2008 Woodie Awards
Punk rock reigns supreme in Ramones tribute
Marisa Bardach--Daily Orange (Syracuse U.)
Issue date: 2/19/03 Section: Campus Life
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(U-WIRE) SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Every punk band covers a Ramones song -- it's a right of passage.
But what's Marilyn Manson's excuse?
We're A Happy Family features 15 alternative rock bands performing the late '70s punk rock rebel songs. The artists mold the Ramones' tunes to fit their styles, some tailored so skillfully they bear little recognition to the originals. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' opening track, "Havana Affair," transforms the Ramones' signature staccato "Oh!" into deliciously drawn-out harmonies. Kiss pushes "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio" from Phil Spector produced punk to sparkling '80s glam rock. And Marilyn Manson makes a creepy song remarkably creepier with "The KKK Took My Baby Away."
For punkier bands like Green Day, Rancid and the Offspring, Ramones covers are second nature. Rather than deriving their own versions of the songs, they pay homage to their forefathers by emulating the Ramones' simple musicianship. The tribute certainly praises everyone's favorite Ramones hits: "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Sedated."
Surprisingly, Pete Yorn finds a way to cleverly fit in the mix. His boyish charm perseveres in "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." Rooney's rendition of "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" is especially notable, accenting the Ramones' heartfelt lyrics that lament a crumbling relationship. Female-fronted bands, the Pretenders and Garbage, take the all-male band in stride, with Garbage providing one of the album's best tracks, sporting the Ramones in-your-face punch. Overall a fitting tribute to the leather jacket-clad crew that laid the foundation for American punk, by the artists they inspired.
But what's Marilyn Manson's excuse?
We're A Happy Family features 15 alternative rock bands performing the late '70s punk rock rebel songs. The artists mold the Ramones' tunes to fit their styles, some tailored so skillfully they bear little recognition to the originals. The Red Hot Chili Peppers' opening track, "Havana Affair," transforms the Ramones' signature staccato "Oh!" into deliciously drawn-out harmonies. Kiss pushes "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio" from Phil Spector produced punk to sparkling '80s glam rock. And Marilyn Manson makes a creepy song remarkably creepier with "The KKK Took My Baby Away."
For punkier bands like Green Day, Rancid and the Offspring, Ramones covers are second nature. Rather than deriving their own versions of the songs, they pay homage to their forefathers by emulating the Ramones' simple musicianship. The tribute certainly praises everyone's favorite Ramones hits: "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Sedated."
Surprisingly, Pete Yorn finds a way to cleverly fit in the mix. His boyish charm perseveres in "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." Rooney's rendition of "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" is especially notable, accenting the Ramones' heartfelt lyrics that lament a crumbling relationship. Female-fronted bands, the Pretenders and Garbage, take the all-male band in stride, with Garbage providing one of the album's best tracks, sporting the Ramones in-your-face punch. Overall a fitting tribute to the leather jacket-clad crew that laid the foundation for American punk, by the artists they inspired.