release date: Oct. 1, 1984
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Tommy Ramone, Ed Stasium
label: Sire Records - nationality: USA
8th studio album by Ramones is an attempt to return to former hey-days exemplified by producer-duo Tommy Ramone and Ed Stasium who also stood behind Road to Ruin (1978). Ritchie Ramone has replaced Marky on drums, the latter having played in the band since the '78 album. A bit ironic that Marky apparently was fired for alcohol abuse - ironic 'cause also Joey was a notorious alcoholic but he may have seemed irreplaceable (and then Dee Dee was a cocaine addict at the time).
Yes, the sound is back to something one can easily determine as Ramones and their power pop- or 'bubblegum'-driven version of punk rock. The only negative side of it is the absence of great tracks - the compositions are just not there anymore. The magic seems gone, and to me, this marks the end to Ramones as I had already given up on the band after Pleasant Dreams (1981). However, the band would go on in slightly different line-ups (Marky returning and Dee Dee being fired, replaced, and eventually re-adopted in the band) to release another six studio albums - the final being ¡Adiós Amigos! released in 1995.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
