Editorial Reviews Music Review:
Music Review
Speed of Sound Ep [CD-single] [Import]
Myaskovsky: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11
Panorama: Zouk Des Antilles V.1 [Import]
Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars
Pandora's Box [Import] [Limited Edition]
Selmasongs: Dancer In The Dark (2000 Film) [Soundtrack]
Pop Trunk in Texas [Explicit Lyrics]
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It was inevitable that a glut of Ramones tribute albums would follow the passing of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. The 17-song-strong We're a Happy Family thankfully escapes the dubious tribute-album ghetto. It's no surprise that Ramones descendents like Green Day, Rancid, and the Offspring stick close to the tired and true, while headbanger James Hetfield makes "53rd & 3rd" sound like a Metallica song. But the standouts on the disc are the efforts where artists go off the rails. Pete Yorn turns in a yearning version of "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," while Tom Waits goes the ghoulish route on "The Return of Jackie and Judy." Kiss get the best-in-show nod for their anthemic "Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio," which is odd given that the Ramones were formed ostensibly as a reaction against arena rockers like Kiss. Don't miss the final hidden track, a scary gem by the Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. --Jaan Uhelszki