Search - The Ramones :: Too Tough to Die

This one kicks more often than not

John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 09/06/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although the Ramones' 1985 album Too Tough to Die is considered by some to be a return to their roots (ie....the first four albums), it falls a little short of those tremendous releases. The first six tracks are killer with the high spots being the mid-tempo "I'm Not Afraid of Life", the joyous instrumental "Durango 95", and the title track. The next four songs are either too poppy ("Howling At The Moon", "Chasing The Night") or too dated ("Planet Earth 1988" and not just because of the title). The record redeems itself near the end with the wicked "Endless Vacation" and "Humankind". The expanded version nearly doubles the original release and brings the album up a notch with several demos, a few of the original tracks with Dee Dee Ramone singing lead, and a very good version of the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man". While this is no Rocket to Russia, Too Tough to Die is one of the Ramones' better albums."