Music review: C.J. Ramone – 鈥楢merican Beauty鈥�
Once a punk, always a punk.
In 1977, England had the Sex Pistols and America had the Ramones to lead the unruly punk sound. That was also the year I purchased 鈥淩ocket to Russia鈥� with classic punk tracks like 鈥淪heena Is a Punk Rocker,鈥� 鈥淩ockaway Beach,鈥� 鈥淭eenage Lobotomy鈥� and 鈥淟ocket Love鈥� and was instantly inspired to start a garage band with my best friend. In my opinion, I still consider 鈥淩ocket to Russia鈥� the best punk album ever and my original copy hangs proudly framed on my wall.
Christopher Joseph Ward joined the New York punk fraternity in 1989 and was immediately dubbed C.J. Ramone, serving as bassist until the band called it quits in 1996.
While the four original members of the Ramones have passed on to punk heaven where torn jeans and leather jackets are the formal attire and all the songs consist of gritty guitar riffs, hammering drum beats and brash lyrics, the Queens native continues the signature style the punk icons managed to belt out with an abundance of swagger and unapologetic rebellion on 鈥淎merican Beauty.鈥�
The breakneck speed of 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go鈥� opens the album while mirroring 鈥淐retin Hop鈥� with Ramone declaring that the cretin鈥檚 wanna hop once again as a new tour begins.
Joined by Steve Soto and Dan Root of the Adolescents on guitars and Pete Sosa of the Street Dogs on drums, Ramone constructs a 12-song set that was written in just two weeks and proves to be a stellar follow-up to 2014鈥檚 鈥淟ast Chance to Dance.鈥�
鈥淲ithout You鈥� possesses a Joan Jett vibe with Kait Eldridge of Big Eyes sharing vocals with Ramone on this tale of separation and a longing to be together once again.
On his first solo album, Ramone penned 鈥淭hree Angels鈥� in memory off his three fallen bandmates. The latest album features a bass-led, acoustic guitar-driven track that pays tribute to original drummer Tommy Erdelyi, who passed in 2014.
鈥淵eah Yeah Yeah鈥� carries the standard rebellion charge as Ramone screams, 鈥淒on鈥檛 want to live by nobody鈥檚 rules.鈥�
Other Ramones-esque tracks include the hilarious 鈥淕irlfriend in a Graveyard,鈥� road anthem 鈥淪teady as She Goes鈥� and the obstinate 鈥淵ou鈥檒l Never Make Me Believe.鈥�
The album closes with a spirited cover of Tom Waits鈥� 鈥淧ony,鈥� complete with mariachi horns competing to keep pace with the frenzied assault of guitars and drums.
鈥淎merican Beauty鈥� is an album that Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and Tommy would have raised a defiant fist to and saluted appreciatively.