Ramones Subterranean Jungle CD

The early '80s found the Ramones in a quandary. Critics charged them with not expanding their horizons beyond their usual axis of songs about girls, punk rock, and mutants. A new breed of more aggressive hardcore bands raised on the Ramones' sound were challenging them for the fastest-loudest crown. Personal problems (drummer Marky was to exit rancorously shortly after the album's release) were further wrenches in the machinery. Thus, when SUBTERRANEAN JUNGLE was released in 1983, it was judged harshly by critics who couldn't understand what the Ramones were trying to do.

While SUBTERRANEAN is no great leap forward, it does contain the seeds of an approach that would sustain the Ramones for the next 15 years of touring. Highlights include a Ramones-ized version of the Chambers Brothers' classic "Time Has Come Today," and, perhaps the Ramones' most romantic song to date, "Every Time I Eat Vegetables It Makes Me Think of You." The real revelation, though, is the light-speed "Psycho Therapy" which finds the band outracing their hardcore progeny to the punk rock finish line. Every band should put out a transitional record this good.

Tentatively returning toward punk, or at least new wave, the Ramones turned in their most enjoyable record since Rocket to Russia with Subterranean Jungle. Producers Ritchie Cordell and Glen Kolotkin were the heads of the edgy power pop and punk label Bomp!, so they steered the Ramones back toward the '60s pop infatuation that provided the foundation for their early records. It's a strategy that pays off well -- for the most part, the group's originals are so punchy and catchy that they make the pair of covers superfluous. Comprised of a set of unabashedly hook-laden songs and driven by more subtle rhythms, Subterranean Jungle may not be a punk record in the strictest sense of the word, yet the Ramones haven't sounded quite as alive in a long, long while. [The 2002 reissue appends seven songs to the original release: the original mix of "Indian Giver"; the unreleased "New Girl in Town"; and demos for "No One to Blame," "Roots of Hatred," "Bumming Along," "Unhappy Girl," and "My-My Kind of Girl."] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Expanded & remastered edition of their 1983 release features the original album's 12 tracks (produced by Bomp! Label heads Ritchie Cordell and Glen Kolotkin) plus 7 previously unreleased bonus tracks. Bonus tracks, 'Indian Giver' (Original mix), 'New Girl In Town', 'My-My Kind Of Girl' (Acoustic demo) & demos of 'No One To Blame', 'Roots Of Hatred', 'Bumming Along' & 'Unhappy Girl'. Slipcase. 2002.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Recorded at Kingdom Sound, Syosset, New York. Includes liner notes by Gil Kaufman.

Personnel: Joey Ramone (vocals); Johnny Ramone (guitar); Marky Ramone (drums).

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Liner Note Author: Gilbert Kaufman.

Recording information: Dailey Planet, New York, NY (07/1982); Kingdom Sound, Syosset, Long Island (07/1982).

Author: Johnny Ramone.

Photographer: George DuBose.

The Ramones: Joey Ramone (vocals); Johnny Ramone (guitar); Dee Dee Ramone (bass); Marky Ramone (drums).

Rolling Stone (9/19/02, p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Their version of a Sixties garage-rock testament, including hard-boy assault, inclusive pride and dippy nonsense..."
Q (10/02, p.132) - 3 stars out of 5
Mojo (Publisher) (7/00, p.127) - "...Finds "Da Brudders" in search of an '80s identity....Dee Dee rules [this] noisy album...most notable for the first 4-minute Ramones song, a worthy cover of 'Time Has Come Today'."