Ramones - Ramones

The latest edition of Spin Magazine was dedicated to 30 years of punk. 1977 was the seminal year in the movement, with initial releases from the Sex Pistols, the Clash and other now infamous bands. This makes the Ramones the trend setters as they released this, their first record, in 1976.

I have to admit I was not listening to the Ramones in 1976, but I loved what followed. I sometimes have a hard time thinking of the Ramones or any of the American bands as truly punk. According to legend, Malcom McClaran came to the US, tried to manage the Ramones, failed, moved back to England and ripped off the look with the Sex Pistols. OK, so New York was a crappy place in 1976. There was a lot of crime, a garbage strike, a mass murderer on the loose. America's response - disco. Let's be honest, punk was a footnote. The original CBGB bands were Blondie, who totally gave over to disco, the Talking Heads, an art band, and the Ramones. I love the Ramones and this is one of the best records ever released, but... this is not the angry response you expect to hard times. In fact, the songs are pretty funny. And the guys look more like comic book character versions of punk rockers. London 1976, unemployment is through the roof, times are equally tough. The reaction? Anarchy in the UK, God Save the Queen (the fascist regime), and I'm so bored with the USA. The US bands never had the hard political edge and anger that their British counterparts (imitators?) had.

All that said, you need this record in your collection and you need to buy the DVD Rock and Roll High School. The Ramones get the last laugh, they always looked like they were having fun.