We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to the Ramones

by

Various Artists

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This CD is a mixed bag. My favorites are the Red Hot Chili Peppers doing a Latin influenced version of "Havana Affair", Eddie Vedder doing solid versions of "I Believe In Miracles" & "Daytime Dilemma", Metallica doing "53rd & 3rd" as heavy punk, Kiss did a good party-rock version "Rock N Roll Radio", and my favorite track is "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do" by Garbage.

Also included is an annoying cover of "Blitzkrieg Bop" by Rob Zombie, a light poppy "Beat on the Brat" by U2 that grows on you, Marilyn Manson ruined "The KKK Took My Baby Away" by doing it slow, creepy and Goth like. Green Day does a good version of a weak song with "Outsider". The Pretenders do a gloomy and forgettable version of "Something to Believe In". Rancid was the wrong choice to cover "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (I think this should have been covered by Green Day). Pete Yorn does a pretty good "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" but anyone could do a pretty good "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend". The Offspring sound like a tribute band on "I Wanna Be Sedated". Rooney does a tribute to U2 doing a tribute to the Ramones on "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow". And lastly, Tom Waits does a bizarre, garbled drunken version of "Return of Jackie & Judy". Overall, this was a good tribute but it could have been much better. It includes some excellent Ramones photos and a very amusing 4 page introduction by Stephen King.

I have a rather Complete Music Collection, and sometimes it's difficult to find new music to add, so when I was out shopping and saw this CD I was a bit excited. The cover art is wonderful. The artists contained within are some of my favorites. I quickly removed the packaging and plopped it in my car stereo. I instantly loved the first track, The Chili Peppers, sound like themselves, but do "Havana Affair", great justice. I think Joey and Dee-Dee would have been proud. It's the best track on the CD and for diehard Ramones fans, it's worth getting for this cover.

I had hoped the rest of the album would live up to this song, but it falls short. Rob Zombie totally removed the spirit and fun from "Blitzkrieg Bop", Edde Vedder's work was OK, but not standout. Metallica sounds great musically, but again doesn't have the attitude that makes 53rd and 3rd one of my favorite Ramones songs. I love U2 and thought they might have something interesting, but they basically stuck with the original music and Bono's vocal just doesn't work. They should have picked a song more suited to their style. Kiss does a good job on "Rock and Roll Radio". Marilyn Manson's verson of "KKK..." is interesting, but in it's complexity it loses the humour that makes the original a really good track. Garbage does well with "I just want to have something to do", but like most other songs on this record, it made me long for the original. Green Day does great with "outsider", but I guess I somehow resent that band for copying what the Ramones did and making the money that they never did. Pete Yorn and Rooney's covers were both pretty decent and the rest of the album is kind of lukewarm. After listening, I pulled out the real Ramones's Cd's and they put a smile on my face. I guess what I had wanted from this CD was totally unrealistic. I wanted to be back in the late 70's, buying real Ramones Albums. I wanted to feel like I was getting something daring and exciting. It was a mistake in judgement on my part. The experiance reminded me again of how much I love this band and those days. It's good that their memory is kep't alive by tribute album, but only bittersweet.