Ramones Forever: An International Tribute CD

This 23 track compilation pays tribute to the grand daddies of punk rock, and one of the most recognizable bands in the world - The Ramones. Here, punk rock bands from around the world (Belgium, Peru, Hungary, USA, France, Greece, Netherlands & Germany)

A portion of the proceeds from RAMONES FOREVER goes to benefit the Joey Ramone Fund.
Performers include: The Ramones, Golden Green, Neven, No Bluff Sound, Dirty Scums, 5 Cent Deposit, Huntingtons, Ramon Da Silva, Skunk, Fezz, Marky Ramone Group, Daan, Mika.
Contains 23 tracks.
This is a collection for only the most devoted Ramones fan. Of the 23 tracks compiled here, only a few have any connection to the pop-punk sound the Ramones founded. Almost all of the groups here come from either Belgium or Germany, with Peru, the Netherlands, France, and Greece also represented, and the bands from these countries feel no need to be true to the Ramones. You will find a dancehall version of "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (retitled "I Man Wanna Sniff Some Glue") by Mika featuring Jah Paul II, a Euro-disco take on "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by Davo Vereersch, an electro-lounge version of "I Wanna Be Sedated" by Neven, and many more non-punk takes on the Ramones. None of them work particularly well except as novelties because the artists don't really have the skill and uniqueness to make anything interesting happen. The only groups who sound good are the two indie pop groups from Belgium: Cortina, who does a sweet version of "Danny Says," and De Bossen, who turns "Little Ramona" into a lullaby. For the punk purists, there are three bands from the good, old U.S.A. who stay extremely true to the spirit of the Ramones: the Huntingtons do a carbon copy of "Life's a Gas," 5 Cent Deposit does much the same with "We Want the Airwaves," and Marky Ramone and the Speedkings, unsurprisingly, do a dead-on take of "I Don't Wanna Grow Up." Whether anyone needs to hear such exact copies is another question. Perhaps the smartest thing to do is just listen to the fabulous Ramones reissues and forget this disc altogether. ~ Tim Sendra