Beatles ripoff "Why Don't You Get A Job" also lands as a pop phenomenon gone bad. The hardcore "The Kid's Aren't Alright" has an Iron Maiden-type intro but pulls off strong while "She's Got Issues" is a rock thrash of obsene language and heavy rock music. Although, the title track proves to bring a sense of somewhat organization to this otherwise punk pop disc gone wrong, the Offspring really needed to improve from this one, so let's be glad "Conspiracy Of One" didn't totally sell it's soul to the devil to get some play on TRL.

Their most commercial album...but loads of fun
Many people have dissed The Offspring for abandoning their punk roots for this "blatant" middle-of-the-road, radio friendly rock. I say "pooh!" When you look back at a song like "Self Esteem" from SMASH (which sold even more albums, but wasn't considered as "sell-out.") you see that Dexter and the boys really have a pretty sharp sense of humor. Their lyrics may seem angry, but really, they've always put a premium on fun and irony.

PRETTY FLY is a hilarious song. No two ways about it. GET A JOB is also hysterical. Even their take on FEELINGS evokes laughter. SHE'S GOT ISSUES is an amusing companion piece to "Self Esteem." These songs are fun to sing along with. And to me, that's a pretty great measure of success. When I hear one of these on the radio, even after all these years, I CRANK it up and sing along!!

Other songs, like THE KIDS AREN'T ALRIGHT, are a bit more "serious," and they're good too, but we really remember the humor.

And the music ROCKS. These guys can create some infectious hooks, and they jam pretty hard. It's a great album!

Just as good as Smash
Almost every song on this album (...). "Pay the man" is one of the best songs. It lasts for 8 minutes and yet it isn't boring, AT ALL. If you liked Smash, you'll love this. I even find this album better than Smash. It's just total pwnage!

The Offspring have released nothing good since 1997.
Everything from Americana up to their latest album "Splinter" just sounds like macho frat-boy rock... and this is coming from someone who loves Ignition, Smash, and Ixnay in the Hombre! On Americana Dexter makes cracks like "I don't care if I'm insensitive". Now, don't get me wrong, he doesn't have to be needlessly happy or sweet, but with lyrics like these, he's just being an ass. On any of The Offspring's newer albums, you are guaranteed NOT to hear songs like the following: Jennifer Lost the War, Out on Patrol, Baghdad, Dirty Magic, LAPD, Forever and a Day, Genocide, or Gone Away. If that's a relief for you, then I question how much of a fan you are, because you obviously like their newer, hokey, testosterone-filled music that is marketed towards boys 15 and under. Back in their heyday, The Offspring used to sing about the child victims of war and abuse, police brutality, hating people but "loving them more", and sincerely mourning the loss of a loved one. Now they just sing about having hangovers, getting it up the back in prison, and other guys who get cheated on and have a "b*tch" who refuses to get freakin' job. There are more important things in life to sing about, guys. You of all people should know that.

Daniel's Review
The Offspring used to be my favourite band.I used to listen to them everyday(sometimes at night to).Americana kinda got me into the flow of it all but it's not there best,no not even close.Although I can go on and on like this I'd rather do a song by song review.

Intro:Kinda weak,kinda very weak.Lacking.I like intro's that actually have music in em'.

Have you Ever:Great song to kick off the album,with wicked riffs and a cool ending that totaly changes into this chant along thing.Greatness.10/10

Star at the Sun:Good Punk song with a really good chorus.Just plain fun.Moshing admitted.9/10

Pretty Fly for a White Guy:It's songs like this that make want to take the microphonecord and wrap it around Dexter Hollands throat.Sadly enough it's the song that introduced me to them.
1/10(just for the line"uno's dos tres quatro cinqo cinqo ces")

The Kids aren't alright:Good song,no great song one of there best.9/10

Feelings:Nah,weak bland but fast.3/10

She's got issues:Puh,another stinker.4/10

Walla Walla:Think "Cool to Hate" from Ixnay except sucky.4/10

End of the Line:I don't see the point to this song.At first it seems dark and menacing but after awhile it just get's old and boring.Average at best.5/10

No Brakes:Fast,good punk.I really like this even though it's short time through.8/10

Why don't you get a job:A song that show's off none of there musical talent but only shows that there capable of trash.0/10

Americana:Worthy of the name of the album as it's one of the best off the album with exploding lyrics like "..My future's
determined by thieves,thugs and vermin.." and hard-as-nails
guitar's.

Pay the man:I hated this song at first,but it is one of there best ever.It is so good especially that short guitar line right before the real song begins.(there's like a five minute inro).
11/10 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fugazi fans already know that this is the original gospel according to Ian MacKaye. This Washington, D.C., quartet hit harder, faster, and franker than just about anybody--and were willing to see through their own bull as quickly as anyone else's. MacKaye manages to be charismatic and confrontational at the same time: tossing brilliant, genuinely funny asides into his serious-as-a- heart-attack lyrics. Meanwhile, the band, led by Lyle Preslar's staggering guitar attack, pushes MacKaye on with the tightest, most razor-sharp sound in all of hardcore. Nothing in the punk pantheon can come close to "In My Eyes," "Out of Step," or "Salad Days." Absolutely essential. --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (151)

It's been said, but this is the BEST!!!
The first time i listened to Minor Threat, frankly, I didn't like it. The music was too fast and it was devoid of any melody(that i heard at the time). Ian's vocals were screamed so fast and unintelligibly, that it turned me off at first. At the time I was listening to Rancid, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols. I bought the Blue Minor Threat tape, thinking it would be along those lines. It wasn't. But there was something infectious about the music that kept me coming back for more. I didn't know what straight edge meant at the time,(i thought it was some reference to cocaine) and I wan't sure what the hell Ian was talking about. Then I started analyzing the lyrics. They cut with such razor sharp poingancy and heartfelt honesty that the music started to make my stomach churn. I finally got it. This music blew away my old punk records. Minor Threat presented rage in an honest and beautiful way, whereas the Sex Pistols were just out to shock people. Musically these guys were tighter than 95 percent of the hardcore bands of their day, and the music stands up. Ian's lyrics stand as some of the best, dare I say it, "rock" lyrics of all time. I can only imagine how revolutionary this band must have been when they came out, both musically and politically. All I know is that I can still put this record on in my room and roll around like an idiot, get all sweaty, and sing along, and love every second of it. This record transcends punk, hardcore, or any B.S. label like that. This music is timeless, and it WILL live forever, albeit, a little Out of Step...

Out of step with the world
"Amazing" is usually a really crappy word to use to describe albums. It's a word overused by high school freshmen to describe their Thursday albums. However, in this case, I can think of few other words to describe this record than "amazing".

In case you've been living under a rock, or watching a lot of MTV, Minor Threat is a Washington DC hardcore punk band from the mid 80s who never failed to create some awesome music. If you're an average radio-listening music fan, chances are, you don't like hardcore. This album could very well change that. This was my first true hardcore record and has since got me into bands such as Black Flag and the Bad Brains. At the time I got this, I was listening to mostly '77 punk rock bands such as the Ramones, the Clash, the Sex Pistols, and Stiff Little Fingers. I got this record, popped it in my CD player, and proceeded to be beaten up. Compared to Minor Threat, the other punk bands I was listening to sounded like adult-contemporary. I was truly amazed at how much energy could be flowing through a band and its music at one time. I listened to the whole record in one sitting, and have since listened to it countless times. It simply never gets old. Before I heard this, I didn't believe that an album could be "life-changing". Well, this one is. Because of this album, I've gotten into so many bands (Black Flag, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Germs, et al) that I would have never heard of if I didn't buy this. Even though this is extremely hardcore, it occasionally takes some time to slow down and even employ (gasp!) some meoldy. Songs like "Cashing in" and "Think again" are good examples of this idea. They're a bit slower, less abrasive, and catchier than most of the songs on the record (which doesn't mean they don't rock HARD). Minor Threat is a kind of gateway to hardcore. Though they're not the BEST hardcore band (that honor would go to the Bad Brains), they're definitely the most accessible (and 2nd best). If you're completely new to hardcore, or if you're already in to it, this album is definitely worth your money. It's an absolute essential in any punk collection and if you don't have it, you don't know what you're missing.

OWN THIS CD IF YOU ARE INTO PUNK! PUNK THAT COUNTS
This is the definitive collection of any PUNK Music. Early 80's at the best. If there were only 5 bands to choose from from these days(the original days) it would be Minor Threat, The Dead Kennedy's, The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, and the Subhumans. The Ramones were awesome as well as the Clash
(but neither were really true Punk music).
Anyone saying this is ripoff music or anything else negative about this is a true loser who knows nothing about music.
This is the best Punk CD ever! EVER! Nothing touches this! Nothing! Ian McKaye is a true straight edge god. The best Punk to come from America(with the DK's following in second). If you only own one Punk CD this is it. truly amazing music that transcends any time or age barrier. Hard, exciting, brutal, real, confident, pure, traditional, angry, true, the best!

Screw anyone who says this new garbage is good music(blink 182, Good Charlotte, Offspring, or whatever other crap that exists today). This is it. the best. Own it or suffer the consequences of being a total loser!

I love this CD and I loved it when i first owned it on cassette in 1986. All posers must die!!(...)

Good so far...
Okay, let me admit it upfront: I am a fan of Blink-182, Green Day, and (gasp) Good Charlotte. However,I am not in denial; I know that what I am listening to is pop-rock, if that, and the above bands are in no way punk. But I can't totally have no taste in music if I loved this CD, can I? Knowing my mother would object to the purchase of it, I instead burned it from my father who has some of the same taste in music as I do (some meaning he doesn't like the pop bands but he likes Bad Religion and all that, blah blah blah) and I loved it. The songs were intelligent and lyrical yet had that good guitar sound. There were two or three songs that I found a little strong for me but what can I say? I'm not a hardcore punk; I'm a curious girl who happens to have just found a new band to love.

ANYONE WHO VOTED LOWER THAN FIVE SHOULD DIE
This is quite possibly one of the greatest punk albums ever. Stop reading this and buy it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Released four years after the Talking Heads called it a day with 1988's Naked, Popular Favorites provides a thorough overview of one of the most important American bands of the '80s. From tightly wound early efforts such as "Psycho Killer" and "Don't Worry About the Government" to the seriously funky likes of "I Zimbra" and "Burning Down the House," David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Franz grew as musicians as they stretched the original concepts of the unit to the breaking point. Over the course of two discs and 32 selections, the anthology chronicles the Heads' development from Bowery art punks (albeit of the most civil stripe) to unlikely arena stars. A smattering of unreleased tracks and notes from the original quartet nicely flesh out the retrospective. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Talking Heads Career Celebrated On 2CD Set
Few groups merged the disposable bubblegum pop of the Ohio Express with the hypnotic dance-funk of the Ohio Players. Talking Heads lead singer/ writer/guitarist David Byrne, who in the liner notes ranked the Jackson 5's "Get It Together" with the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper," saw New Wave as a synthesis of those styles. The Talking Heads, with cryptic lyrics and art-rock presentation, led that sound, and became one of the most influential bands of the last 20 years.

"Sand In The Vaseline" chronicles their career. Drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth studied 70s funk albums like textbooks, giving it right back to George Clinton in rave-ups like "Wild, Wild Life," "Burning Down The House," and the hits from 1985's "Little Creatures." ("And She Was," "Stay Up Late").

Byrne's lyrics were often misunderstood; evangelical Christians bristled over his vision of heaven as "where nothing ever happens." (Wait 'till they read his liner notes on "Take Me To The River.")But his stories often shifted from dark ("Life During Wartime," "Psycho Killer," unleashed during 1977's Summer of Sam) to whimsical ("Nothin' But Flowers").

Not every experiment is successful ("Love For Sale" falls flat; Frantz found "City of Angels" "relaxing." You'll find it boring). But all of it intrigues, and hearing it again reminds you of rock and rap artists today influenced by the Heads, payback for the group's own roots. In her portion of the liner notes, Weymouth thanks her bandmates for "never, ever, being boring.") With rare exceptions, she was correct, and "Sand In The Vaseline" is highly musical, compelling proof. Recommended.

A very good overview of a seminal American group
The first (and not the last) posthumous Talking Heads release is a great overview of the band. This and 'Stop Making Sense' provide an excellent scope of the Heads' repertoire. Including hits suchas 'Psycho Killer,' 'Once In A Lifetime,' and 'Burning Down The House,' as well as a few unreleased songs. This is a great place for neophytes to start or seasoned Heads experts to collect. The second disc, however is slightly spotty (their last few albums weren't GREAT material, but still deserve recognition). If this is your first Talking Heads purchase, don't let it be your last...check out their albums, mainly their 1977-1984 material ('77,' 'More Songs About Buildings and Food,' 'Fear Of Music,' 'Remain In Light,' 'Speaking In Tongues').

What happened to real music?
So, I guess you would say I'm a jerk for saying this but what happened to music? I wasn't alive during the 80's and I have grown up with the "music" of the 90s and early 2000s. I don't really listen to it anymore because I have discovered that this is around. Honestly, find me a rap cd that has the contingency of "And she was", "Burning down the house", "Psycho Killer", or their cover of "Take me to the river". The talking heads are amazing. Their instruments sound GOOD together, not just like a heavy metal bang. Oh, and have you noticed there's actually a tune to the song, making it possible to whistle it? These two cds cover just about every category of loudness, some uprising, some moderate, and some that lull you to sleep. This is completely amazing that this one band is able to create such a beautiful, yes beautiful, mix of noise. do yourself a favor and buy this cd to save music!

Da Peace Dog hasn't got a clue
Well, Da Peace Dog gave me a splintering headache. He sounds like he never got past the second grade with his unnecessary point of David Byrne's brain. This collection of songs is great! I think it is a great retrospective from the nascent years of the Heads until they disbanded. Although, I would have liked to see "Pulled Up" from '77 on the disc, but it's not there. '77 is a greatest hits on it's own. This music is classic and colorful in it's art rock form. David Byrne's Rei Momo and Uh-Oh are my favorite solo albums. Amazing work. Unique. Groovy. Experimental. Solid.

The guy singing is kind of a twerp
Despite his nerdy appearance, David Byrne has a good sense of music and a broad-based knowledge of music diversity around the world. I base that on some of his geeky apperances he blessed us with as host on some lame PBS music session show a few years back that played at midnight on Saturdays. Anyway, I haven't heard all the cuts off this record album cd offering from the Talking Heads, but I'm betting a lot of it is pretty intellectual-sounding, which right away keeps me out of the loop. I may not be as bright as David "the nerd" Byrne, but I know a good guitar riff when I hear one, and these guys couldn't write a decent riff with hand-written instructions from Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets. So anyway, I guess we're all doomed to listen to this new-wave garbage for the rest of our lives, as critics praise it and fans of true rock abhor it.

Oh well, for every cool Van Halen I suppose we must also endure the wimp rockers of the world, like the Talking Heads. Hey, by the way, is Roth getting back together with his old mates? I heard the "Halen Reunited" tour was supposed to be in full swing soon. Keep me updated, and thanks for your time on this message board!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more