Ramones- Road To Ruin LP (180 gram vinyl)

Generally considered the last great album from the Ramones' great period -- the record before Phil Spector "ruined" them and changed the trajectory of their career -- Road to Ruin is given five bonus tracks on Rhino's 2001 expanded reissue. Where the bonus cuts on Rocket to Russia were nice, but not really revelatory, these are all very welcome additions that help enhance the album and clarify the group's history. To start with, there are Ed Stasium-produced versions of "I Want You Around" and "Rock & Roll High School" (both originally released on Rhino's 1999 Hey! Ho! Let's Go anthology) that are cleaner, punchier, better than those on the Spector album. Then, there's a live medley from the Rock 'N' Roll High School album that proves the group could still tear it up live. Finally, the selections conclude with demos of "Come Back, She Cried aka I Walk Out" and "Yea, Yea" (the former previously unreleased), fine catchy songs that may not be knockouts, but are certainly good additions to the catalog. To top it off, the disc, like all the other entries in the series, is given a loving booklet with full original artwork, lyrics, liner notes from Legs McNeil, and plenty of rare photographs and memorabilia. All in all, the entire series treats the Ramones' classic period with love, respect, and a healthy sense of fun; let's hope it doesn't stop here, and that their '80s albums are given the same treatment. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide