Ramones - End of the Century
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Free Music Notes for End of the Century
Free Music Review: The Most Controversial Album in the Ramones' History
Hit: 5 Stars
It's quite interesting to read about cases in which a band is matched with a producer whose ideas clash with those of the group he or she is assigned to. Rock is filled with examples. Cheap Trick was dealt former Beatles producer George Martin for their 1980 "All Shook Up" album, much to the confusion of the critics. The Byrds suffered a blow when Terry Melcher covered their 1971 record "Byrdmaniax" with an array of keyboards, strings, and backup singers after the group had recorded the basic tracks (the ironic thing being that Melcher had been the Byrds' longtime friend and producer). And just recently, Paul McCartney re-issued the Beatles' legendary "Let it Be" album, but minus the input and infamous "Wall of Sound" of producer Phil Spector, who was paired with the Ramones in 1980 for "End of the Century," perhaps the punk rock pioneers' most controversial album, and one that raises a lot of points. The Ramones had started to expand their three-chord buzzsaw approach with "Road to Ruin" and a gradual progression was inevitable. But this album was a shock to many, as it contained such surprising bits as string arrangements and other things that don't come to mind when one mentions the Ramones. But "End of the Century" is a fascinating piece of history, not only of the Ramones, but of punk in general (even though the group was being overshadowed by the countless bands who had ripped them off, i.e. "the acts they had inspired").
In all fairness, it must be said that a big part of the progression in the album comes not from Spector's producing, but in the Ramones' songwriting. There are the typical Ramones-style punk rockers like `Let's Go,' `The Return of Jackie & Judy,' `All the Way,' and `High Risk Insurance' but there are other elements that have begun to sprout. There's storytelling in the dark cocaine tale `Chinese Rock,' a song as dark as the obsession in `I'm Affected,' in which it seems the Ramones are actually in control of producing and not Spector, whose input is most obvious in the catchy ode to the 50s and 60s pop scene `Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?', opening the album with a collage of radio sound effects, and in a dripping pop cover of `Baby I Love You' (a hit which Spector had co-written many years earlier), which became the Ramones' biggest single in the UK, while `I Can't Make it on Time' remains one of the many numbers on the album that should-have-been-a-hit. The hard rocking but catchy `This Ain't Havana' has a bit of cynicism in it, and there's even a punkier version of `Rock N' Roll High School,' the title song to the cult film the group had starred in (the more poppier single version showed up on the 1988 compilation "Ramones Mania"). Another notable point is guitarist Johnny's ability to pick and strum in the well-arranged `Danny Says,' an innocent, weary look at the rush of the music business.
For years, some of the Ramones pronounced "End of the Century" as their worst album, but it has become accepted by most bandmembers, and many fans, over time. The recently departed Johnny Ramone is quoted in this remaster's liner notes as saying he's glad the band worked with Phil Spector. It's actually hard to imagine the Ramones' catalog without the album. "End of the Century" was a necessary step, even if the public wasn't ready for it, in showing that the Ramones were growing as musicians and as individuals, even if the band was quite uncomfortable with it. Naturally, and fortunately, their next step was to stray from the wild ideas of Phil Spector and write history with their own definition of expanding, as shown on their next two albums (and two of their best), "Pleasant Dreams" and "Subterranean Jungle."
Free Music Review: Re-mastering Spector: An unconditional recommendation
Hit: 5 Stars
Do you remember rock 'n' roll radio? If not, this albulm might well sound like an unfortunate pop abberation from a punk band. The complaint, put best, is that this albulm is overproduced and lightweight when compared to the four earlier Ramones efforts. It should be kept in mind, however, that *everything* sounds overproduced and lightweight compared to them. If you do share the Ramones' enthusiasm for their power pop and proto-punk roots, this albulm is likely a favourite.'End of The Century', as the rumour-debunking Harvey Kubernik booklet notes, was the greatest commercial success of the band's, and received great reviews from the mainstream rock press. It's easy to see why. Phil Spector's trademark "Wall of Sound" builds a catchy musical edifice on the foundation of the Ramones' "Wall of Noise". The jangly '60s-sound of "Rock 'N' Roll High School", the orchestral production of "Do You Remember..." and the down-tempo ballad "Danny Says" give this release an eclectic sound not generally associated with the Ramones. "Chinese Rock", "This Ain't Havana" and "I'm Affected" remind us that this is still the Ramones we know and love, although some of the less inspiring tracks, such as "High Risk Insurance" remind us more of the disappointing filler material the forthcoming pop albulms would contain. "Baby, I Love You" testifies that Joey Ramone could rescue even the worst syrupy self-induglence and make it his own. "The Return of Jackie and Judy" almost summarizes the entire effort; what would a punk classic sound like with an uber-produced pop sound?
Whichever side you come down on with regards to the fan controversy concerning this albulm, you'd be forced to agree that the re-mastering has added both depth and texture to its sound. It's expertly done, managing to provide a clarity in the instrumentation while not bringing the details into too sharp a relief. It also highlights just how different the band sounded under Spector when compared to the earlier re-releases. Proponents of the "Decline and Fall of the Ramone Empire" theory will love the bonus tracks. They're the Ed Stasium demos, and they give us the chance to hear what five tracks of this albulm would have sounded like if Spector hadn't convinced the band to work with him. The contrast is striking, and the unpolished quality of these tracks will appeal to those who love this albulm as well. Two complaints: 1) why was Stasium's version of "Rock and Roll High School" packaged with the 'Road To Ruin' re-release? 2) There's a hidden track on the albulm that is Joey doing a radio advert for the (original) release. It's cute, but quickly gets old once the albulm's been in the CD changer a while.
Fans of this albulm will never want to hear it in any other way after enjoying the re-mastering. This re-release won't change the minds of those who object to the overproduction. But even for them this release provides a reason to buy; the bonus tracks offer a chance to hear the songs as they might otherwise have been.
Free Music Review: Too Tough To Die
Hit: 5 Stars
I like Paul McCartney. I'm still mourning the death of my guitar hero, Johnny Ramone. And, despite both of them, I'm glad Phil Spector produced "Let It Be" and "End of the Century."
"End of the Century" was the first Ramones album I bought, and it's the one I go back to most, time and again. Sure, the pairing of the First Family of Punk and the Wall of Sound producer seemed incongruous, but not really: They have a common bloodline, namely, girl group tunes from the early 1960s.
"Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?" is their tribute to those days gone by, to the two-and-a-half minute rock-and-rock 45 r.p.m. AM radio hits. Then, in the late '60s and 1970s, rock operas and cheesy album rock FM stations took over, bulldozing those erstwhile catchy tunes. This song is therefore my favorite Ramones anthem: A reactionary and revolutionary call to arms to take back radio from the forces of excessive and pretentious concept rock bands. To those who think Phil Spector burdened the Ramones with "over-production," I suggest they re-listen to the logical end of the "progressive rock" movement: Styx, Kansas, Boston and Journey (bands I otherwise like, but admit it, they were a bit much). Compared to them, the Ramones (even on this CD) come off as a stripped-down mechanized infantry unit.
"The Return of Jackie and Judy." Am I the only one who likes it better than the original which spawned it, "Judy is a Punk"? Maybe, maybe not, but this is one of their best, and is the only song I know that plays like a male version of "My Boyfriend's Back," in which boy crooner Joey waxes about his juvenile delinquent girlfriends.
"Rock & Roll High School." So what if it's "Rockaway Beach" with new lyrics and some chord changes? It works.
"Chinese Rock" is a great song, even if it's about drugs. Marky's drum riffs bring the Beach Boys' "Wipeout" to mind.
It is hard to believe that Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny are no longer with us. May they rest in peace, and may Johnny and Joey have made up and ended their brotherly feud.
But, there is solace, Ramoniacs: Put this CD in your player, and they are suddenly very much alive.
Free Music Review: Open Your Ears For Something Completely Different
Hit: 5 Stars
The Ramones' controversial album, "The End of the Century," shows how an innovative band was not afraid to cross boundaries. At the time that the album was produced the music industry was churning out records associated with the 1950s and early 1960s, "Grease," and the television show, "Happy Days" was one of the top shows on the tube. The atmosphere at the time was to revisit 20 years in the past. It was Joey Ramones' attempt at turning back the clock to his childhood and paying homage to the music that influenced him make his musical journey into Rock and Roll music. Who better to produce the album than Phil Spector? If the intention was to produce a pop album, Phil Spector and The Ramones succeeded.
"End of The Century" includes a smorgasbord of pop and punk tunes. The opening track, "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?" gets your blood going and expecting a ride down memory lane, but then you are hit with, "I'm Affected," "Chinese Rocks," and "I Can't Make it on Time," which gets you back into Ramone-mode. Suddenly, the candy coated tunes and covers reappear, "Danny Says," an early Beach Boys sounding song and the Ronettes' "Baby, I Love You," which had less stellar results. However, the highlight of the album is "Rock 'N' Roll High School" and the bonus tracks, which include demo versions of "Danny Says," "I'm Affected," "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?", and from the "Rock 'N' Roll High school soundtrack, a version of "I Want You Around."
This is not your average Ramones record. It should be listened to with an open mind and appreciation to music. "End of the Century" is one of those albums that may be listened to over and over, but if you are locked into the Ramones' punk style, it may take a little longer. I recommend listeners to watch the Ramones' documentary, "End of the Century" before listening to this record.
Free Music Review: One of a kind masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
This is my generation's Exile on Main St., totally misunderstood by idiot critics (and seemingly, the Ramones themselves. Only Joey seemed to dig it) Here, the Ramones stake their claim to the whole of American Rock 'n Roll, not just parochial NYC punk, and Phil Spector (who legitimately loved this band) justifies his own sorry existence by giving them the gift of the biggest wall of sound he ever came up with. After this album, Johnny stole Joey's girlfriend and the magic was gone, they started claiming individual song credits, they brought in ringers to play guitar solos on the albums, DeeDee started shooting up again, Joey started boozing and not caring, and the band went down the toilet. But this record just sounds better and better with each passing year. (Except "Chinese Rocks" -- interesting to hear the boys jump from household solvents to hard drugs, but Johnny Thunders friggin' OWNS this song; Joey just ain't a convincing junkie. Still, the tune's darkness adds to E of the C's stylistic diversity). Did I say my generation's Exile on Main St? It's also my generations White Album and London Calling. (wait a minute, London Calling is my generation's London Calling -- but End of the Century is a better London Calling than London Calling...)