Search - Ramones :: Animal Boy

Re-issue please! its too short as of now

Ryan Lovejoy | 12/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"not saying that it is bad at all. this album is the one where i have to look back and say "this is a Ramones record, right?" keyboards, metal tinged music? yep, this is the ramones. maybe it is because im not used to richie ramone. i think this album right here is the bridge between older classic Ramones and the Ramones we would see until Adios Amigos...sure, there is too tough to die, but that album is more comparable to the older classic short fast punk style offerings. anyways, animal boy is worth the purchase.





also, why no stellar packaging with bonus tracks and stories for animal boy or halfway to sanity like the first 8 or the last 4 (captain oi re-issued those)? i mean even if the creative well of the Ramones was undergoing changes that differed from the classics around this time period, they are at least worthy of being re-mastered to fit the rest. i mean this is the period in which i know the least of the Ramones "story wise" and yeah, they could even pay a little tribute to johnny in the notes like the ones to joey and dee dee in the first 8.



just a thought. great album though. get it cheap if you are expecting a re-issue to pop up."

Something to believe in

Chappa | 10/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not The Ramones at their best but it's still a great album. It's their 9th album right win they said "Forget it lets play what we're best at, Loud, fast Rock 'n' Roll!"



Somebody put something in my drink (6/10) A alright song written by Richie Ramone who joined after Marky was kicked out.



Animal Boy (7/10) Not their best but better then their pop songs



Love Kills (10/10) Orignally for the film Syd & Nancy one of the more remembered tracks from this album.



Apeman Hop (8/10) It's just alright



She Belongs to me (4/10) The weakest song on the album



Crummy Stuff (10/10) A personal favorite. Still applys to today.

"Crummy music, Crummy TV, Crummy people, Crummy movies."



My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (9/10) I don't agree with the message but its got a great beat and course.



Mental Hell (6/10) Not the best



Eat the Rat (8/10) Another Dee Dee vocal which normally means louder and faster



Freak of nature (8/10) "FreaK!" Alright not the best on the album but alright



Hair of the Dog (8/10) Just Alright



Something to Believe In (10/10) I love this song. The video pokes fun at all the "Aid" songs and events of the 80's.



A good buy for any Ramones fan.

Hands Across Your Face!"

The Ramones' Classic Sound With A Twist

Chappa | Olympus Mons, Mars | 08/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first thing that should be said is that with this album the band went for an unusually more polished production by Jean Beauvoir rather than the raw typical Ramones sound. However that doesn't stop me from enjoying this album very much. In fact it's one of my favorites from them! Maybe it has to do with the fact that apparently this album was released in 1986 on May 30 which happens to by my birthday! Fortunately the production didn't stop the band from shelling out their classic loud, fast, and short song approach! There are only two or three minor detours along the way. The twelve tracks that make up the LP were recorded at Intergalactic Studios in their home town of New York City.



Things start great with "Somebody Put Something In My Drink" written by drummer Richie Ramone and it's sound is closer to hard rock rather than punk but it's one of Ramones' best songs including a memorable vocal performance by singer Joey Ramone who sings in an unusual throaty voice. Guitarist Johnny Ramone and bass player Dee Dee Ramone wrote together three of their typical hard core inspired songs this time which last less than two minutes each. The first of these fast paced numbers is the album title cut. Next is the Dee Dee sung "Eat That Rat" and the last one is "Freak Of Nature" in which Joey returns to his throaty voice.



Then you have the more straightforward punk numbers like "Hair Of The Dog" with a catchy chorus. This particular tune shows a very interesting songwriting structure. Let's analyze it in depth: First of all, it makes use of all the twelve chord letters available! It starts with an A5 chord, then it quickly moves to the Eddie Cochran's "Something Else" inspired figure Ab/A for a few bars but here is the interesting part: the bulk of the song is made up of three verse/chorus parts, all three are played in a different key each time!! The first one uses this note pattern: A E A D, A G E then the 1st chorus follows: B F# A F#, B E B A F#. After the first chorus concludes the Cochran figure is reprised but now it's B/Bb instead! Now take a look at the second verse!: B F# B E, B A F# while the chorus is: C# Ab C# B Ab, C# F# C# B Ab! A bridge shows up after the second chorus with Joey singing the song's title over this set of chords: Eb C# Bb B (repeated twice) then, a short instrumental bridge follows: Ab B C# F# Eb. After that's over it's time for the third and final verse that, like I said, is played in yet ANOTHER key!: F C F Bb, F Eb C. And so it's the final chorus!: G D G F D, G C G F D. The reason I described the song in depth is because that approach of moving the verse/chorus to a different key multiple times within a song is not something that happens very often!! Perhaps a lot of groups could learn a cool songwriting trick by listening to this tune!

"Bonzo Goes To Bitburg" is one of their political protest songs that Dee Dee wrote with producer Beauvoir. Nice background vocals in the chorus and the glockenspiel adds extra depth. In a similar vein is the album's closing song "Something To Believe In" which is also a protest song by Dee Dee and Beauvoir and again utilizes the combination of background vocals and glockenspiel. Joey's voice is in fine form throughout and the keyboard synths blend well with the rest of the band. At four minutes, it's the longest song on the album.

"Mental Hell" is another of their more hard rock sounding numbers while "Crummy Stuff" and "Apeman Hop" head in a pop direction. But the biggest detour comes in with the ballad "She Belongs To Me". Very unusual song for the Ramones! One of the very few ballads that this group ever wrote! Here is a rare occurrence in that for the first time the guitar takes a back seat and the synths completely dominate this song. Surprisingly it's one of my favorite songs on the album!! Joey has a nice voice here.

Last but not least is the other song that Dee Dee sings that is "Love Kills". A memorable intro riff starts this pop sounding song and is a tribute to bass player Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols and his partner Nancy.



One of the most underrated Ramones albums that I think more people should hear!

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Later..."