I was walking down the street one day singing this Ramones song. I thought that It was important that there were so many song that they had written with so few notes. Three chord rock. It is rock, from the blues to this. Simple and to the point. Does it make sense to me? It makes sense to me. 1978 and I found them in the back of the bin in the desert somewhere. I was still in High School and after repeated listens it finally made sense to me. At first it was like hearing a foreign language. In the desert, Southern Californian rock ruled: Eagles, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young. From this to Johnny, Joey, Tommy, DeeDee was quite a stretch. But I made it and It forever altered my brain. "Now I want to sniff some glue, Now I want to have something to do". I was never one for experimenting with drugs but these simple sentiments of addiction, self-abuse and a lowest common denominator vacant suburban search for redemption in a blank world of pre-fab consumer culture was the call to arms and rebellion for me. I cut my hair.
 
15 albums later I see this pattern of songs that has taken me all over the place. The notes have gotten wider and the pop element has become more pop (although not more popular). A body of work that has placed them in a very unique place in the annuals of Rock 'n' Roll. Perhaps the best Rock 'n' Roll band of all time. Consistent, unwavering. "We want the Airwaves", well they never got the airwaves. But the music goes on. "I want to be Sedated" is their song of songs, almost an anthem of all things delivered. I hear from time to time on the hard rock stations. There's nothing like hearing the Ramones on the radio, maybe they do own the airwaves. Turn it up and cruise.
[BdeV, 1996]  
 
 
Ramones Discography.