Search - Various Artists :: We're A Happy Family - A Tribute To The Ramones

Michelle H. (michigrl73) from DILLINGHAM, AK
Reviewed on 5/26/2007...

A great own for any Ramones fan. A fantastic tribute.

If Packaging was all it took, This would get Five Stars!!!

James D. Keaton Sr | Marcus Hook, Pa | 04/05/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have a rather Complete Music Collection, and sometimes it's difficult to find new music to add, so when I was out shopping and saw this CD I was a bit excited. The cover art is wonderful. The artists contained within are some of my favorites. I quickly removed the packaging and plopped it in my car stereo. I instantly loved the first track, The Chili Peppers, sound like themselves, but do "Havana Affair", great justice. I think Joey and Dee-Dee would have been proud. It's the best track on the CD and for diehard Ramones fans, it's worth getting for this cover.
I had hoped the rest of the album would live up to this song, but it falls short. Rob Zombie totally removed the spirit and fun from "Blitzkrieg Bop", Edde Vedder's work was OK, but not standout. Metallica sounds great musically, but again doesn't have the attitude that makes 53rd and 3rd one of my favorite Ramones songs. I love U2 and thought they might have something interesting, but they basically stuck with the original music and Bono's vocal just doesn't work. They should have picked a song more suited to their style. Kiss does a good job on "Rock and Roll Radio". Marilyn Manson's verson of "KKK..." is interesting, but in it's complexity it loses the humour that makes the original a really good track. Garbage does well with "I just want to have something to do", but like most other songs on this record, it made me long for the original. Green Day does great with "outsider", but I guess I somehow resent that band for copying what the Ramones did and making the money that they never did. Pete Yorn and Rooney's covers were both pretty decent and the rest of the album is kind of lukewarm. After listening, I pulled out the real Ramones's Cd's and they put a smile on my face. I guess what I had wanted from this CD was totally unrealistic. I wanted to be back in the late 70's, buying real Ramones Albums. I wanted to feel like I was getting something daring and exciting. It was a mistake in judgement on my part. The experiance reminded me again of how much I love this band and those days. It's good that their memory is kep't alive by tribute album, but only bittersweet."

An above average tribute album, and that is very rare

N. Durham | Philadelphia, PA | 03/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rob Zombie co-produced (along with Johnny Ramone) this "all-star" tribute to one of the most recognized punk rock bands in history. Zombie turns in his re-working of "Blitzkrieg Bop", and the results are nothing spectacular, but before that track we get a great cover of "Havana Affair" courtesy of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Eddie Vedder and Zeke's version of "I Believe in Miracles" is rousing to say the least, and Vedder doesn't embarass himself as much as he did when he sported a mohawk during the presentation of the Ramones induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Metallica offers a rocking "53rd & 3rd" which sounds like a leftover cover from "Garage Inc.", but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. U2 could have done a good cover of "Beat on the Brat", but Bono's overzealous vocals pretty much ruin any chances of that. The Pretenders' cover of "Something to Believe In" is heartbreaking, while Garbage, Green Day, Rancid, and The Offspring turn in covers that remain true to the originals. Marilyn Manson attempts to make "KKK Took My Baby Away" into one of his own industrial dirges, and it is an interesting listen, but it's nothing special. All in all, for the most part I really like this tribute album, but as another reviewer previously stated, I would have rather seen other artists such as Jello Biafra, Frank Black, Bad Religion, Iggy Pop, or even Danzig as opposed to Manson, Kiss, and U2. Get it if your a fan of the bands featured here and are a casual fan of the Ramones, but hardcore Ramones fans probably won't like it that much."