The Ramones

Rocket to Russia is more than just the better LP of two the Ramones released in 1977, it could be the best of their career. The revolutionary punk sound of their debut is here, but it's augmented with some stylistic variety, and greater slabs of '60s pop. Can songs get any better than "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker," "We're a Happy Family" or "Rockaway Beach"?

Having revealed how much you can take out and still have rock and roll, they now explore how much you can put back in and still have Ramones. Not that they've returned so very much--a few relatively obvious melodies, a few relatively obvious vocals. But that's enough. Yes, folks, there's something for everyone on this ready-made punk-rock classic. Stoopidity, both celebrated and satirized. Love (thwarted) and social protest (they would seem to oppose DDT). Inspired revivals (the Trashmen) and banal cover versions (Bette Midler and Cass Elliott beat them to "Do You Wanna Dance?"). And, for their record company and the ears of the world, an actual potential hit. If "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" was the most significant number eighty-four in history, what will "Rockaway Beach" do for number twenty? (Did I hear five?) (Grade - A)