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So do the GROOVIE GHOULIES. Their singer KEPI GHOULIE now shines a spotlight on the ballads of the RAMONES. Love songs at a moderate tempo have been part of the band's repertoire from the very beginning, just less attention-grabbing. But beautiful and nostalgic – everyone needs their sentimental songs.
The framework is set, next question: song selection. We have here 13 songs from the entire band history, arranged chronologically. Usually one song from each album, but KEPI didn't strictly adhere to that, and no songs from the last albums of the RAMONES are included. The songs are representative of the RAMONES ballads, and including more of the same kind would have only unnecessarily stretched the CD – there isn't a big difference in songwriting. This is because the RAMONES drew from the formula of 60s bubblegum pop and (especially Joey) from the schmaltzy hits of the Phil Spector hit factory. Thus, two of the songs are not original RAMONES songs (“Needles & Pins” by THE SEARCHERS and “Baby I Love You” by RONNIE & THE RONNETTES). These songs could have actually been replaced with RAMONES originals – especially the absence of “Danny Says” is painful.
Joey Ramone and Ronnie Spector have recorded cover versions of their pieces which are hard to top. Perhaps more attention could have been given to lesser-known ballads. What about “Can’t get you out of my mind,” “I won’t let it happen,” or “Babysitter”? A big bonus point goes to “I want you around,” which did not appear on any regular album. It also fits quite well with the humorous, somewhat awkward image of the RAMONES – I may be a quirky outsider, but I love you.
Now we have the songs together, what do we do with them? Big bands have already failed to cover the absolutely essential songs of the RAMONES. Any layer of bombast, any vain virtuosity added on top risks missing the core of the song. KEPI GHOULIE's solution: reduce even more, mostly just with an acoustic guitar, and thoughtfully add other accompanying instruments. And it works! The vocals are surprisingly close to the original, which I find very nice because it creates little irritation. To avoid monotony, there is variation in the form of strings, slide guitar, and saxophone. Sometimes I find it a bit too little – if a chord is only struck once over a line of the song, it sounds like a guitar student is practicing a new song for the campfire. A small stroke of genius, however, is KEPI's take on “7-11.” The song has almost only sparse bass tones and sounds of street traffic in the background and tells a tragic story of nostalgia, infatuation, and a fatal traffic accident. This version brings out all the sadness in a way that the usually cheerfully strummed original almost completely lacks.
Conclusion! For RAMONES fans who don't feel like making a playlist from the original songs or would like to hear a variation, “Ramones in Love” is a compilation made with knowledge and respect for the work, showcasing the sensitive side of the music.
For everyone else, it's an album of impeccable rock ballads of classic kind (60s, remember), which can run well on repeat. But who isn't a RAMONES fan? Exactly.
