THE RAMONES
Subterranean Jungle (Sire/Rhino)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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It was 1983 and MTV had been brainwashing everyone into thinking guitar straps should only be used to hold synthesizers against a musician's body so he could jump around sorta like Pete and Jimi used to do. The Ramones? Who dey? Diehards wanted them to rudely announce themselves with a good ol' "WUN TU FREE FOW!!" rocket launch, but Subterranean Jungle began instead with an explosion of a different kind. A cover of Music Explosion's fine but decidedly non-punk oldie, "Little Bit O' Soul." Ouch. There's also a cover of The Chambers Brothers' classic, "Time Has Come Today," which actually rocks, but at this point in their career a stronger statement was needed. "Highest Trails Above" kicks the crap out of my speakers and restores my faith, and little by little the song quality and power quotient rise until Subterranean Jungle becomes an album to be considered when picking the best album of phase two of the band's career. "Psycho Therapy" alone qualifies it for contention," but there's much more here. It's high energy most of the way. The Rhino reissue is loaded with bonus tracks - 7 of 'em, to be exact - including the original mix of the 1910 Fruitgum Co. cover, "Indian Giver." The truth is there are some Ramones albums that can be called "lame," but they didn't really start showing up until the late 80s. At this point, there was still something vital happening.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson