Get A Grip!

Judy may be a punk, but The Ramones are not! They are boring. Plain and simple.

Of all the acts that terrorized NYC's CBGB in the 70s (Television, Patti Smith's Group, New York Dolls, Suicide, Talking Heads, Richard Hell and even Blondie!) and all the underground proto-punk bands that had recently made waves (the Stooges, MC5, Velvet Underground) The Ramones rank among the least interesting. Sonic Youth and their contemporaries that followed were also much more engaging and groundbreaking. They are certainly not the worst, but they really are boring.

Did they influence leagues of power-pop bands? Probably. They also probably influenced countless other catchy, kitschy pop bands. But, when it comes down to it... they did not shake the foundations of rock like many would have you believe.

Simplistic, silly and inane. Those are the words www.allmusic.com uses to describe The Ramones. They also describe the stupidity of their first record. I ask this question: How can these guys be so revered if they are simple, silly and inane? None of these words are words I expect to be ascribed to 'legendary' bands.

Some say that it is exactly these quirky, playful tendencies that make them legendary. Sorry, I don't dig those attributes. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I like silly groups like They Might Be Giants, Ween or even Das EFX. But, under no circumstances would I ever go so far as to say that they deserve to be regarded as legends. Remembered as weirdos that got lucky by being in the right place at the right time, maybe. But, not on the books as trendsetting musical pioneers.

Sheena may be a punk rocker, but The Ramones are not!

O.C.M.S.

Recently, my mentor teacher and I have been teaching high-schoolers about the roots of country music in the History of American Popular Music class... that's why this is relevant:

Last winter, I had several new experiences. I went skiing for the first time and I heard Old Crow Medicine Show for the first time. I was in the bar at the Alta Peruvian Ski Lodge drinking one of my favorite Czech beers (my wife & I lived there the year before) spending time with my family. The pot-head ski bums behind the bar were playing various tunes over the speakers through their iPod's.

After listening to a few songs, making random guesses about who it may be, I approached the bartenders. "Who is this?" I had never heard of Old Crow Medicine Show, but it was a hell of a name and I was immediately intrigued.

Upon returning home, I sought out their albums and was surprised to find that these guys were young and that the music was current. Somehow, despite production and other elements, it seemed older. Anyone who digs American folk music and traditional Appalachian music should really check them out. They tackle plenty of old standards as well as lesser-known gems, but they also add a few of their own songs in. Their self-penned songs are usually well worth

listening to and fit in quite nice with the others.

On a side note... these guys also have a rowdy, rock n' roll side that keeps you at a distance. Here are their first two albums from '04 and '06 respectively.