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RAMONES "It's Alive" 1979 (Sire)
THE SKINNY: The triple beat roar of the RAMONES record gloriously live on New Years Eve in London on four sides of vinyl! Get it? "One, two, three, four!" The original lineup with Tommy on the skins rip thru tunes from their first three at speeds that make the original studio versions sound so slow! The mix of tunes is great and they pull it all off like the workhorses they were. One after the other with nothing more than a "It's great to be back in (insert town)" or a "Take it, Dee Dee". If you ever saw them live (twice here) you know what to expect but since this was recorded before Joey started sounding like he gargled with razors, it's somewhat special. It actually makes me love songs from the second album (which out of the original four is my least favorite) . Of course, we're talking bout da brudders so it's all good stuff but everyone has a least fave out of the first four. The whole thing just makes me wanna drink too muchand pogo around until the record skips. It really is that amazing and, if you've never heard it, will make you feel like you're there if you crank it deafeningly loud enough and kick the bass and treble way up. Savage pounding with a sweet underbelly is what they delivered in spades on this one. They even make tunes like "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" and "I Wanna Be Well" work live. A critical and overlooked piece of their legacy. Rest in peace Joey, Dee Dee, and Johnny.
THE "RAISE YOUR LIGHTER MOMENT" : Well since we're talking about the RAMONES there is no big guitar, drum, or kazoo solo moment and the songs sound like the records just faster and rawer. My personal favorite moment is the "ONE TWO THREE FOUR!" and rip into "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World" after ending "Chainsaw". The pace and energy are just frantic! The whole package really is. But, that particular moment made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end the first time I heard it. Shit, I could go on and on! I got "Commando" going right now and it's just a snarling nasty version of it that makes the original pale in comparison. Much like MOTÖRHEAD, THE RAMONES were in the zone when they played live. I don't think anyone that ever experienced them live or even heard the live stuff could argue. You really don't know 'em if you never saw or heard them live.
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