Date: Fri 28-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Ramones-Adios-Amigos

Full Text:

"ADIOS" ISN'T ALWAYS A GOOD-BYE

By Shannon Hicks

In interviews and concerts, members of The Ramones have hinted for years that

the band could be on the verge on breaking up, hanging up their leather

jackets and calling it a day (or a couple of decades...). The latest - and

best in a long while! - album from The Ramones even hints at a Goodbye with

its title, Adios Amigos .

But don't forget who we are talking about here: The Ramones. The

tongue-planted firmly-in-cheek purveyors of punk (these are, after all,

musicians whose songs are inspired by, among others, The Three Stooges; see

"Born to Die in Berlin"), the soul of speed metal, the band that put the punch

back into rock n' roll when disco balls and synthesizers were threatening to

take over in the stale 70s. These guys aren't going anywhere. One hopes.

Time has passed and everyone is a little bit older, but Joey, Johnny, Marky

and CJ have returned with the band's signature drum beat, courtesy of Marky,

Johnny's rhythmic lead guitar stylings, CJ's bass punch and the unmistakable

lead vocals of Joey (though CJ sings lead on four cuts this time around).

Everyone knows these guys, and you gotta love 'em! Who else can play a live

20-song set in 17 minutes?

Adios Amigos is no exception to the Ramones' rule of faster, louder, faster,

better! In just over 37 minutes, this album packs in 13 songs, including six

written by original member and still influential sidelines player Dee Dee, and

opens up with the first single, "I Don't Want To Grow Up," a Tom Waits remake

that is pure Ramonesian. Dee Dee sings a part in "Berlin," the dark and

decadent cut that closes Amigos.

In between the first and thirteenth cut is a tossed salad of everything from

everyday expressions ("Have A Nice Day"), the pain of day to day living ("Take

The Pain Away") and Johnny's first petaphysical composition, "She Talks To

Rainbows," to a tribute for the Johnny Thunders record, "I Love You."

Pure fun (not to mention a healthy dose of paranoia) done the way only The

Ramones can create comes through in "Cretin Family," which captures the humor

and power of early Ramones songs.

Yes, time has passed since The Ramones came roaring out of Forest Hills over

21 years ago, but nothing can slow down this band, nor its continued

popularity. Adios Amigos is yet another reminder that, like the boys say,

"Life's A Gas."

Can't wait for the tour.