Week 35: 50 Albums That Changed Music

[Swish]

They were a fine 50's biker-punk, rock'n'roll revival act, but way, way too much importance (IMO) is levied on this and other punk rock acts. I don't know how a band like the 'Remoans' garner such adoration among the music press while anyone showing an abundant amount of musical talent and mastery of their instruments get nothing but derrison from the same critics.

The Ramones were a fun diversion; a sort of throwback to the rebellious early days of R'n'R, but for me, my interest stops right there. They were a younger, angrier, slightly scarier version of Sha Na Na.

Really, I don't see any correlation between the Ramones, a solid punk band, and a group of doo-wopping knuckleheads like Sha Na Na. Not even close. And your comment regarding musical talent and mastery of instruments? I know plenty of excellent musicians who don't have one iota of creativity and all they can do is mimic what they hear. Mastery of an instrument, while impressive, doesn't always translate into good music. In fact, I could care less these days about how fast or incredible someone plays, unlike when I was a snot-nosed kid. What I want to hear are great songs. Period.

Swish

[BradH]

What I want to hear are great songs. Period.

A lot of people say that but, if you think about it, there's more to it. I mean, why not just read the sheet music and be done with it? I like Stewart Copeland's comment that it's the songwriter's job to write good songs and it's the musician's job to make it interesting.
And The Ramones did both. It was a narrowly selective, highly stylized slice of early 60's pop cranked up to 11 like never before. The comparison to Sha Na Na is ludicrous. The influence of this album ranges far and wide to this day, much more than some of the other picks on this list. The Ramones drew the blueprint for the punk explosion that eventually caused the record companies to needlessly spook the hell out of the prog bands ("we don't know how to promote you anymore!") who reacted by making crappy albums in 1978.