Album Details

Features Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Forget Felix, the Album is Still Great
Despite Felix Papalarddi's frankly hideous/generic production values, the listener cannot ignore the power of the Dead Boys performance. The group as a whole had matured into a true musical powerhouse with a tag-team, fairly intricate guitar duo like Chrome and Zero, and a rhythm sextion as tight as Jeff Magnum and Johnny Blitz (pre-knife fight). The true magic is exuded by Stiv Bators though, with his slurred, under-enunciated, pure-attitude vocal performance. "I Won't Look Back," "Third Generation Nation," and the cover of the Stone's "Tell Me" stand out as my favorites, but the clincher of the album is the closer, "Ain't It Fun." (Later covered by the now defunct Guns N' Roses on the album 'The Spaghetti Incident?!') With a band as volatile and dangerous as the Dead Boys, "Ain't It Fun" stands as a great coda to the most underrated band in rock n' roll.
The only thing that could've improved this album is the absence of Pappalardi, but you can find versions of these songs at their rawest on live recordings. I found the alternate takes of the sessions in the hopes that it could be a repeat of the YL&S mixes, but sadly, they aren't any better. I prefer this mix, and these songs are favorites. Don't bother beong bogged down by Felix, just know that all the Dead Boys probably called him a load whenever his back was turned.

One Of The Two Best Punk Albums Of All Time
The Dead Boys I think are the only band in history to combine good guitar playing with punk music. It's really an incredible album. If you're a punk fan, or even a heavy rock fan, than I suggest you get this album. The Dead Boys show you what Rock and Punk and music in general is all about.

classic punk rock oversite
OK,this isn''t as perfect as YLand S,but still worth it.Calling on You,Big City,and Dead or Alive are very strong classic Dead Boys material.Felixx Pappalardi essentially killed this band with this record,trying to tone down their sound to appeal to a wider audience.Cleaner,quieter guitar mix is ill suited to this band and led to bad blood between producer and band during the recording.Check out Younger,Louder and Snottier to hear how the Dead Boys should sound.A remix of We Have Come is sorely needed.Remember that Punk was viewed as a threat to the industry establishment;this is a classic case of sonic sabotage.There are some forgotten gems on this widely dismissed album.

Great punk album!
I have to sympathize with the other reviewers in the sense that this is not the best Dead Boys, but for a band that only had a few albums, c'mon! I really enjoyed the abandon and energy of this CD - and Stiv really shined on this one with 'Son of Sam' and 'I don't wanna be not Catholic Boy'. There was some real punk laid down on this one, and calling it weak compared to 'Young, loud and Snotty' - OK. But it was hardly a sell-out. There was some real energy on this one, and we cannot put that aside amidst other things...

They came for your children...and I was afraid! This punk classic should not be set aside. Crank it up and relive that magic era!!

Weak Stuff
Our Cleveland friends let us down on their second album.I know, I bought it in 1978. ... Read more

Album Description

Expanded & remastered edition of their 1983 releasefeatures the original album's 12 tracks (produced by Bomp!Label heads Ritchie Cordell and Glen Kolotkin) plus 7previously unreleased bonus tracks. Bonus tracks, 'IndianGiver' (Original mix), 'New Girl In Town', 'My-My Kind OfGirl' (Acoustic demo) & demos of'No One To Blame', 'Roots Of Hatred', 'Bumming Along' & 'Unhappy Girl'. Slipcase.2002. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Welcome To The Jungle
Subterranean Jungle is a step towards the early punk rock that the Ramones mastered. On this album the Ramones sounded more main stream. With covers of "Little Bit O soul" which is one of their best covers, and "I Need Your Love" and "Time Has Come Today" are especially too many covers for one album. The original material like "Psycho Therapy" and "Somebody Like Me" are excellent Ramones songs. Subterranean Jungle is a good attempt for the Ramones, but borders on self parody.

The Last Truly Great Ramones Album
Everybody has their own opinion about which Ramones album was the last classic, and for me it's this one. Their albums tended to veer away from bubblepunk after this and were more hardcore and tuneless, and very dark. Subterranean Jungle's highlights include covers of the pop gems A Little Bit O'Soul and Time Has Come Today, as well as fantastic originals like Joey's (or Joe, as he's credited here) My-my Kind Of A Girl and Dee Dee's Outsider. So start with their first, buy everything up through this, and search the second-hand bins for everything after so you can make a compilation tape of the smattering of songs (like Poison Heart and She Belongs to Me) that came after. Gabba Gabba Hey!

Great album marred by bonus tracks
This Ramones album is a classic. If it was released properly it deserves five stars. Unfortunately it is marred by messy bonus tracks. Welcome to filler hell! Why do the record companies think that we want to listen to all the extra garbage they throw on at the end of an album? What made the album great was that it was short and to the point. I suggest that you buy It's Alive by the Ramones. That album is all killer no filler.

Building the Perfect Pop-Punk Beast!
The great thing about re-issues with previously unreleased bonus tracks is that you get a chance to play Monday morning producer -- remaking the album with cuts left on the studio floor. And fact is, SUBTERRANEAN JUNGLE could've been an even stronger album when it was initially released had the Ramones made some better picks from the songs at their disposal. Like UNHAPPY GIRL -- a buoyant and blistering track that should've bumped the wishy-washy SOMEBODY LIKE ME off the original version of JUNGLE. Meanwhile, the boys' cover of INDIAN GIVER is a smokin' slab of bubblepunk -- far superior to the lame I NEED YOUR LOVE on the original. Finally, the newly released BUMMIN' ALONG is a classic hot-wired Dee Dee moment and would've made a much stronger original album track than HIGHEST TRAILS ABOVE. There, these changes would've made JUNGLE a bona fide classic instead of a near miss. But no need to lament, buy the re-issue and enjoy all the terrif tunes!

Pop hangover
This is the first of the re-masters that I gave any consideration to not purchasing. Even if this, the seventh albulm, is one of the weakest Ramones efforts, and not all would agree with that assessment, it's still easily within the top twenty per cent of rock released, and deserves its five stars.

The albulm begins with a jangle-punk cover of "Little Bit O' Soul", suggesting that Joey and Johnny have decided to hold on to the best of the pop sound of the last two albulms and put some Ramones energy back in. But the albulm doesn't fulfill that promise. The pop-influenced material on this albulm ("Somebody Like Me", "My-My Kind of Girl") sounds tepid, and Johnny's guitar still sounds tame when compared to their classic early material. This timidity undermines the more punk tracks ("Highest Trails Above", "In The Park") flattening the albulm into a pop-punk soupiness wherein float only a couple of really outstanding tracks ("Psycho Therapy", "Outsider"). "Time Has Come Today" could have been found on a 'Stones albulm. Before it sounds like I am panning what I labelled a five-star albulm, I should mention that this albulm is also an intriguing halfway-mark in the band's change in direction away from pop back to their punk roots and the sporting with harcore and metal that was to come. It's the Ramones. It's handled with a fun professionalism that rewards the fan by not straying from what we love about the band. Even if this albulm is, in some ways, a compromise, it only sounds like one when compared to their earlier brash punk and unforgettable pop lunacy.

The re-mastering on this albulm shows the same impressive expertise that its predecessors have. Gil Kaufman flounders a little in his writing for the booklet, but it remains interesting enough. If I had decided to skip this purchase, I would have foolishly missed Rhino's bonus-track gifts to Ramones fans on this albulm. Why "Indian Giver" was left of the albulm is a mystery; it would've been one of its stronger tracks, the pop-punk blend works so well here. The five (surprisingly-polished) demo tracks are interesting digressions from the sound of the albulm. "Unhappy Girl", especially, shows hints of what could have been a classic studio track.

This isn't the place for the punk nor the pop fan to begin with the Ramones ('The Ramones' and 'End of the Century', respectively), but completists will be very pleased with this quality of this re-release. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

"Halfway" into a Ramones' Slump
The Ramones continued their ride on auto-pilot with "Halfway To Sanity." While a touch better than "Animal Boy," it still lacked the punch of the classics. There was (well, in the days of sides one and two), a great first half but a forgettable flip side. I remember playing the [stuff] outta side one, but aside from "I'm Not Jesus" and "Real Cool Time," really getting disinterested in side two.

The first half, though, would be a 5 star EP. Dee Dee once again wrote a pair of stunning, life affirming songs with "I Wanna Live" and "Garden Of Serenity," "Bop Til You Drop" follows in the tradition of countless Ramones dance songs, and Debbie Harry adds a sixties girl group fever to "Go Lil' Camaro." "Weasel Face" has spunk ala "Animal Boy" and "I Know Better Now" kicked the LP side to a close.

Perhaps had they recorded this in the CD age, a different sequencing might have made it a more consistent sounding disc. But as a document of the Ramones late 80's recordings, it only rates about 3 1/2 stars.

Halfway Decent
Halfway To Sanity is a big leap from Animal Boy, but not a huge one. It has definently more singable songs like "I Wanna Live" and "Bop Till You Drop" which slightly verge on self parody again. As the album goes along the songs get better and deeper with "Garden Of Serentity" and "I'm Not Jesus". I especially liked the song "Go Lil Camero Go" with Debbie Harry singing backround vocals because of the way it brings the Ramones back to their Beach Boys fetish. By the time the album is over, I realize that Halfway To Sanity is actually a fair record, mostly because it was the last to feature Richie Ramone on drums.

Never mind the purists, here's a tough, kick-butt album!
It's not in my top fifty of all time, unlike the Ramones' first four albums. It's from the much-maligned 80's period that spawned Animal Boy before and Brain Drain after. But those three in my opinion are the most underrated, misunderstood Ramones albums. It's just Johnny Ramone's later, more hard rock/metal guitar that the strict '77 punk purists can't handle.

At first glance at the cover you might say, "Whoa! Joey's wearing purple socks!" and then "Dude! Who's the Ramone with the pink Converse? Sure they're still the classic Chuck Taylors, but..." That my friends is none other than Richie Ramone, the "lost Ramone" drummer who was last spotted working at a Florida hotel.

Back to the music. Halfway to Sanity features a couple 50's influenced, traditional-sounding Ramones songs, and 2 or 3 more metalish hard rockers. The remainder of the album treads the line right between those two styles. This is how I would actually describe all Ramones studio albums starting with Too Tough to Die, as the hard rock/"classic" Ramones blend. The only exception would be Acid Eaters, which even as a HUGE Ramones fan, I can honestly say is the only of one their albums you should avoid.

The obvious 50's influence, catchy popsters on this one would be "Go Lil Camaro Go," "A Real Cool Time," and "Bye Bye Baby," all arguably among the Ramones' best. "Bye Bye Baby" is a slow 50's girl group type ballad, so it makes sense that Joey later did a duet of it with Ronnie Spector. Debbie Harry does backing vocals on "Camaro." Blondie fans should note that after Richie left the Ramones (this was his third and last album) Clem Burke filled in, but with disastrous results.

Representing the hard rock side you got mid-tempo anthems like "I Wanna Live" and "Death of Me." If you like later Ramones songs like "Pet Sematary," "I Believe in Miracles" and "Poison Heart" I would definitely put these songs in the same category: classics. Another criminally underrated song is one Richie wrote, "I Know Better Now," it's got a great anti-authoritarian message.

"Garden of Serenity" is another good one, even though I could do without the electronically enhanced-sounding Gregorian monk vocals on the chorus. Sounds like they were trying to be creepy with laughable results. "Weasel Face" is fast and hateful in the vein of "Wart Hog"--I'm surprised Dee Dee didn't sing it. The only one he did sing was "I Lost My Mind," with the snotty, abrasive, and yes, "punk" results we expected from Dee Dee.

"Bop Til You Drop" may be my favorite song on this album. Johnny's chugging guitar on the chorus is 80's metal but then it blasts right back into three chord heaven that reminded me of something off "Rocket to Russia." Dee Dee even mentions the Cretin Hop in his lyrics. Worth getting for this song alone.

So the only songs I didn't think were near genius on Halfway to Sanity were "I'm Not Jesus" and "Worm Man." They're still decent songs though. "Jesus," despite a bad chorus, is probably the fastest Ramones song I've ever heard next to "Endless Vacation." I mean it's like 80's NYHC pace! They were trying to sound like speed metal or something. So it's good as a kind of novelty in a way.

Maybe I just have a soft spot for this album due to the fact that I was a senior in high school when it came out?? After graduation I saw them live for the first time....memories. Long live the memory of Joey and Dee Dee.

Better than ANIMAL BOY, Still not many great songs.
There are 2 truly great songs on this album but then there is the ever so sad and dark closer "Bye Bye Baby" that I, one who hates any song with the word "baby" in it, sing along to every word. Then theres "I'm Not Jesus" & "Death Of Me", but for every song like that there is more songs like "Weasel Face", "Go Lil' Camaro Go", "Bop Til You Drop" & "I Know Better Now". These songs just make me cringe (like alot of Ramones songs). I was a very big fan of the Ramones but after overviewing their career, they just did mature like a band does and that's why they have a lot of songs that aren't quite up to par.

GREAT SONGS:
I Wanna Live
Garden of Serenity

Two great songs.
Not a very good album, But don't believe everything you hear.
I wanna live possibly one of there best songs. Bop til you drop still makes the greatest hits album. In all a pretty good buy. ... Read more

Album Description

Expanded & remastered reissue of 1984 album. With originaldrummer Tommy Erdelyi producing, the band revisits theirpunk roots. Features the original 13-track album plus theUK single, 'Street Fighting Man', 'Smash You' & ten morepreviously unreleased bonus tracks, 'Howling At The Moon(Sha-La-La)' (demo), 'Planet Earth 1988' (Dee Dee vocalversion), 'Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love)' (demo),'Endless Vacation' (demo), 'Danger Zone' (Dee Dee vocalversion), 'Out Of Here', 'Mama's Boy' (demo), 'I'm Not AnAnswer', 'Too Tough To Die' (Dee Dee vocal version) & 'NoGo' (demo). Slipcase. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

NOTE TO ALL RAMONES FANS: BUY ALL OF THE NEW RE-ISSUES
Normally I might be a little cynical about these re-issue CDs. I bought every Ramones record on vinyl when I was a kid. Then I later bought them on CD, and it wasn't all that long ago. Now they expect me to buy them AGAIN? Is this just a record lable/conglomerate trying to squeeze more money out of a band that never really achieved "financial success" for them? I don't know. What I do know is that these new re-releases are worth every damn penny I paid for them. Each booklet is packed to the gills with great photos and informative retrospectives on what was going on with the band around the time the album was recorded. Best of all, they include outtakes, demo versions, B sides etc. The best nuggets on Too Tough To Die are the UK B sides to the Howling At the Moon single, which are a cover of the Stones' Street Fighting Man and Smash You, which was recorded during the TTTD sessions but sounds very much like a classic 70s Ramones song. Also, a demo version of Howling At the Moon, which is just guitar, drums, bass and vocals. It sounds so intensely better than the overproduced synth garbage version that ended up on the album, it makes me kinda sad that they chose to ruin such a great song. I was hoping the original version of Bonzo Goes to Bitburg would be here, since it was a single that was released so close to this album, but hopefully it'll show up on the Animal Boy re-issue.

Casual fans should think twice before buying, but if you consider yourself a "Ramones fan" then you really need these re-issues.

... buy this album
After two a bit soft albums issued in early eighties(Pleasant
Dreams,Subterranean Jungle),Ramones return to their origins with
Too Tough to Die.This record is my Ramones'personal favorite,
after fantastic Rocket to Russia.It has everything you expect
from Ramones' album.The only difference between this one and
other Ramones' records is that Too Tough to Die is pretty dark
and aggressive,but it makes it even better.Why?'Cause the album
has its uniqe atmosphere and character.Yeah,we've seen more
aggressive Ramones albums before(Road to Ruin),but this is more
harder then you can expect from the Ramones.That's good,because
they finally made brilliant punk record again(which Pleasant
Dreams most certainly wasn't),which has,in some moments,hardcore
feel.But let's get to the somgs.
The opening track,Mama's Boy,is one of the best on the record,in
ol' Ramones sarcastic and ironic way.Lyrics are great!I'm not
Afraid of Life and title song Too Tough to Die are pure classics

that introduce very often Ramones matter:to fight for the place
in the world and better society,never to give up.They sound great.Johnny's Mosrite in the background of Joey's amazing voice
silently grabs you with its strong,aggresive,but melodic sound,
and it won't let you breathe 'till the end of the album!
The song that follows,Durango 95,is one of my favorite.It's ins-
trumental (?),but it perfectly sets up the atmosphere for the fas
test,strongest and most aggressive song of the album,Wart Hog,pe-
rfectly sang by DeeDee.You can buy record just for that song alone.The other song sang by DeeDee,Endless Vacation,is as good
as Wart Hog,but not better.Wart Hog,maybe,has a little stronger
sound.Danger Zone and Chasing the Night,the closing songs of the
album's first half,are both great,but I like Chasing the Night
more than Danger Zone.But it's only the matter of taste.
Howling at the Moon,song that follows,starts pretty strange-with
the keyboards????But,as seconds flow,it turns to be one of the
Ramones' best.It contains one of the best DeeDee's lyrics and
Joey's vocals.It actually celebrates anarchy,but with little sugar(Sha-la-la).Daytime Dillema is probably the most hilarious
song of the album,and it sets up pretty funny question.Can things
be what they seem?Planet Earth 1988 and Humankind are another
society critics.1988 is written by DeeDee,but Ritchie has beaten
him in Humankind-it contains much better lyrics than 1988.But
1988 is great too.Endless Vacation is superb,subject matter is
very hard,and DeeDee's kinda sick voice makes it all more of a
punch-in-the-head.No Go is appropriate ending for a great album,
with funny lyrics,all packed in Joey's really amazing voice.
Too Tough to Die definitely goes up to TOP5 Ramones' albums:right
there by their old classics.It's undoubtly their greatest record
of the eighties.Own it.

???????
HOW CAN SOMEONE GIVE THIS 1 STAR AND SAY ITS NO GOOD!!!!!

I don't even know what to say, if you like the Ramones, and I mean like the RAMONES not just "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Sedated" and all that "First four albums only" crap. If you are a FAN of the Ramones and like their sound and style, then you will love this album.

Honestly I'm not a big fan of "Mamas Boy" and "Too Tough to Die", so for me the album really gets started with "Durango 95" and doesn't slow down from there. every song is great. "Wart hog" has some of the Best lyrics ever (although you cant find them inside the cover, I got them from Dee Dee's book "Lobotomy")
"Danger zone" rocks, "Chasing the Night" is Fantastic, one of the best Ramones songs as well as "Howling at the Moon"
Dee Dee also sings "Endless Vacation" which is another crazy song like wart hog,
Richie wrote "Human kind" which is a great song too.
"Daytime Dilema", "No Go"!!!!!........This album Rocks, I don't see how someone can say otherwise.

DON'T LISTEN TO THE NAY SAYERS, THEY ARE WRONG!!!!!
BUY THIS!!!!!!

My favorite Ramones album
It's tough to beat the first album because it was startlingly original for its time--a true trendsetter. But this is my favorite album. By this time, the Ramones had honed their considerable rock skills and came out fighting with a big, loud, ugly, jaded, crushing rock record--maybe a bit too metal for many fans. I think it's great: the avalanche of sound gushing from your speakers will floor you! "I'm Not Afraid of Life" is the standout track for me, but they all pummel!

Ramones' second best
This albulm ranks up there with their classic
fourth abulm "Road to ruin". After 3 ablums of attempted
commercial material the ramones return to what they do best,
classic punk rock. The hardcore movement was in full swing by
this time and the ramones joined in and gave us the classic "wart hog", "howling at the moon" has the same power as "bonzo goes to bitburg", and there is not a single bad track on the entire albulm. If you have the first four alblums and still need more this is where to start. ... Read more

Album Description

Expanded & remastered reissue of 1985 album with 4 bonusrecordings 'Wild Thing' (long version), 'I Will Dare' (demo - previously unissued), 'My Goodness' (demo - previouslyunissued) & 'All Or Nothing'. Also includes a 20 pagebooklet with commentary by X. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The Overlooked Album
While X is one of the most influental punk bands in the US, this album is usually overlooked by many. That's a shame. While 'Burning House of Love' was primed to be the hit maker of the album, songs like 'My Goodness' and 'Around My Heart' show the maturity the band finally reached with the release of "See How We Are". Although my favorite is the flat out honesty of "What's Wrong with Me". I still play that song full blast on those days when I need to blow off steam.

X SELL THEIR SOULS! But make a pretty great album.
Ok, ok. This is not X's greatest album ("Wild Gift"). And even though at the time it was made, it was a rather desparate attempt at an ultra-modern, 80's sound, it is their most dated sounding album. Sure, I was pretty peeved back when this album first came out that my favorite band had "sold out" and made a "big-hair" record. But you know what? I got over it. This album rocks! It's still better than just about any other music that was around at the time and its aged better too, just not as well as the other X albums. The songwriting is actually just as good as anything that came before it. What keeps "Ain't Love Grand" from being another X classic is the BIG 80's production. It's got the huge drum sound so popular then and it's so echoey it could have been recorded on the main altar of St. Peter's Basillica. And those choruses are straight out of a Journey album (eeeewwww).
Still, turn on a song like "Little Honey" or the duet "I'll stand up for You" (which could have been such a huge hit for Peter Cetera & Cher!)(just kidding) and you'll hear for yourself, "Ain't Love Grand" is grand 80s rock from X. Just not their best.

The production is dated, but the songs & performances aren't
A lot of folks are overly harsh when discussing this title. True, the Heavy Metal production certainly does NOT mesh with the band's Punk/Rockabilly sensibility but this shouldn't detract from the fact that the album contains fine songs and performances. You gotta give X a break... despite critical accolades and a devoted cult following, their record sales weren't exactly astronomical. Desperate to finally break big, they made the misstep of hiring a "Hair Band" producer and, though not exactly pleased with the results (they have since all but written this album off), they, sure enough, did finally receive radio airplay with "Burning House of Love." Just remember, X was practically incapable of writing a bad song. If you can get past the heavy-handed production, there is a lot to treasure here. The songs reflect Exene Cervenka and John Doe's breakup and divorce and this is the last X title for brilliant guitarist Billy Zoom before he jumped ship. Certainly not their best title but nowhere near as wretched as some punk purists would have you believe. Plus, one should own every X title as they are certainly one of the most criminally overlooked bands in rock history.

Who are these people?
A lot of things conspired to make this crappy record, the beginning of the fall of one of the greatest rock acts in history. The producer, Michael Wagener, should've been taken into the backyard and whipped. He obviously had very little idea about what these people were all about. What an idiot! The notes in this CD tell the rest of the story: marriage over, guitarist wants to leave, etc. The songs are mostly way below average for these people (but still more interesting than most). There are some compelling numbers on here though (total=3 great songs (although the production is so bad on one of them it almost ruins it), 1 really good song). The bonus material is pretty much a waste of time. Well, the four albums that preceded this are all masterpieces, so at least we still have them. And of course it's always worth buying a CD to hear John Doe sing. He was/is definitely one of the best singers in rock music. To me he's a legend.

Ain't the best by X
I love X , Los Angelos and Wild Gift are both in my top 10 albums of all time,and After listing to them, you just can't listen to this. And what is with this cover? X always had cool album covers, but this looks like a picture that would be in some 1992 Spanish TV show based in the 1800's. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Devo accessible to non-Devo fans
I was compelled to write this review in response to TBrough. I appreciate your review, but disagree. This is simply a well-written, fun album, period. Even if you find fault (as TBrough did) with the vocal effects, there is inovation here. More so in the songwriting and lyrics as opposed to the engineering and musicianship. I'll agree the sound engineering is a bit thin at times, but not to the extent of being severely dated (like early Eno, Tangerine Dream, or even Depeche Mode, for example). I believe that the vocals and Synths are intentionally juxtaposed against each other - like dueling alien spaceships in a B sci-fi movie ala Mystery Science Theater 3000. One is not meant to drive the other.

Devo's other more edgy work will undoubtedly be less enduring then the quality arranging on this album. This kind of work doesn't go out of style. Especially notable for the quality of composition are "Patterns" and "Deep Sleep". These songs don't use conventional over-used progressions and, quirckiness aside, are quite melodic and catchy.

If you are the kind of person who doesn't follow music fads, appreciates good composition, and has a silly side, this CD is for you. Forget that Devo is one of the quintessential 80's bands - it doesn't matter. Maybe you're not going to listen to this with all the lights out, headphones on, and have a religious experience. But, you will find yourself wanting to listen to at unexpected times, long after you bought the CD.

Destroyed my mind at 8 years old
This was the first record I heard by Devo, and they were the second band I chose to listen to for myself, though my family didn't quite understand. I don't own every Devo album, but I do have quite a few, and this one is still probably my favorite just because it's the most fun. Almost all of the songs are quite upbeat and I'm still amused by the strange voices on 'Explosions' and 'Speed Racer', though I don't understand what other people see in 'Peek-a-boo'. It doesn't have Jocko Homo or Gates of Steel, but there are a lot of overlooked songs on this album, and it's simply more fun to listen to than most records that came out at this time. My favorites are 'Out Of Sync' 'Explosions' and 'That's Good'.

Lukewarm Potatoes.
Oh no, it's a lack of ideas! Unfortunately, DEVO, who had already proven they were a [...] for the latest gizmo many times over, used on their 5th album that detracted from their strengths. Just about every song here is dependent on pitch control voice manipulation, which made all the vocals sound like they were being sung by Mark Mothersbaugh's [...] twin. It also didn't help that producer Roy Thomas Baker forces the edges off the band's sound. The synths here sound slavishly of the moment, as opposed to leading the movement.

Those are the bad patches. The good stuff is still here. "Peek-a-boo!" is willfully creepy in much the same way "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA" from "Duty Now For The Future" was, and "That's Good" should have been a dance floor smash (and if you are old enough to remember the TV show "Square Pegs," they played it at the high school dance!). "Speed Racer" does benefit from its quirky time signature, and finally, "Patterns" gives us another insightful glimpse at the theories of De-evolution.

Also of note are "Big Mess" and "I Desire." Both were written after the assassination attempt on President Reagan and the eventual discovery that the assassin was doing it to impress Jodie Foster. It inspired the immortal line (from "I Desire") "A smile I might bring you is more important than world peace." Now THAT'S truly Devo! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

All for the love of rock'n'roll
Although none of the best-known NY bands are heard here (oh, the record contracts flying around CBGB's in 1976 ...) cult favorites like Tuff Darts (Robert Gordon), Mink DeVille, and the Shirts sound like they're having a great time. This collection, recorded over three nights in July, 1976, shows the New York rock scene going in all different directions. It's surprising how "radio-friendly" most of this music seems now. In the days of multi-platinum Peter Frampton and Fleetwood Mac, though, Manster's sped-up cover of the Yardbirds' "Over Under Sideways Down" was absolutely radical. Imagine that. And though it's true there's no real missed opportunities here, its a terrific snapshot of a time, a place, and an energy that's likely not to happen again.

A typical evening of music at CBGBs
Actually, Dale, some of the performers did go further than this album. Mink DeVille may never have become a household name, but the band and its leader, Willy DeVille, released a slew of terrific albums. DeVille still records a new album every couple of years with exceptional quality stuff on every outing. Tuff Darts had a pretty decent first release that got loads of airplay in NYC, but the band's lead singer on Live at CBGBs was none other than Robert Gordon who spawned the rebirth of 50s rock and roll revival bands like the Stray Cats, the second coming of Link Wray, and many others. Gordon released several very strong albums and was a real critical favorite at the time. The quality of recording here is fair at best, but the youthful energy pours out of every song. This is a document of late 70s NYC New Wave which, at its best, was every bit as good as the British counterparts of Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, et al. Would've been nice to get a couple of other CBGB bands who did make it bigger on this disk --Blondie, Ramones to name a couple. Work the money, though.

Close, but could be better
This CD is an attempt at the collection of the CBGB's scene of the late 70's emerging punk/new wave music. Unfortunately, none of the bands represented made it beyond this album. You get great hits like "We Deliver" and "Slash", but overall the musicianship leaves something to be desired, though the emotion is there. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Wonderful and Sad
This is the last studio recording the Ramones will ever make,and it is one of their greatest.It starts with the perfect cover of Tom Waits's "I Don't Wanna Grow Up"and takes off with great songs like the beautiful and care free "Life's A Gas". Great butt kickin songs like "Have A nice Day" "Scattergun" and "Got Alot To Say" all sound like their early material. "Born To Die In Berlin" was a great song written by Dee Dee among others. Joey's "She Talks To Rainbows" is a corny but enjoyable song. "Take The Pain Away" and "Not For Me To Know" have really deep and painful lyrics which make them interesting. Also the hidden track "Spiderman" really shows the Ramones still had their humor and love for comic books. Adios Amegos is the perfect goodbye album for the Ramones, though it is very sad and unbelievable that this is the last recording the greatest American band will ever record, its good to know that the Ramones will never be forgotten for all that they accomplished and all that they have influenced. Long live The Ramones.

Last studio album has its moments
'I Don't Want To Grow Up' is one of the best songs the Ramones ever recorded. It comes as a happy surprise at the kick-off of what was promised to be the band's last ever studio album (to date they have kept to that promise). The rest of the album is uneven. 'Have a Nice Day', 'She Talks To Rainbows' and the excellent Dee-Dee track 'Born To Die In Berlin' are powerful songs, 'Scatter Gun' is another good one, sung by C-Jay -- but doesn't sound anything like a traditional Ramones song. There aren't any dogs among the remaining tracks, but nothing you'll feel like listening to repeatedly either. Note: Theres a humorous Ramones version of the 60s 'Spiderman' TV theme hidden after the last track.

Life's a gas, oh yea.
This was The Ramones last studio album. While not as good as their classic early albums, it is a fine album in it's own right. While there are a few songs here that aren't that memorable, most of the songs are good. My personal favorites are "I Don't Want To Grow Up", "The Crusher", "Life's a Gas", "Cretin Family" and "She Talks To Rainbows". Oh, and I can't forget the great hidden bonus track, "Spider-Man". This version is better than the one The Ramones recorded for the "Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits" compilation. In conclusion, this album was a fine capper to The Ramones studio career. Recommended to Ramones fans of all ages.

Great Album
This is the Ramones last album, and what a way to bow out!
After all the experimenting they did in the 80s, Adios Amigos recaptures the energy of young punks half thier age.

All the songs on here rock just as hard as thier early stuff. This should be required listning for any Ramones fans. It's got a little of everything on here.

I don't Want to Grow Up and the Crusher are two of their best songs. She Talks To Rainbows is one of Joey's best ballads. Cretin Family and Scatter Gun are two great songs sung by bassist CJ Ramone, who's snotty vocals are an excellent asset to the Ramones sound.
Life's a Gas is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

I love this album. I can't deciede if I like it better than Mondo Bizaro, but Adios Amigos rocks!

GABBA GABBA HEY WE ACCEPT YOU AS ONE OF US.
I'll sure miss um. This album was their last and they went out with a bang. Sure this album aint gunna change the world it aint gunna have 5top 40 smashes but its The Ramones. This is a fun fast punk album with attitude. This album made me cry after Joey died "Lifes A Gas" i probably played 30 times, no joke. Dee-Dee wrote 5 songs for this album , including the haunting "Born To Die In Berlin" him being german made it even sader.r.i.p Dee-Dee you are sorley missed.

this is a good Ramones album any pinhead should own it by now if not buy it. ok ... Read more

Reviews (12)

they're the meatmen...
and this is the only essential meatmen album in my opinion and can be a bit strenous sometimes because of repetition of certain songs...it does have some classic immature adolescent anthems and is most definately NOT for the 'politically-correct' crowd! you gotta love how tesco hates everyone and everything for no apparent reason...this is stuff of legend. you also get a few reproductions of tesco's comic from the original touch & go zine he ran. this will save you a lot of money if you buy this for the comics rather than track down the original zines.

The classic Meatmen album - Tesco Vee is a twisted genius
You must have this album in your punk collection! It pulls together the classic Meatmen album ("We're the Meatmen . . . And you...!") with outakes, singles and miscellaneous stuff (some of it not so essential). The Meatmen are the most hysterical hardcore band to come out of the 80's. They took Ramones-like simplicity and stupidity to the next level - pure genius!

The first time my friends and I listened to tracks like "Mr. Tapeworm" and "Becoming a Man," we were rolling on the floor laughing. Nobody went to more outrageous lengths of political incorrectness than Tesco Vee.

As an aside, I read somewhere that 'ol Tesco was/is a school teacher someplace. Can you imagine that?!? If Tipper and Hillary ever found out, they'd flip their collective wigs!

The subject was Buttocks
Absolutely essential scat-punk for high-brow intellectuals. How could anyone not love this classic material? Just look at the song titles! Plus cover-art that would give any regular He-Man a throbbing bulge in his pants!

My Favorite Cd
Any one who gives this cd 1 star (music fan) is an ugly woman. This cd is pure energy and you just dont see that any more. The Meatmen were an extreme band that didn't follow the rules of music making. How refreshing.

Original Hardcore For Politically Correct Punks
Never trust musicians who can play really well. People who have taken guitar lessons or have studied music cannot possibly bring anything new to music except variations of the established norm. Self-taught musicians usually make simple music, but they bring ideas that have never been heard before. Hardcore is a great example of people who break social standards and speak whether they're welcome or not. Some hardcore bands enjoy being unwelcome. The Meatmen is a perfect example of those bands.
"Studpowerc*(k" is a compilation of the Meatmen's early (and best) recordings. The demos have some of the worst production that sound like they were recorded by a regular cassette player. But the production doesn't make a difference because the music is so fun. This album is sure to make you smile from ear to ear if you're not easily offended.
The music is standard hardcore, but the vocals are the highlights. During the '80's the overwhelming conservative moral crusade caused a backlash in the underground that was quite amazing. The Meatmen's sound embodies the backlash on everyone except them.
The content is not extreme as GG Allin, but it comes across much more humorous. The Meatmen comes across as smarta*#, immature guys who are totally fearless.
The Meatmen will forever be Gods because of "1 Down 3 To Go," an attack on the Beatles after John Lennon was murdered. That track is without a doubt the best one on the album and one the greatest in the history of hardcore.
Out of all the hardcore acts to come from the Midwest, Husker Du, The Replacements, The Effigies, Negative Approach, and the Necros, the Meatmen was by far the best. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Back to Back Hits
This is a good introduction to each artist. It features five of the most popular songs from each artist. For Pat Benatar, she as a lot more than five hits, for Blondie, the same applies. I enjoyed all the tracks on the c.d. This is recommended to anyone interested in either artist.

The best of their best.
Obviously both these women had many more good songs than what is on this disc. However, if I had to pick the top 5 of each one, this would pretty much be it. And of course if you like one of these rockers, you should like the other one. If you need a bigger fix, I suggest "Blondie's Greatest Hits", and Pat Benetar's "Best Shots". But for the price this is good stuff.

Good deal
Hard to go wrong with this disk for a mere seven bucks.Unless, of course, you own these songs elsewhere or you're just cheap.

it's great
i love to listen to this kind of music especially pat benatar she is an awesome singer. i am in a dance team and we alwaysdance to her music and music like hers its great to dance to. right when our director put her music on everyone fell in lovewith it.

Good combination of voices
I love this CD. All of the songs are great. Pat Benatar and Blondie have really different sounds, but they also sound similar. All of the songs have similar themes- the ups and downs of love, though it concentrates more onthe downs. My favorite songs are Heart of Glass, One Way or Another, Hit MeWith Your Best Shot, and We Belong. It's a great CD, so go ahead and getit. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Thrashing Experience
As liner note writer Kurt Loder states, the Ramones issued a "wake up call" to 1976 consumers listening to hits "by people like Barry Manilow and Walter Murphy and England Dan and John Ford Coley." This is an excellent collection, mostly from the third and forth albums, "Rocket to Russia" and "Road to Ruin" (along with a few obligatory bonus tracks), that demonstrates how the Ramones eventually work rescued radio rock with an simple but powerful mixture of heavy drums and bass, constant thrashing guitars, and one of the best punk vocalists, Joey Ramone.

Some of that new sound, in songs like "Ramona, "Rockaway Beach" and, especially, "Sheena is a Punk Rocker," are clearly linked to the surf bands (most notably, the Beach Boys), but energized and propelled by the least subtle drumming you'll ever hear, and the joy of Joey's "inimitable Anglo-Queens lead bleat" (again, quoting Kurt Loder).

There are a few "ballads' (e.g., "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow") that don't really work, especially in contrast to the faster songs. On the other hand, it's nice to have some breaks from the glorious pounding. Side 2's "I Want You Around" is much more successful, the textures and shading reminiscent of Elvis Costello. Mostly, though, the songs are fast, short, and energized; if you don't like one cut, the next one might get to you.

The Ramones seem to have a special affinity for covering older songs, highlighted here by a fast "Do You Wanna Dance," "Needles and Pins," and their near perfect adaptation of the great "Surfin' Bird." Other highlights include "Slug," which features woofer-destroying bass and drums and a John Lennon-esque chorus, and "Road to Ruin" songs "I Want You Around," and "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" where the band displays a bit more texture and invention, alongside great hooks and raw energy. Unfortunately, there are also the inexplicably polished "Questioningly" and the country excursions of "Don't Come Close." But the "Road to Ruin" songs include the thrashing "I'm Against It" ("when I'm against it, I'm against it"), and one of the best (and most popular) of the Ramones' work "I Wanna Be Sedated." Completing the psychiatric trilogy are "Mental Health" (pronounced beautifully as "Men-till") with its blistering guitars, and the excellent 60's sound (buffeted by punk's flatted chords) of "Bad Brain." Although a few cuts begin to blend together (especially after 71 minutes of it here), you'll want to return to this New York roller coaster even after you have muscle memory of its thrill. The Ramones are well worth listening to again and again.

GREAT RAMONES ALBUM
Most people think that the ramones can only play one type of music..... BOY WERE THEY EVER WRONG!!
This album covers everything from the hard power chords of "I DON'T WANNA LIVE THIS LIFE (ANYMORE)" to the soft ballads of sunny Bono's classic "NEEDLES AND PINS", and let's not forget the all-time hit "I WANNA BE SEDATED".
If you've just grown an interest in the ramones now that Joey is dead, and you wanna start your collection, you must buy this album!

Must Have
I read the first review from Ken32 or something, and he claims there are no frills or bonus cuts....Was he reviewing the cassette version???? There are FOUR bonus cuts, all good. Any serious Ramone fan must have this CD, if they don't already.

a good Ramones starter
This compilation, All the Stuff and More, volume 2, is just the 3rd and 4th Ramones albums, end to end. There are no bonus cuts, and there is nothing special about the liner notes or packaging. No frills.

Now that Joey Ramone has passed away, someone has seen fit to reissue each of the first four albums on CD, so we can expect those soon. I'll be buying them myself. But in the meantime, I have this compilation of Road to Ruin and Rocket to Russia, which, by the way, is at a great price, considering it's TWO albums, not just one. And while many state that Ramones' best album was their first, many of their most loved songs are on THIS disc--- "Sheena Was a Punk Rocker"---"I Wanna Be Sedated"---"Rockaway Beach". The band was in its heyday back when these two albums were made, and you can get them on this CD for a good price.

It's a great place to start with one of rock's greatest bands.

ken32

Rocket to Russia... Road to Ruin
This CD is the Ramones 3rd and 4th records, Rocket to Russia and Road to Ruin. Ask anyone who knows... the Ramones made four great records... these two, plus the first two, their s/t debut, and Leave Home. And sure, the first record was the best, but these are very nearly equally great. They changed the world for us and made it better for a short little while. In some ways this is their "accomplished" stuff. After the first record, they couldn't just keep making "Loudmouth" over and over. This was their big shot at hit singles and the top 10 ... Little Ramona, Cretin Hop, and so on. Foolish top 10, that didn't take them up on it. ... Read more

Album Details

Punk Attitude and Drive Comes Through on their First Live Album featuring Some of their Biggest Hits from 'insomnia'. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

buy insomniac
this cd has all of the same songs as in insomniac but insomniac has alot more tracks the only song on here thats not on insomniac is knowledge. (check out the new superhits album before you buy it, i have most of the songs on it and i only have five greenday cds) a four because of the lack tracks and because it has the same songs. but its greenday so its got to be great

Green Day kicks even more @$$ live!
"Bowling Bowling Bowling Parking Parking" is Green Day's first live EP, and they sound even better playing live than they do on their regular albums. Their punk attitude shows through more when they play live than on any other album, even "Dookie." The tracks are few here, only 7 songs, but it is still an incredible record. Personally, I think "Brain Stew" is the best track on this album, but every song is great. I highly suggest this to any Green Day fan. Don't let the high price drive you away, it is well worth the money!

AWESOME GREEN DAY CD
Despite the shortage of tracks, this CD has the live versions of most of Green Day's best songs- which sound BETTER than the Album versions. I think that Brain Stew is the best song on this CD. A must-buy for Green Day fans!

GREEN DAY RULES!
I Bought this CD because I Wanted to own all the green day CD's. The only bad thing about this live cd is there is only seven songs! Where are the rest! [Only] 7 songs? Its worth it if you like green day as much as i do.

Live Green Day Is Good Green Day
'Bowling Bowling Bowling Parking Parking' is the first of the two live Green Day records released officially by Reprise Records, and the only thing it lacks is length. There are only 7 songs blasted out quickly by the punk-rock kings, but a worthwhile purchase nonetheless. 'Knowledge', the fourth song on the record, is especially good and a fun song to listen to live. With the live experience of Green Day in their existence, this album is certainly very good, and easier to get too than the large amount of Green Day bootleg cds there are. Teamed up with the second official live recording, 'Foot In Mouth', 'Bowling... Parking...' results in a very enjoyable record that gives you the brilliant experience of Green Day LIVE! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

If you only buy one Circle Jerks CD, BUY THIS ONE
This is the Circle Jerks album that all others are measured against. The lyrics define the sarcastic punk wit that other bands only aspired to (and wholesome too):

> Be nice, say 'thank you', 'please' once in a while
> It's a beautiful world we live in, give your brother a smile
> Turn to a stranger, give him a pat on the back
> It's not that hard to do, maybe the friendship will last
> Wonderful! ..... Won - Der - Ful!
> Wonderful! ..... Won - Der - Ful!

This is one of only a handful of albums that I've owned on LP, CD, and Cassette. It's one of the best punk rock recordings of all time. It stands up to the test of time. I still listen to this one after all these years.

The title track, 'Wonderful' and the song 'The Crowd' are highlights, but all the tracks are great. It's a punk rock album you can pop in your CD Player and listen all the way through without feeling compelled to skip a track.

Classic Work - a Must Hear
Had to write this when I read the somewhat bad reviews this album got from others. This is a punk classic with a bit of politics and a whole lot of sarcasm. Personally, I think the best tracks on this disc are Wonderful and American Heavy Metal Weekend, but I don't think there is a bad track on it. Definately a "must hear" for any punk fan. It's been about 13 years since I first heard this album, and I still find it entertaining. I know of very few other albums I can say that about.

A few good Jerks songs , but thats it
This was the first album with the new lineup , and it's a disappointment. They kinda went a cheesy 80's direction with this. However songs like "The Crowd" , "Mrs.Jones" , and "Making The Bombs" stand out as being really great Jerk's songs. Overall it's a bit lousy. But buy it for those three songs.

The Best-Sing-a-Long
This album is there best. The songs are ahead of there time. If they were released today, they would be as popular as they ever were....All the songs are high paced, sarcastic as hell, and motivational ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The third installment of the Meat Puppets brilliant trilogy.
The trilogy my headline speaks of began with "Meat Puppets II", continued with "Up On The Sun"... and brought you here, to "Mirage". Mirage is a crystalline view of sweat, thirst, rezilliance, joy, sadness... all of the things that make life worth living. Few bands can sum up an entire lifetimes worth of emotions in less than 45 minutes the way that the Mup's can... and this record is a solid testament to that fact. This record is equal to the previous two that came before it... and should be treated as the monument to Americana that it is.

You have despair and loss in "Love Our Children Forever". You have a sense of nature's elements in "The Wind And Rain". You can even have some mindless fun in "Get On Down". You can experience 75 years worth of living in suburban America by just spinning this disc once.

And how many bands do you know of that can deliver an entire lifetimes worth of emotions on one silver disc?

The Psycadellic Masterpiece
Mirage is exactly what you have heard it was, The meat puppets psycadellic masterpiece. I don't know how any meat puppets fan could dislike this album it's probobly my third favorite album of theres. Every song is so colorful and the album as a whole paints the picture of the album cover when you hear it. The opening of the album starts off with curts psycadellic guitar which is the intro to the laid back title track. Quit it is an all out Meat Puppets rocker which you can't help but really get into. Get on down is a funny song where the music just makes you want to do a stupid little dance as well as sing along too. The lyrics have to do with taking your car apart and what not. A Hundred Miles is probobly my favorite track where the music in the verses have a get up and grove beat and the chorus is the part of the song that rocks! If you liked Up on the Sun, Meat Puppets II, and Too High to Die then you will most likely love this and yor collection should not be without this. If you want to start with this album then go ahead and click buy cd and wait for the glorious day when one of rock's greatest masterpieces comes on your doorstep.

Dissapointing
After getting the excellent "Up on the Sun" and "Meat Puppets 2" albums, I had high anticipations for "Mirage", but I was very dissapointed. The album is very polished but lacks in energy and the songs are weak, and do not fit Curt K.'s vocal style. You're better off buying the previous two albums.

Where have all the Meat Puppets Gone?!
I just bought this yesterday, and this was my fourth MP album. Up on the Sun is probably my favorite because I don't think Chris Kirkwood's guitar playing can possibly get any better or groovier than on that album, but that saying Mirage is great. I didn't give it 5 stars because only a select few should get those kinds of accolades. The Meat Puppets were absolutely amazing music.

My favorite Pups release
This is my favorite disc by a band with a fantastic musical dynamic that draws on such a wide influence of styles. This disc has a pretty strong country flavor, the playing is swell, most of the songs are good ones. I really like this period of their work, but my main attraction to this band is that each album is unique in style, yet so absolutely Meat Puppets! Curt Kirkwood's guitar work is bitchen, as always! ... Read more

Album Description

Sportin' Life is making it's worldwide CD Debut. ... Read more

Album Description

84 tracks in a three disc box-set. Includes two CDs ofstudio cuts ('Pet Semetary' etc), & one live CD featuringall their earlier classics. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

5 Ramones albums on one handy 3-CD set
I'd give this one 5 stars as far as the value (depending on how much you pay, of course) and 3 3/4 stars as far as the music. In other words, if you are a Ramones completist this is the best way to collect five of their last releases at a reasonable price. This contains Brain Drain, Acid Eaters, Mondo Bizarro, Adios Amigos, Loco Live, and one bonus track (their version of the "Spiderman" TV theme). If you are new to the Ramones, however, I would recommend getting one of the first four albums before buying this. Their first four releases are established classics that influenced all modern-day punk to some degree; the later albums have some good moments but are kind of inconsistent.

Brain Drain is the earliest, and best, album represented here. Released in 1989, it includes the semi-hit singles "Pet Sematary" and "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)." Good midtempo rock anthems verging on heavy metal, especially the powerful opening track "I Believe in Miracles." My guilty pleasure here was the cheese-metal "Punishment Fits the Crime," with Dee Dee singing terrible lyrics: "Let the punishment fit the crime/the footprints on the sands of time/the philosophy of the poet's rhyme/makes a man crumble in his prime." Hit and miss, yes, but when it works it's classic Ramones: "Don't Bust My Chops" and "All Screwed Up" are in the melodic three-chord vein they did best, and there's a great cover of the 60's bubblegum pop song "Palisades Park" originally written by Chuck Barris of Gong Show fame.

Next up is the horrible Acid Eaters album from 1993. I reviewed this one in depth on its own here on Amazon, if you need details. To sum it up, this is an all-60's covers album that the record company pressured the Ramones into doing. CJ Ramone, for example, had some pretty negative things to say about it. It's pretty lackluster, but at least you get the "Spiderman" track at the end which is better than anything from Acid Eaters.

Next up, 1992's Mondo Bizarro, the first studio album featuring CJ instead of Dee Dee on bass. CJ also sings 2 of the songs here; his vocals are decent but Dee Dee was a lot snottier and "punker" sounding. Not like the later-era Ramones were trying to be punk; they were more of an established hard rock band by this point. Besides, they basically did all but create punk in the U.S., so what did they have to prove? "Poison Heart" is the standout track here, it's a mid-tempo rocker similar in sound to "Miracles" with world-weary lyrics written by Dee Dee. Other worthwhile tracks include "It's Gonna Be Alright," which is a tribute to Ramones fans, "Tomorrow She Goes Away," and "I Won't Let it Happen." The Doors cover "Take it as it Comes" is surprisingly good considering the results they had on Acid Eaters; I would chalk it up to better production on Mondo Bizarro. There's a lot of throwaway filler tracks, though, like "Cabbies on Crack" and "Heidi is a Headcase."

Next, Adios Amigos from 1995: the Ramones' last studio album. Less throwaway tracks on here than Mondo Bizarro. It starts out with a Tom Waits cover "I Don't Want to Grow Up" which sounds like it was written for the "bruddas." Due to Joey's bad health, CJ sings lead on a mind-boggling 5 of the 13 songs, and does pretty well. Besides "Grow Up," the standout songs are the excellent "Life's a Gas" and "Take the Pain Away." It seems like on the later Ramones albums the slower songs were the best, as opposed to the balls-out 1-2-3-4 pace of the early stuff. Another slow song is the unusually sad-sounding "She Talks to Rainbows," with Joey at his melancholy best. The album concludes with "Born to Die in Berlin," with lyrics by who else but our friend Dee Dee? He sings on it as well, which makes this a happy ending (studio-wise) for one of the best and most influential bands of all time.

The 3rd disc is "Loco Live," recorded live in Barcelona in March 1991. Despite most of the band (and many critics) disliking the production on this album, for Ramones fans it's a pretty good overview of their songs, especially later tracks like "Don't Bust My Chops" and "Love Kills" that didn't show up too often in the live sets. Marky was the only Ramone to really praise this album, mainly because he overdubbed his drum tracks later in the studio, ha ha. You do get four tracks previously available only on the UK release: "Love Kills," "Don't Bust My Chops," "Too Tough to Die," and "Palisades Park." Unfortunately, The Chrysalis Years omits four other tracks previously available on the US release, forcing hardcore Ramones fans to track down another CD. The deleted tracks are "I Just Want to Have Something to Do," "Havana Affair," "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement," and the infamous "Carbona Not Glue."

If you can overlook the missing live tracks, this is a collector's dream: 84 tracks in all! Long live the memory of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. Hey, ho, let's go! to all the Ramones fans out there.

4 Different Songs Might Be Worth It
I bought this just as a collector, not expecting 4 different songs on the "Loco Live" disc. When I first listened to it though, I noticed some songs missing, & in the wrong order. Then, when I checked the song list, I realized "Too Tough To Die", "Don't Bust My Chops", "Palisades Park", & "Love Kills" were on this import & not the version of "L L" I've been listening to all these years. Even though it's an English import, now I'm kinda disappointed they didn't just put everything in from both the European & U.S. versions. Still, I'm excited anytime I find new Ramones "stuff", & I'm really looking forward to the King Biscuit disc "NYC 1978" coming out soon.

very underrated
Okay, this is not one of their classic albums from the late 70s when they were new, shocking, and most importantly, YOUNG. But many would tell you "The Chrysalis Years" is devoid of any creative material and is unlistenable compared to the Ramones' past glory. I do agree that they were cashing in on the fact that more people were finally respecting them, but this sounds very fresh and original compared to other aging punk bands. CJ is the best! Best songs: "I Believe in Miracles," "Don't Bust My Chops," "Censorsh*t," "Strength to Endure," "Poison Heart," "I Don't Wanna Grow Up," "Makin' Monsters for My Friends," "Scatter Gun," "Born to Die in Berlin," "Blitzkrieg Bop (live)" and "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg (live)." So when you can't take listening to I Wanna Be Sedated for the 1400th time, pop in this latter-day anthology.

Amazing Release.
This is a big must for fans of punk rock and fans of the Ramones. Also very recommended to people who want to hear what the Ramones are all about. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Hellish Heaven
after listening and accepting sonic youth as my favorite band, i began to look into their influences. well mars popped up and i had a hard time hearing their songs. i only heard one, but i liked it, and took a chance. well it payed off. this cd is lush in its own way. with the beat of the song carrying off in many directions at once, 78+ is just like one noisy dream. and the noise is what makes this album so scary and so good. just sit back and let this stuff soak in. im 13 and i like this stuff, other people should be able to too. buy it.

TCRXWGLnn6-T9BxR-00-2SWN-4=stuckinsideajarwithnoclothes
It is rather like the feeling of being put inside a microwave oven which is then programmed you cook you at the lowest possible setting. So that you get to feel the gradual excitation of the water molecules of yourself, their heat and spastic dance becoming all that you are so that your own greater movements mimic their miniscule epileptic shimmy faster and faster and faster around the black star unto a great final blotting out of all mind. It's that good. Some of the extra stuff is mildly filleresque. The live CD on ROIR/Danceteria is also highly recommended, as is Mark Cunningham's current work with Raeo.

godfist
mars are beyond death. they are in the empty void of negation that all people hate and fear. they are not destroying anything, nor are they trying to build new life. they connect the inner mind and all of the fetishes within it to the empty cold truth. the cycle of redeath to redeath.

No Wave Legends Collected
Along with DNA, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks, and the Contortions, Mars were the pioneering No Wave folks featured on the legendary 1978 Eno-produced lp "No New York." Four of the tracks on 78 Reissue appeared on NNY (Helen Forsdale, Tunnell, Hairwaves, PR Ghost). The music is a wonderful scramble of new wave, Branca-esque noise and free jazz. Incendiary, exciting, unforgettable. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Save the planet, buy a cd.
I assume the proceeds from this went to a worthy cause. But more importantly, this is a great sampler of the late 80's alt/pop music scene. It's a 2 cd set, although I believe you can get them seperately. DISC ONE has 17 tracks of great bands like U2, Pretenders, Sting, INXS, Bryan Ferry, the Grateful Dead, REM, Lou Reed, and many more. DISC TWO is 14 tracks with Peter Gabriel, the Waterboys, John Mellencamp, Sade, and others. Disc one is the better of the two. It would be nice if Greenpeace released a new compilation like this. Too bad there's just not the same quality of groups around today. And too bad this is out of print. Peace. ... Read more

Album Description

This CD gathers up all their early singles and demos forBomp, as well as other early and unreleased recordings, for a real documentary of what they were like in 1977. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

ZEROS?...WHAT A GREAT BAND!!!!!
4 stars and half star else...I've recently heard this cd and is simple, like ramones, and is great (not so great as ramones, but it have their own things). highly recommended for people who likes Ramones, Lurkers, Vibrators, etc.
all those are demos and some live songs, and the sound is not so clear but that's the reason I like it.

You Need This.
The "Mexican Ramones" is a pretty accurate description of this band. And, like the Ramones, The Zeros were heavily influenced by 60's music. However, it is unfair to describe them entirely as Ramones clones because they did develop their own sound during their unfortunately short career. This is just great Rock 'n Roll, pure and simple.

Real, Unadulterated Teenage Rock and Roll
These four Mexican kids from just North of the border got together at the dawn of the Ramones Revolution and played some of the greatest punk rock of all time. Influenced by both the Ramones and New York Dolls, the Zeros put a glam twist on punk rock that was tempered by their very basic lyrics, songwriting and musicianship. Later material was not quite as endearing as the first blast, but certainly stands on its own and requires no explanations or excuses. The only excuse you're going to have to make to is to yourself if you don't get this CD in your collection right now!

LOve this record!
The Zeros rule! I can play this record a million times and never get sick of it. I love it! The lyrics are the best!

I love it
I love the zeros. I think they are underrated. Their music is very simple but at the same time very effective. ... 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