Released in 1986, the ninth studio album, Animal Boy , marks a somewhat different phase in the Ramones . Compared to previous works, we notice a sonic difference, due to how each member's contributions fit into the album.
Amid internal conflicts, vocalist Joey Ramone chose to stay away from the album's songwriting, even claiming to be "fed up" with the band and irritated by the waste of ideas. In turn, guitarist Johnny Ramone was blamed for rejecting Joey's ideas, creating further tension among the group.
Dee Dee Ramone was responsible for most of the songwriting. Drummer Richie Ramone also actively participated in the album's creation, resulting in the wonderful hit "Somebody Put Something in My Drink," which, incidentally, he says is a personal experience for the musician.
Intensity and controversy
Controversy is also present in Animal Boy Ronald Reagan 's visit to Bitburg Cemetery, where several high-ranking members of the SS, a paramilitary organization linked to the Nazi Party, are buried.
This is the most listened-to track, even with Johnny's initial disapproval, as he was a Reagan supporter. The guitarist even censored the track's original title in the album's liner notes.
In “Mental Hell,” Joey simply lets it all out; you can feel what’s going on between him and the band, as well as his personal problems. It’s almost a scream, which makes it even more intense.
“Animal Boy,” the song that gives the album its name, has that more hardcore, fast, and raw feel. For the ballads, “Something to Believe In” and the melancholic “Love Kills,” which narrates the troubled relationship between Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, do the job well.
In addition to these tracks, "Animal Boy" features other songs that deserve mention, such as the fun "Apeman Hop," the ironic "Crummy Stuff," and the energetic "Freak of Nature.".
Although somewhat forgotten and even despised by some, Animal Boy is a fundamental album for understanding the evolution of the Ramones; it's an outlier. The album had a new edition released by Wikimetal with Oporto Música , but it is currently out of print.
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