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!
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