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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
End of the Century is the musical documentation of a form looking for rebirth. Having burned itself out in four short years by 1979 (that's a short century!), punk rock cast about for a spark to reignite the flames. The Clash found it in political rage and musical wanderings; the Ramones found it by infusing their already well-honed pop sensibilities with a huge dose of pathos. Who'd have thought these boys--the same ones who cried "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" and who wanted to "Beat on the Brat (with a Baseball Bat)"--had it in them? The concept looks great on paper. Combine the famed "Wall of Sound" producer Phil Spector with the three-chord, three-minute, speed-laced ditties of the Ramones--and it sounds even better on vinyl. The Ramones never needed any help sounding massive, but Spector's production brings out subtleties hidden within, making Johnny's lone Mosrite guitar blaze like a bomb squadron, coaxing some evocative and emotional singing from Joey, even (gasp!) shading some of the songs with strings--punk-rock sacrilege in those days. The Ramones live up to the task by writing some of their best--and most overlooked--songs to date. "Rock & Roll High School" and "Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?" are exhilarating (and somewhat nostalgic) bids for commercial recognition. Even the covers here--"Baby, I Love You" and "Chinese Rocks"--transcend the original source and become solid members of the Ramones' community of songs. Though they've been accused of rewriting the same album over and over, End of the Century proves the Ramones were much smarter, more adventurous and more innovative than we'd ever expected. --Tod Nelson
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ramones Most Underrated Album,
By
This review is from: End Of The Century (Expanded & Remastered) (Audio CD)
This album was an unashamed attempt for the band to finally score a hit by putting the name of legendary producer Phil Spector on the back of the album sleeve and since this album's release many people have criticised it for many different reasons, many of them totally unfair. Most people's main citicism is that Spector's distinctive production style does not suit the band at all and that many of the Ramones own distinctiv trademarks are missing. This could not be further from the truth, Spector's 'big' sounding production suits the bands 'BBIIGG' sound perfectly and all of the bands superb trademarks are intact, chainsaw guitar and all. The only gripe I have with this album is the horrendous disco version of 'Baby I Love You' but as only one Ramone appears on this track backed by Spector's session musicians it can be forgiven. The other tracks are all essential classic Ramones. "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio", "Danny Says", "Chinese Rocks", "I Can't Make It On Time", "Let's Go" and "Rock 'n' Roll High School" are all classic Ramones anthems and the other tracks aren't far behind. In all this album is just as essential to Ramones or punk fans as any of their other albums.Go on, treat yourself!
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's Alive!,
By
This review is from: End of the Century (Audio CD)
Time been very much kinder to this record than the critics were at it's original release. "End of the Century" finds Da Brudders on peak form with a colossal sound, somewhat maligned at the time for apparantly lacking Johnny's customary buzzsaw guitar sound at the forefront of the mix. But 20 years on, mix seems perfect, and surprisingly delicately balanced. The guitar work embodies an almost god - like, spiritual quality - seemingly nowhere in particular but everywhere at once. Likewise the late Joey never sounded better . This production is infused with Ramones, and clever ideas at least a decade ahead of thier time, despite initial objections that Phil Spector, its illustrious producer, has stamped too much of his personality upon the final product. Just lose yourself in this triumphantly dumbest ever wall of sound. For a grandioses studio production, it's alive.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice record, but Ramones-Spector do not seem integrated,
This review is from: End Of The Century (Expanded & Remastered) (Audio CD)
I truly admire Phil Spector and the idea of him producing The Ramones is exciting. But in my honest opinion, the result is not memorable and they do not seem very integrated. The Spector touch in many of the songs is inexistent or in others it does sound artificial. I enjoy the demo bonus tracks more than the ones in the original LP, as they sound more natural and more Ramones.
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