Ramones Mania

All righty, so two things: Ramones.com is done. Pretty cool, lots of photos and flyers, etc. Go look at it right now and don't bother reading the rest of the stupid crap I'm about to spew from my unorganized brain.

The other thing is that We're A Happy Family: A Tribute to the Ramones came out today. Remember Burning London: A Tribute to the Clash? This is like that. An odd assortment of bands, some obvious (Rancid, Green Day, the Offspring), some not as obvious (Garbage, Rob Zombie, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and then some that make you say "Fuh?" (Tom Waits? Alright, cool. U2? Fuck, no. Pete Yorn?). Some of the covers sound exactly like the originals, and some of them (like Marilyn Manson's version of "The KKK Took My Baby Away") are complete reworkings done in the style that made that particular band/person famous.

What is it with tribute albums? When they're announced, I read the band list and say "Wow! I can't wait to get this!" and then I hear the record and it sounds *exactly* like I imagined. Their prime purpose, to me, is to be played for one's friends while asking the friend "Guess who's doing this? OK guess who's doing this next one? OK, guess who's..." One can also dust off one's tribute CDs out and throw a track or two on a mix tape or something, when the urge arises. Other than that, it's like... OK, great. I'll listen to it a couple times (I'm listening to it right now). Then... into the collection it goes.

Aw, shit. Eddie Vedder just came on and ruined this whole fucking thing. He's got TWO songs on this CD, performing with the band Zeke. God, I'd like to punch that mushmouthed retard right in his larynx.

Stephen King wrote the liner notes to this tribute CD, and I think that's pretty cool. There are also a bunch of photos I've never seen before in the booklet. All in all... the CD was ten bucks, and I hate Eddie Vedder.

Fuh.