Ramones: Mondo Bizarro (Radioactive Records):

Orlando Sentinel

October 1992

Parry Gettelm

This may not be the best Ramones album ever, as singer Joey Ramone has claimed, but his enthusiasm is by no means misplaced.

For one thing, Ed Stasium is back. Stasium, who produced five of the Ramones' early albums, recaptures the crackling energy lacking on 1989's Brain Drain, the groups last studio release.

For another, this is a great batch of songs. The opening cut, "Censor---," is a gleeful rant against Parents Music Resource Center and other supporters of record labeling. The chorus, "Ah, Tipper, come on/Ain't you been getting it on?" is one of Joey's catchiest ever.

The terrific kiss-off song "Tomorrow She Goes Away" has nifty hooks in both verse and chorus. "Heidi Is a Headcase," "The Job That Ate My Brain" and "Cabbies on Crack" are also among the Ramones' most melodic songs, and as funny as their titles. "Touring" sounds like the Beach Boys helping out on a Ramones medley, thanks to the hilarious backing vocals from Flo and Eddie of the Turtles.

Flo and Eddie assist on "Poison Heart," one of three songs by former bassist Dee Dee Ramone. It's less succinct than the typical short, sharp Ramones song. Dee Dee's other two contributions, "Main Man," and "Strength to Endure," are good cuts.

The playing is first-rate. Bassist C.J. Ramone acquits himself well on his first studio album with the band, even singing two songs (Joey is clearly his role model and of course, that's as it should be). Drummer Marky Ramone pommels the skins with consummate authority. Stasium has Johnny Ramone's guitar sounding appropriately raunchy- from the blistering attack "Anxiety" to the slab of red-hot noise on "Tomorrow She Goes Away."

Living Colour's Vernon Reid throws some growling and yowling on top of Johnny's crunching chords on "Cabbies on Crack." And the Psychedelic Furs' McGinty plays wonderful Psychedelic organ on the cover of the Doors' "Take It as It Comes."

It may not be the Ramones' best album ever, but Mondo Bizarro is certainly the best in a long while.