Customer Reviews

Loud, Fast Ramones: Their Toughest Hits

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Like so many groups whose appeal surfs through multiple generations, The Ramones have had a bunch of compilation albums, and we will probably see more in the future. I have yet to come across a lame Ramones collection, but this particular compilation gives you the greatest adrenalin rush for your buck.

The first three tunes are identical to their debut album, but instead of easing into the sweet "I Want To Be Your Boyfriend," they follow up with more high-energy ear fuel with "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment," and "Commando." No Lagardian pauses here, folks! In fact, if you want a wide variety of Ramones songs that include their semi-mellow side, you are best off buying each individual album instead of any compilations, since most of these collections focus on their high-octane classics (which, I admit, is what they did best!)

If you are one of those Ramones fans who preferred their earlier years, "Loud, Fast" delivers more of their classics, but gives their later years a decent backseat. A nice addition to these memorable cuts are several solo tunes by Dee Dee Ramones, including "The Crusher." Very trippy,as Dee Dee's material strayed from the traditional Ramones aura; he had a unique vision!

The only reason I would discourage anybody from buying this CD has nothing to do with flaws. I believe The Ramones are one of those rare groups who put out so much great material, so much which didn't wind up in any "Greatest Hits" collections, that buying each and every one of their releases is worth every penny. But--- to each his or her own, so if you want to buy just one Ramones CD, and get a great sampling of their work, this is the album to buy.

I generally despise greatest hits albums. To me, they always seem to miss the mark somehow. However, Rhino Records & Johnny Ramone really created an amazing compilation spawning the Ramones 20 year history. The collection, for the most part, collects some of the Ramones toughest moments though, as with all greatest hits packages, omits a few songs that I feel should've been included. We have 4 songs off Road to Ruin while there are only 3 songs off the debut. How about giving "I Wanted Everything" the boot to free up a little over 3 minutes for something else. It was nice to see "I'm Against It" as well as a surprise inclusion of "Highest Trails Above." But... "Chinese Rock" is missing (though included on the incredible live bonus disc)... "Garden of Serenity" seems a bit out of place... it would've been nice to have either "Animal Boy" or "Love Kills" in it's place. Also, the album seems to end on an odd note. I love C.J.... "The Crusher" is one of my favorite songs... but to have it as the last song? Odd, in my opinion. Having "Spider-Man" close the album would've been nice. But... I'm not Johnny Ramone... he has his reasons for choosing the songs he did and that is good enough for me.

As a whole, the record rips through your speakers like a tornado. The digital remastering on the tracks make everything sound crisp & clear... with the exception of "Rock & Roll High School." Please... if this song ever shows up on a compilation again, we need to use the Ed Stasium version... the soundtrack version makes it sound like Joey is singing into a metal can. Minor gripe... but still not a big deal.

The album is a great way to introduce your friends to the Ramones or serve as a great mix for longtime fans. The bonus, 8-track live CD is amazing... absolutely amazing. The band tears through the songs with reckless abandon... Joey's voice is still crisp, and the rhythm section cranks out the tunes in that Ramones buzzsaw fashion.

Overall, a great compilation... pick one copy up for yourself, and buy copies for your friends. They won't be disappointed.

Hits is something of a misnomer when it comes to the Ramones. It's more like the tongue in cheek title that the Red Hot Chili Peppers gave their 1993 EMI collection, "WHAT hits?!?" I am sure that anyone who is a die hard fan probably has all these on CD somewhere, or would have picked alternate titles than the ones presented here. It is going to be a damn long time before we have the likes of the Ramones on this earth again, or a band with this kind of influence. So since Johnny Ramone was the one with his hand in the title hat, I'll not quibble over what should and should not be here. Suffice to say that it's all good...and just to have a single disc that spans the entire legacy of the Ramones' recordings (and leaves the redundant live records out of the picture) is reason to believe in a higher power.

For all the critical nit-picking that has occasionaly been leveled about the lack of variation in the Ramones' style, this CD lays that argument to waste. "Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio" would be a classic out of anybody's songbook, the Phil Spector production should have made this the breakout record that the band so obviously longed for. But it isn't the same song as the rappy "Wart Hog" which isn't the same song as the near metal "Psycho Therapy" which isn't the same song as the trippy "Highest Trails Above" which isn't the three chord attack of "Blitzkreig Bop" etc., etc.

The unifying thread through almost all of these songs was Joey Ramone's voice, which became more and more soulful as their career proceeded. If Dee Dee and Johnny gave guts to the band, it was Joey's voice that gave it heart. These may have been the "toughest" of the Ramones' songs, yet these "brothers" were never without spirit. When listening to this disc, it's the Ramones' spirit and heart that will stick in your memory, just as much as any of the classic rock hooks they were so adept at creating.

First of all, let me clear up something. This is by not by any means a perfect Greatest Hits CD. As one reviewer said, about half this CD is incredible and the 2nd half is mediocore. But this is only a byproduct of Johnny's attempt to make the CD broader in musical scope and a more career-spaning effort, and I think this is an important thing for any GH CD to try and do. Even though I don't really like any songs past "The KKK Took My Baby Away," I appreciate what Johnny tried to do here.

With that said, if you want to get into the Ramones, this is the CD to do it. I used to be this kind of "Clash-elitist" for the longest time, and I always thought that the Ramones were these no talent, three-chord mainstream bore-fests, until I got this CD. While I still think the Ramones are less-talented than the Clash and a lot of other punk bands, I think they possess a quality beyond talent, something that so many bands of that era, this era, and any era really lack: raw, raw passion. This band is so pure and so stripped of all flashiness and bs rock 'n' roll glam that it is absolutely inspiring to listen to. The Ramones really knew how to make you want to get up and break something, and it was only '73 when they started doing it, just 4 years after the biggest hippie bash ever. Songs like "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" "I Wanted Everything" and "Beat on the Brat" are just so simply powerful. They are an incredibly unique band in this regard. And of course, you have to give them respect for being the first real punk band to land a major record deal.

I used to hate this band. This CD taught me to wise up, shut my mouth, and respect this amazing group. There will never be another band like them. NYC punk at its greatest.

THE original punk band.If you like the Ramones,this is THE cd to buy.If you're just starting to get into the Ramones,or don't have any of their cds,this is the one.With some of their most popular hits, "I wanna be sedated","Blitzbkrieg Bop","Judy is a punk" and "The KKK took my baby away" this is a must for any lover of punk music.

Without the Ramones, there'd be NO Clash, NO Sex Pistols, NO Dead Kennedys, NO Buzzcocks, NO Rezillos. It all started with the Ramones, when they went on their tour in London, which they kicked off on the day of America's Bicentennial, on July 4, 1976. A decade after the Beatles, Kinks, the Who and Spinal Tap, the Ramones invaded the U.K. with their garage rock brand of PUNK with Johnny Ramone slashing out three power chords with his chainsaw guitar attack and Joey singing in his velvety monotone. Within a year, all of the sudden, punk rock bands were emerging from the U.K. left and right, all of the sudden the ignorant press (read: Rolling Stones, et al.) were calling punk a "British import".

So, let's put this stupid history revisionism to rest: The Ramones were punk. Punk started with the Ramones, and without the Ramones, there'd be no punk.

If they were merely another metal band at the time of their incarnation (such as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, or Kiss), their influence would have been for nil.

I was there. I remember it all, and, yes, the Ramones were a bona fide punk band.

This record has some of their best. Enjoy!

All right, let's get something across: EMO AND GOTH MUSIC IS NOT PUNK!!! I hate how other kids today make fun of original, and even more importantly REAL punk bands such as the Ramones. If you want REAL punk rock, CLASSIC punk rock, and NOTHING POSER of these guys, GET THIS! Avoid anything modern day that emos and goths rave about. It's all pointless nonsense. Like I said, this is true-blue punk, and I believe that you should avoid all modern-day nonsense like NEWFOUND BORING OR BAD CHARLOTTE!!! Another thing: I also happen to like heavy metal. REAL heavy metal! Not fake garbage like System of a Down or any goth junk. I mean Maiden and Priest, Sabbath, Zeppelin and Def Leppard. Sorry to sound angry, but the bottom line is: This is a great album!!!

This collection of Ramones songs is great. Has ever single Ramones song worth owning, like popular songs "Blitzkreig Bop", "Beat On The Brat", "Pinhead", "Rockaway Beach", "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker", "I Wanna Be Sedated", "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do", "Rock N' Roll High School" and many more. As well as great lesser-known-to-everyone-but-fans songs like "Commando", "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment", "Teenage Lobotomy", "I'm Against It", "I Wanted Everything", "Psycho Therapy" and many more. The inside album sleeve is also alot of fun to read, with biographies of the band members and pictures, as well as a breif history. I found reading about the Ramones fascinating. I must have for every Ramones fan, and great for kids who are into stupid Simple Plan and stuff like off of that stuff and into real punk like The Ramones! Great!

This is by far one of my best cd purchases yet! This album is wonderful!!! It has all of the hits throughout their whole career. Every song has so much passion and that special punk edge that you only get from The Ramones. This is for anyone who likes punk or for anyone who call themself a punk. My favs are pinhead, blitzkrieg bop, the crusher, rockaway beach, rock and roll high school, i wanna be sedated, the kkk took my baby away exc... I LOVE all of the songs actually!!!! So anyways if you like the ramones or if you like punk music than go BUY this album!!!

great tunes by the ramones, i love em all but a better choice of cd is ramones anthology for the money, it costs slightly more but has way more tracks.. and a sweet booklet with tons of cool pics of the band..my older brother says this just another compilation.