Search dance music

Review: The Ramones are one of those bands that everyone agrees on, to some extent, before disagreeing. Such was their career trajectory. Unanimously, the first three albums - 1976's Ramones, 77's Leave Home, and Road to Ruin (1978) - were all bonafide 20th Century works of wonder. End of the Century, which landed as the decades switched over, is where views start to divide. As such this collection of their LPs from the next ten years, or so, may not immediately jump out and grab everyone.

That's a real shame, and hopefully this package, which is the first time these records have been reissued on vinyl, will go some way towards making people remember exactly how good the vast majority if their 80s output was. Pleasant Dreams, Subterranean Jungle, and Too Tough To Die are exceptional outings that are guaranteed to put you off whatever it is you're listening to from this millennium. Throw in Animal Boy, Halfway to Sanity, Brain Drain and Still More Stuff, the latter itself a retrospective of unreleased bits from this era, and we think this is a real punk winner.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight tearing to the top of the individual sleeves, very slight dent to the to the top right corner of the slipcase, product in perfect working order***


The Ramones are one of those bands that everyone agrees on, to some extent, before disagreeing. Such was their career trajectory. Unanimously, the first three albums - 1976's Ramones, 77's Leave Home, and Road to Ruin (1978) - were all bonafide 20th Century works of wonder. End of the Century, which landed as the decades switched over, is where views start to divide. As such this collection of their LPs from the next ten years, or so, may not immediately jump out and grab everyone.

That's a real shame, and hopefully this package, which is the first time these records have been reissued on vinyl, will go some way towards making people remember exactly how good the vast majority if their 80s output was. Pleasant Dreams, Subterranean Jungle, and Too Tough To Die are exceptional outings that are guaranteed to put you off whatever it is you're listening to from this millennium. Throw in Animal Boy, Halfway to Sanity, Brain Drain and Still More Stuff, the latter itself a retrospective of unreleased bits from this era, and we think this is a real punk winner.

Review: Definitely one for the heads, The Ramones record It's Alive is probably one of the best live albums ever released in the history of releasing live albums. A veritable AC/DC at Donnington (for the third time), only for punk rather than stadium heavy metal. Or at least that's our not-so humble opinion.

It's Alive was a sprawling, mind-bendingly expansive chapter in the iconic New York band's history, spanning no less than 28 tracks and two discs, although its genius is in the live emphasis. Songs like 'California Sun', 'Commando', and 'I Wanna Be Well' take on new, feverish urgency and rebellious swagger. Captured at a show in London on New Year's Eve in 1977, this new release is the counterpoint. As recorded at Victoria Hall, Stoke-On-Trent on 29th December 1977, It's Alive II is yet another time capsule showing off the raw energy and talent of this rightly revered outfit in their prime.

Review: Triple J Live at the Wireless is a recording of The Ramones gig at the Wireless Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia, July 8, 1980. It was broadcast on the radio back then and has never officially made it on to vinyl until now. The legendary NYC punk rockers played 23 tunes, many of which are super rare tunes that they never played again on this tour. For this Record Store Day it gets pressed up to 180g vinyl and limited to 13000 copies worldwide. Raw and visceral, it captures the band at their most abrasive best and is a real timewarp back to their (gabba gabba) hey-day.

Review: Formed in Forest Hills, NY, in 1974, this quartet of quintessential punk forefathers blitzkrieged out of NYC's legendary CBGB scene and into world fame with three loud, lean, hard, and fast albums before the Sex Pistols even took their first shot. Besides basically inventing punk rock, Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy outlasted almost every one of their legions of followers, delivering their signature pop and garage-flavoured chainsaw sound for over 20 years, through a string of infamous albums and 2,263 concerts together. Spanning 1976-1995, this new collection features 20 classic tracks, including 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker', 'Rockaway Beach', 'Rock 'N' Roll High School', 'I Wanna Be Sedated', 'Pet Seminary' and 'Blitzkrieg Bop'.