Ramones Animal Boy CD

The Ramones: Joey Ramone (vocals); Johnny Ramone (guitar); Dee Dee Ramone (bass); Ritchie Ramone (drums).
Recorded at Intergalactic Studios, New York, New York.
Recording information: Intergalactic Studio, NY, Unites States.
Photographer: George DuBose.
Animal Boy wasn't a very happy record for the Ramones. Since the release of Too Tough to Die (a slight return to form) nearly two years earlier, the band's fortunes had gone from bad to worse; interest in the band kept dwindling with every release and the "bruthas" were constantly at each other's throat. But their desperation only became apparent when they started seriously altering their sound in search of a lucky break. With Animal Boy, producer Jean Beauvoir (of Plasmatics infamy) attempted to update the band's sound with the commercial conventions of the day, meaning keyboards and synthesizers. Opener "Somebody Put Something in My Drink," for instance, wastes an aggressive vocal performance from Joey Ramone by supporting it with a shamelessly polished synthesizer backing track. The balls-out title song momentarily simplifies things once again, but the album continues to progress in hit-and-miss fashion, culminating with the unbearably soft "Something to Believe In" -- with bright synths taking over completely and no guitar in sight, it is a career low. Of note, the album does contain one of the band's most clearly political statements in first single "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg," written about President Ronald Reagan's ill-advised visit to Germany's Bitburg cemetery, the site of many Nazi graves. Interestingly, the song was later retitled "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down" prior to the album's release, after vehement protests from guitarist Johnny Ramone, a fervid conservative. One of many mid-'80s blunders, Animal Boy is best left forgotten from the Ramones' otherwise remarkable late-'70s legacy. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
With Animal Boy, producer Jean Beauvoir (of Plasmatics infamy) attempted to update the Ramones' sound with the commercial conventions of the day, meaning keyboards and synthesizers. The balls-out title song momentarily simplifies things, but the album nevertheless progresses in hit-and-miss fashion. Of note, the album contains one of the band's most clearly political statements in first single "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg," written about President Ronald Reagan's ill-advised visit to Germany's Bitburg cemetery, the site of many Nazi graves. Interestingly, the song was later retitled "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down" prior to the album's release, after vehement protests from guitarist Johnny Ramone, a fervid conservative. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
After the resurgent TOO TOUGH TO DIE the Ramones topped themselves with the brilliantly goofy (or goofily brilliant) ANIMAL BOY. It's all here: the jungle stomp of "Apeman Hop," the chugging title track, the sweet affirmation of true love in "She Belongs to Me," (in no way to be confused with the Dylan song) and even Dee Dee's ode to long lost friend Sid Vicious, "Love Kills." ANIMAL BOY has more hooks and surprises than one would have expected at this point from the boys, and even Ritchie Ramone proves himself an excellent songwriter with "Somebody Put Something in My Drink."
Dee Dee, spurred by Ritchie's challenge and a sympathetic ear in producer and ex-Plasmatic Jean Beauvoir, comes up with two genuine Ramones anthems. "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)" is a hooky indictment of Reagan that would make Jello Biafra proud, and "Something To Believe In" which finds the Ramones searching for meaning in a world inundated with feel-good songs and finding it in punk rock. And if you aren't humming along by the time Joey gets to the "crummy crummy crummy" chorus of "Crummy Stuff," you must have a hole in your punk rock soul.