CJ RAMONE GIG AND ALBUM REVIEW

CJ RAMONE, ROCKS, BATFOOT!

12.2.2015

Bald Faced Stag Hotel

Chinese Burns Unit  had to unfortunately pull out at the last minute. Batfoot!play uptempo poppy punk with youthful energy.

ROCKS put in a kick arse set, as always. Featuring Pete back on bass, their blistering set covers all eras of Rocks recorded output. Songs such as Mental Bank, Migraine headache, Your so boring, Combat Zone, What I say, and even a new one called Bombs away rev us up in a blitz  for CJ. Forget  superlatives, they were just fuckin’ great, OK and that’s about it.

CJ and his band come on a little while later kicking off with Understand Me? , the opening cut from his new LP Last chance to dance. From then on, the set is Ramones classics peppered with CJ’s solo stuff, mostly the bulk of  Last chance to dance, and a couple from his earlier release Reconquista. Highlights from Last chance to dance include Pitstop, the title track, Clusterfuck, and Won’t stop swinging. The majority of the set is Ramones classics – Blitzkrieg Bop, Suzie is a Punk, Sheena is Punck Rocker,53^rd and 3^rd, Judy is a punk, Cretin Hop, Commando, Glad to see you go,  Do you wanna dance, I wanna be sedated,the list goes on.

The band is absolutely shit hot, and they’re all having a great time. The guitars of Dan Root and Steve Soto (both from the Adolescents) are spot on, as are their back up vocals. On songs like Listen to my heart they are note for note perfect with the harmonies. CJ's bass, with Pete Sosa (Street Dogs) provide a rock solid rythym section.  CJ banters in between songs just enough to engage with the crowd, but not hinder the workmanlike ethic of the band to just get on with it, which he obviously learned during his apprenticeship with the Ramones.

CJ is in the enviable position of being able to hand-pick his own favourites from the Ramones back catalogue. Interestingly  there is a bit of a trend towards the love themed songs, such as  the KKK took my baby away, She’s the one and Baby I love you  (of which he said “I guarantee you’ve never heard this one live before”). They play only one song  from CJ’s tenure with the band, Strength to endure.

In summary, if you are a (Ramones) fan, you just couldn’t be disappointed. CJ is gracious enough to give the fans what they want – Ramones songs (geared to the early stuff, which everyone loves), even though his own solo material is more than worthy;the proportion of solo stuff is far outweighed by the Ramones stuff in the set. The set goes for almost an hour and a half, played by one of the last remaining Ramones, with band that’s got a pretty good pedigree. Everyone’s got their favourite Ramones songs, but  it would have been impossible for anyone in the room to not have heard plenty of their own in the sizable set.

“There’s only one way to close a set like this” says CJ. They launch into R.A.M.O.N.E.S. and it’s all over.  


CJ RAMONE 
LAST CHANCE TO DANCE
Epitaph (2014)

I’ll admit, this one blipped on the radar late last year when it came out, but I let it slide as I wasn’t really familiar with CJ’s solo stuff.   Then I heard CJ was touring here in February and a mate said Let’s go. So I thought I’d check out the record, and get familiar with the songs for the gig.

First time I put  on Last chance to dance I was hooked. And that was listening over/through my kids noise and mayhem. I gave it a proper spin later on –twice in a row. It was about the only thing I played for a week.

For me, CJ pushes the Ramones legacy here and keeps it alive, whilst doing his own thing. If ya don’t mind me saying, it’s a Ramones-y record. But it’s not the Ramones, it’s CJ Ramone and his individuality of course shines through here. Let’s not forget who revitalised the band when Dee Dee left.

There’s a  kinda late-era Ramones feel here but with a completely different flavour. Understand Me,  and Won’t Stop Swinging,  a one-two punch pop-punk melodic gem barrage kicks  the album off, and One more chance keeps the pace up. The next two, Carry me away and ‘Til the end slow things up a bit, but that ain’t a bad thing, and  the melodic element is highlighted  to good effect. Side one closes with the more out and out buzzsaw-rock  interpretation of Alice Coopers’s Long Way to go.

The rock element continues with the chugging Mr Kalashnikov. It’s back to core business with Pitstop (which borrows/uses the chorus harmony from Carbona not Glue, again to good effect. Correct me if I’m wrong).  Grunt is also a bit of a chugger, and if I’m guessing correctly is partly based on CJ’s experience in the Marines. You own me slows it up again, while the title track gets back firmly again in pop-punk territory, and gives a nod to Do you wanna dance (off Rocket to Russia).  The hardcore of Clusterfuck closes the  album with a bang.

It’s obvious CJ and the band are having fun and coalesce well together. CJ’s bass flourishes and vocals seem to cement everything in place. The long time relationship between CJ and Steve Soto (Adolescents-guitar) is apparent, having played together since at least the late 90’s when CJ filled in on bass in Steve’s band for 22 Jacks for a while.

Package wise, not bad at all. The black and white cover is a bit of a nod (in my mind anyway) to The Ramones first LP. There’s a lyric sheet which is simple but effective. Production gives a  tight   but not overly glossy sound which suits the album well. Download code for those that need ‘em.
4/5 

TOP TEN VINYL PICKS FOR 2014

1.       BISHOPS GREEN  - “Pressure “. Probably THE best punk/oi!  album of 2014. Upbeat, tight, infectious singlalong tunes. In terms of vinyl, great package, great sound excellent artwork, coloured vinyl.

2.       NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS -  “Live from KCRW”. Live interpretations of songs from “Push the Sky Away”, plus a few highlights from Nick’s back catalogue on great sounding vinyl with neat packaging make this a winner.

3.       THE BELTONES –“On Deaf Ears” (Record day re-release). Infectious punk with gravel ly vocals that had me going back for more. Great sounding vinyl to boot.

4.       Oi! THIS IS STREETPUNK  VOLUME 4 – Various.  Latest and  perhaps strongest in this series of Oi! comps.

5.       UK SUBS -  XXIV. I know, I know, this was actually from 2013 but I got it early 2014. Solid offering from Charlie Harper (who turned 70 in 2014!) and his cohorts.

6.       BURNING LOVE -  “Songs for Burning Lovers”. And this is even older but I heard it in the record store and had to get a copy – it fuckin’ rocks!

7.       ENGLISH DOGS “We did, we do, we always fucking will!” Wakey returns with his warped lyrics and acerbic punk.

8.       THE CYANIDE PILLS “Still Bored”. Another one that was technically from 2013. Second LP from Yorkshire snotty boys. Great sound and packaging as well.

9.       THE CRAMPS “Rare Tracks” This is older also, found it in a record store.  2 X LP 24 song comp of B-Sides etc from the legendary Lux and Ivy.

10.   NEGATIVE APPROACH Self Titled 7”. Still around if you want a copy, no nonsense hardcore.

Second hand  special mentions that I acquired through the year –THE EXPOITED “Death before Dishonour”, EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS “Life on the  line”, “A COUNTRY FIT FOR HEROES”   No Future records compilation, “KILLED BY DEATH” Comp #7

BATTLE OF THE ENGLISH DOGS VINYL RELEASES PART 3

ENGLISH DOGS – TWO DIFFERENT BANDS; two separate vinyl releases in 2014

The UK PUNK Version with - WE DID, WE DO, WE ALWAYS FUCKING WILL! Versus The Metal Dogs version with THE THING WITH TWO HEADS.

Separate reviews are below in full.

Content/Integrity

WE DID, WE DO, WE ALWAYS FUCKING WILL!  Wakey’s lineup stick to their original ethos of sharp punk songs laced with astute lyricism. The integrity of this release stacks up to the English Dogs early material with Wakey, and is a worthy addition to the English Dogs somewhat patchy output post 1985.

THE THING WITH TWO HEADS Adey, Pinch and Gizz stick  to their “metalmorphosis” and largely disclaim their punk origins, to their detriment. Despite Pinch’s claims that it would be the missing link between their landmark crossover punk metal gems To the Ends of the Earth and Forward into Battle, it misses that mark in their mission to be metal. It doesn’t quite stack up to the legacy of those records, and whilst it’s an OK English Dogs release from core members of the “metal” line up, they needed to infuse it with a bit more punk energy.  

Playing/lyrics

WDWDWAFW features a rejuvenated line up that’s having fun. The playing is great, and showcases their punk energy. The lyrics encapsulate Wakey’s warped outlook and  shrewd observations.

TTWTH features a tight band and sound for sure. But they’re almost too spot on and technical, in contrast to the unbridled energy of To the Ends of the Earth and Forward into Battle. The lyrics are a bit too comic book Tolkienish.  One song keeps referring to a retard.

Production

The production on WDWDWAFW captures the band perfectly. The spark’s there, and there’s a full stereo sound that’s solid.

Production on TTWTH is good, that’s about all I have to say, except well, it’s a bit clinical.

Packaging

WDWDWAFW isn’t overstated, but does the job effectively  good old black and white, it’ put together  well,  nicely set out with inner sleeve.

TTWTH tries its best with gatefold sleeve, great cover art, and coloured green vinyl.  It’s nice,  but it doesn’t seem quite right.

CONCLUSION

The UK PUNK Version with - WE DID, WE DO, WE ALWAYS FUCKING WILL!  Emerges victorious and wins the battle.

At the end of the day, it’s a stronger release as a whole, and it’s the one that had me singing along. There’s a bit more integrity to it. If you read the lyrics to Death to the Dogs from WDWDWAFW it kind of says it all really. They laid down a challenge to the Metal Dogs – and they win.

There are loads of positive reviews for TTWTH, and it’s only my opinion. As a fan of the English Dogs I did buy both, and I remain a fan of both versions/line ups. I saw Wakey’s lot when they came out last year, and they were great, it was great to see them play the old stuff alongside stuff from WDWDWAFW. If the Metal Dogs version came out I’d go and see them.

I like TTWTH – it’s still an English Dogs release and it has some good bits on it, I’ve played it a fair bit. There’s some bits that I’m just not too enamoured with.   It’s let down by some songs which just don’t use enough of their original DNA.

Here’s an idea. Perhaps if they hadn’t had their differences, the two bands could have released a split LP. Then it really would have been “The thing with two heads” .

chrismccousin@gmail.com

BATTLE OF THE ENGLISH DOGS 2014 VINYL RELEASES Part 2

ENGLISH DOGS 

(US –Based METAL version)

The Thing With Two Heads

Candlelight Records

Following on from a successful 2012 US Tour performing the classic punk-metal crossover records “To the ends of the Earth” and “Forward Into Battle”, this version of the English Dogs with core members of the lineup that recorded those releases, Vocalist Ade Bailey, guitarist Gizz Butt, and drummer Pinch hatched plans to record and release new material culminating in The Thing With Two Heads.

The Thing with Two Heads commences with the single Turn away from the light.  Crunchy metal that at once incorporates death metal and rap style vocals. It’s clear from the start that they’re fully embracing their metal side. Freak Boy continues the theme, speeding up a tad, and revealing a hint of the punk roots past. Organized and Hate song continue in the same vein.  Ghost note has a bit more energy and pace. Then there is the sea shanty that is Up from the depths, and The thing will arise channelling 80’s metal.

Side two opens with the promising Planet of the living dead which is perhaps the closest they come to channelling their old selves here; with its speedy delivery and the “whoahs”, melodic solo, it’s easily one of the best songs on the record. Royal flying corpse is great, except it sounds like an Iron Maiden song. It’s all downhill from here. Rectify sounds like they have been listening to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers for fucks sake.  Down with the Underdogs starts out like a  ballad, is too long  and too overblown. I found it a challenge to  listen to the whole thing. There are some good moments in this epic, when it picks up about half way, just when I’ve gone to sleep. I thought I was dreaming that they sounded like they should again ... they almost recapture that old energy..... for a minute.

Lyrically there’s many references to “The thing with two heads”.  Some of the lyrics are not only uninspired, but, pretty well, embarrassing. Hate song is an example  “Just for you/here’s a hate song/and it makes me sad to say you’ve made my shitty day/ And I’m sick, sick of dealing with a retard/ 1-2 Fuck You/3-4 What a bore/5-6 Whiny bitch/You ain’t nothing but a retard/Fuck You”. Really. It appears Pinch channels the lyrics of his other band The Damned’s Love Song and recycles them.

The Thing With Two Heads was touted as “the missing link” between To the ends of the Earth and Forward Into Battle by drummer Pinch but this doesn’t appear evident. There’s more in common with the ambitious Tolkienesque  Where legend began  (which I don’t mind) and the crunchy metal of Gizz Butt’s later English Dogs incarnations in the 90’s.  To the ends of the Earth and Forward Into Battle may not have had the best production but there was a distinct energy that was captured there. What also made them was the merge of equal parts punk and metal. Their punk roots were still evident and really shaped those records and sound. There’s a  relentless raw ferocity and punk energy that was present on To the ends of the Earth and Forward Into Battle – inclusive of the metal solos  -that is lacking here, and they have all but abandoned their punk side. 

The Thing With Two Heads was recorded over several sessions, with all the members recording separately, but I’ll give ’em that it sounds cohesive. While you expect the appropriate changes in production in a thirty year gap, The Thing With Two Heads is a bit too tight and slick. The playing is good, the guitars are spot on, as is the rhythm section, and Bailey stays within his vocal range, for the most part

Package wise this is a bit of a funny one. There’s some love and a care gone into it, absolutely. Great artwork and all.  But.  There’s a comic book appeal (see the title lettering) that kinda gives the game away. Nice gatefold sleeve which harks back to their earlier releases. There’s lyrics inside the gatefold, but the print is small and obscured by the Tolkienish cartoony fantasy drawings. Good quality green vinyl and sound though.

Look. I didn’t expect them to rehash  To the ends of the Earth or Forward Into Battle. But I was excited by the prospect of them harnessing some of that energy  again and creating another punk-metal masterpiece. And they have got to move on, get with the times etc etc. And I do like it, and will listen to it. But it just could have been so  much more if they had gone back to being the English Dogs rather than the Metal Dogs.  There may not have been such a high expectation had they not made the claim that it would be the “missing link between “ To the ends of the Earth” and “Forward Into Battle” – because it has little in common with those records.  They are more intent on showcasing that they can play different types of metal here. Had they kept in touch with their former selves, and retained their identity this could have been fuckin’ great, instead of OK. If you didn’t know it was the “English Dogs”, you couldn’t put the old record against this and still say it was the same band. Things could have been better, rather than them just being a by-the numbers metal outfit.

In an interview with Gizz Butt a few years ago he said he regretted “not staying with the formula and going over the top with Where legend began ”. So what the fuck?

I would have loved to have been more positive on this one. And after all it’s only my opinion right? But I did fork out for it.

Maybe I’ll put it on in 6 months and go “Well fuck. Now I get it”

ENGLISH DOGS - Turn Away From The Light [Official Video ...

► 3:46► 3:46

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBGM2GJ6xPQ

BATTLE OF THE ENGLISH DOGS 2014 VINYL RELEASES Part 1

ENGLISH DOGS (UK PUNK VERSION)

We Did, We Do, We Always Fucking Will!

Nunny Dave Records/Massprod/PHR records collaboration

Both  current separate versions of the English Dogs, The UK “punk version”, and the US “metal version” put out releases almost simultaneously, both available on vinyl. In Part 2 we’ll check out the US metal version’s release. In part 3 we’ll stack them up to see who put out the best record.

First up in the battle is the UK Punk English Dogs. Original vocalist Wakey formed this version of the band a few years ago after countless line-ups,  settling on this line up in which he’s the only original member. After loads of shows and a few EP’s we have “We did, We do, We always fucking will”.

Here Wakey retains the punk spirit of the band’s first incarnanation; they maintain the initial template of no fuss punk rock, and  the original flavour of the English Dogs complete  with the Wakey humour, warped world  view, and astute lyricism that permeated the English Dogs earliest stuff, while still moving the sound forward.

It  kicks off with the sharp and  buzzy, Ripper on the Street (I’m a human dustcart cleaning up the waste) which gives you an idea of  where things are going here. Then it’s Death To the Dogs  in which Wakey gives it with bile to the current metal version of the English Dogs “Death to the Dogs/The heavy metal dogs/What legend forgot/The lies in the book/The royalties they took/That racket..what the fuck?/ So I lay down a challenge your album versus ours ” (which we will explore in Parts Two and Three of Battle of the English Dogs vinyl releases 2014).  Society Insults me follows, then  the first of a couple of ones about drugs, Toot, and Chemical General. Side one finishes up with Ross Lomas, City Baby, Ignite books, a hilarious anecdote of Wakey attempting to buy the aforementioned GBH bass player’s autobiography.

Side two commences with the incisive Pater Betrayal.  Brain disease “There’s people out there that think we’re mental/approaching middle age and still wanna pogo”  and Punk and Judy continue the madness. The title track (featuring vocals from The Varukers Rat and Jason from Bastard Squad)  says it all really; “Thirty seven years and still counting/Dad said he’s going through a phase/Well it’s a fuck of a phase/middle aged and grey/United  we don’t care”. The whole album is infused with energy, fun, madness, melody and mayhem. A good indicator of wether a record’s any good is if you wanna give it another spin pretty quickly – which I did.

Package wise,  good stuff. The cover (with a nice new “purpose built to distance ourselves from the Metal Dogs English Dogs” font) is perhaps a nod  back to “Mad Punx and English Dogs” – although they seem a bit more unified here on the front cover pic. It’s all pretty well set out, the layout  pays homage to the band’s punk/madness aesthetic. There’s a well put together inner sleeve with lyrics and nice pics. Good quality vinyl. Production is well charted, everything’s clear in the sound, well set out, not too glossy,  and there’s a good stereo sound.  Wakey’s warped personality is captured  in the vocals and shine through perfectly on this recording.  The band are pretty tight as a unit, and it’s obvious they all work well together. The CD apparently comes with extras  (digipak with extra CD and video) but I’m not complaining -  vinyl only here thanks.

Great stuff, a great punk record. This is a great addition to the English Dogs legacy, and good to see them back to “core business”. “This punk music will never die” – from  Invasion of the Porky Men’s “Never Die” .The UK Punk English Dogs have set the bar high for their US Metal counterparts in the challenge of the English Dogs 2014 vinyl releases.

chrismccousin@gmail.com

TWO New ENGLISH DOGS vinyl releases

English Dogs

The two different versions of the ENGLISH DOGS have new releases out, both are available on vinyl.

The UK-based “punk” versions, led by original vocalist Wakey, have released “We did, We Do, We Always fucking did”.

The US-based “metal/crossover” version with  original core members Gizz Butt, Adey Bailey and Andrew “Pinch” Pinching have released the thing with two heads.

According to a review in Vive Le Rock magazine, The UK version has a stab at the US version with “Death to the Dogs” on their release.

An interview with Pinch has him saying that “The thing with two heads is the missing link between To the Ends of the Earth and  Forward into Battle”.

It’s kinda exciting and disappointing at the same time.  I’ve always liked both versions of the band. Various reformations have come and gone since the intitial breakup of the metal/crossover version.  The reformation in the mid nineties with the promising line up of Wakey, Gizz, and Pinch bore the disappointing “Bow to None” album. It pisses me off a bit when bands tarnish their legacies with schoolyard  argument type behaviour. I thought each version had staked out their “territory” and had a mutual understanding and respect for their differing styles. Maybe, maybe not.

I’ve just forked out for a copy of “We did, We Do, We Always fucking did”. When it gets shipped out I’ll review it, then I’ll order a copy of “The thing with two heads” and review it. Then we’ll stack ‘em up together and see who wins the English Dogs Sonic Reducer Vinyl Only Blog 2014 vinyl release competition.

chrismccousin@gmail.com

BURNING LOVE- SONGS FOR BURNING LOVERS

SONGS FOR BURNING LOVERS

Righto. I know I’m way behind the times with this one, again. As I say, I get ‘em when I get ‘em. Found out about this kinda by accident. Not being as linked in as I used to be, things filter through at different rates on the radar.

Anyway,  me and a mate were having a browse in Resist Records recently and it was playing. Both our ears pricked up independently , after a while my mate asks what was playing. “Burning Love’s first album”. I looked  back through the  racks until I found it.

Haven’t heard anything like this in ages. Got it home and kept playing it for about a week straight. I could slot in superlatives and comparisons but at the end – This is hardcore that kicks arse and ROCKS.  It rocks, it rolls, it punks, it hardcores. Look, maybe I’m just getting carried away and it’s simply great just fuckin’ rock ‘n roll! Throaty vocals, filthy guitars, and It’s all pretty much full tilt until the end of side two. Get to the end of side one and “miserable sound” shows they’re not afraid of turning out a (fuckin’ good) chunky  metal riff either, which it’s kind of built up to by this stage.   It fades out. Turn it over, and it fades back in -  pretty neat. The momentum continues on side two........ Great fun. I challenge you to listen to it and see if you can restrain yourself from  bobbing your head to it.

Great vinyl package to boot. Soundwise there’s plenty of oomph. Love the fade in from side one to side two. Cover – wise simple and effective. There’s a lyric sheet (and some of the lyrics are great) – “Ignore the doctor’s orders and this is what I get”, (Gain). This one’s one Blue vinyl as well.