Various Artists Ramones Forever - An International Tribute
By
Vinnie Apicella,
Contributor
Saturday, October 12, 2002 @ 1:59 PM
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No one can argue the worldwide significance of a band like The Ramones,
Godfathers of punk and so much more. A gangly group of four Lower East
Side misfits, who straddled the classic rock vibe of the '50s and '60s and swept it onto the sidewalk, stepped over it and simply generated an entire movement that lasted twenty years strong and continues to live on in the spirit of their countless supporters.
What sets this tribute apart is that it consists solely of European acts brandishing wholly unique renditions of Ramones' tunes way outside the boundaries of expectation. Ramones' tunes being what they are --simple, concise, and contagious three-chord, three-minute anthemic romps for the outsider, none too troublesome to cover in the conventional way -- how about then twisting the torso a bit and bringing a true revisionist vision into the old standard? Precisely what the 23 contributors do here, ranging from furious all out punk assaults to writhing loops, sampling, elevated electro-pop and worldly beats, you've never heard "Psycho Therapy," "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," or ska-grandized soul and slaughter of "Pet Semetary" quite like this before.
To hear the true magnitude of the influence of four antithetical anti-heroes who began with a dollar, dream, and knee-torn denim, here's the chance to do that while also contributing to Joey's memorial fund for which a portion of these proceeds will be donated
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