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 | Title : We're A Happy Family - A Tribute To The Ramones
Author : Various Artists
Release Date : 20030211
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $13.98
Amazon.com Price : $10.98
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Editorial Reviews :
It was inevitable that a glut of Ramones tribute albums would follow the passing of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. The 17-song-strong We're a Happy Family thankfully escapes the dubious tribute-album ghetto. It's no surprise that Ramones descendents like Green Day, Rancid, and the Offspring stick close to the tired and true, while headbanger James Hetfield makes '53rd & 3rd' sound like a Metallica song. But the standouts on the disc are the efforts where artists go off the rails. Pete Yorn turns in a yearning version of 'I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,' while Tom Waits goes the ghoulish route on 'The Return of Jackie and Judy.' Kiss get the best-in-show nod for their anthemic 'Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio,' which is odd given that the Ramones were formed ostensibly as a reaction against arena rockers like Kiss. Don't miss the final hidden track, a scary gem by the Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. --Jaan Uhelszki
Buyer Reviews :
The Ramones are the greatest Punk band of all time, 'We're A Happy Family' gathers some of the top names in the rock world today to compile an exhilarating, sometimes stylish tribute. Tribute albums will always have great moments and disappointing lows, this one is no different, what makes it different is that it stands out by being so damn good compared to other albums of its type. The Red Hot Chili Peppers open with a great 'Havana Affair' that's very stylish (this is right up there with their 'Search And Destroy' from the Iggy Pop tribute). Rob Zombie adds his usual crunching new metal feel to 'Blitzkrieg Bop' which isn't bad at all, a very fresh take on the song, but Joey Ramone remains the superior vocal. The true Ramones feeling starts with 'I Believe In Miracles' where Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder delivers a wonderfully Punkish vocal that still retains his identity with some fast guitars that are true to the Punk spirit. Metallica (a long over-due good return) show up with a crunching '53rd & 3rd' that maintains the spirit of the original but spiced with Metallica's classic brand of hard rock energy. One of the album's shining cuts appears with U2's 'Beat On The Brat,' it's an excellent and catchy performance with The Edge and Bono not over-doing it and simply playing some great rock music. Kiss surprisingly does not disappoint here, their 'Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio' is fun and energetic, it sounds plainly put, like Kiss playing a Ramones song. One major disappointment here is Marilyn Manson's rendition of 'The KKK Took My Baby Away,' one would expect a burning fast, shock rock homage (as was the case with his Doors cover of 'Five To One'), but instead we get a somber, slow, boring and mostly techno (no guitars credit) crawl where Manson loses the fun energy and cacthiness of the original. Garbage follow with their exhilarating 'I Just Wanna Have Something To Do,' this is a really good cover where Shirley Manson delivers a convincing, femme fatale vocal. Green Day, as expected, deliver an 'Outsider' that stays close and faithful to the Ramones sound. The Pretenders are emotional and comfortable with 'Something To Believe In,' very moody. If The Pretenders are comfortable, then Rancid breaks that with a sometimes annoying 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker,' it simply sits there as an example of the distorted evolution Punk has taken since The Ramones appeared. Pete Yorn gives us a pleasant, sweet and romantic 'I Wanna Be Your Boyfrind,' the vocals and playing are completely in the spirit of the original, one of the album's most convincing covers. The Offspring are also convincing, but deliver nothing new considering they sound almost just like The Ramones. Rooney is moody, but in a good, dreamy way with 'Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,' a neat song a Punker should sing for his girlfriend. Tom Waits sounds like he snorted too much coke before recording 'Return Of Jackie & Judy,' in a weird way it sounds like entertaining rock/blues. Eddie Vedder returns with 'Daytime Dilemma (Dangers Of Love),' another great cover with a nice blend of Punk and hard rock touches. There's a nice hidden track by the Chili Pepper's John Frusciante, a really mellow, semi-dark rendition of 'First Your Love, Then The World.' All in all, this is a really good tribute album, the liner notes by Stephen King are especially funny and entertaining. However, the booklet has some nice photos but next to nothing about the artists, this is the only weak area of the packaging. The album is certainly more convincing than the good but not so great 'Stoned Immaculate: The Music Of The Doors,' which took track space for remixes that were uneeded (we want to hear the bands play!). Here we get all Ramones covers and some memorable rock n' roll.
(by Alci Rengifo)
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