Ramones – ‘Ramones’ [Retro Album Review]
1976. AM radio was pumping out a steady stream of sanitized chart-topping feel-goods depicting funky waterfowl, amorous rodents and midday romantic rendezvous, while FM airwaves transmitted the latest and greatest dream-weaving anthems from an emerging menagerie of golden gods and bohemian messiahs. And there was lots (and lots) of cowbell. For many, the global music scene had long become stale, bloated and pretentious, and a rock revolution was in order. The underground NYC music game already had been changing — the New York Dolls and the Dictators both had punted powerful protopunk album debuts in 1973 and 1975 respectively. During that time, four delinquents from Queens, New York loitered onto the field, picked up the ball and sprinted for the end zone. Hey ho! Let’s go! In the pr...
