We're a Happy F to the

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Once most of the founding members of the Ramones passed away in the early 2000s, it came as no shock that tribute albums would come out of nowhere to pay their respects and try to line the pockets of grave dancing music executives. Mercifully, We're a Happy Family sidesteps those issues by choosing artists that mostly seem like left-field choices and including Johnny Ramone as an executive produce... read more

Description: It was inevitable that a glut of Ramones tribute albums would follow the passing of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. The 17-song-strong We're a Happy Family thankfully escapes the dubious tribute-album ghetto. It's no surprise that Ramones descendents such as Green Day, Rancid and the Offspring stick close to the tried and true, while headbanger James Hetfield makes "53rd & 3rd" sound like a Metallica song. But the standouts on the disc are the efforts where artists go off the rails. Pete Yorn turns in a yearning version of "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" while Tom Waits goes the ghoulish route on "The Return of It was inevitable that a glut of Ramones tribute albums would follow the passing of Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. The 17-song-strong We're a Happy Family thankfully escapes the dubious tribute-album ghetto. It's no surprise that Ramones descendents such as Green Day, Rancid and the Offspring stick close to the tried and true, while headbanger James Hetfield makes "53rd & 3rd" sound like a Metallica song. But the standouts on the disc are the efforts where artists go off the rails. Pete Yorn turns in a yearning version of "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" while Tom Waits goes the ghoulish route on "The Return of Jackie and Judy". Kiss get the best-in-show nod for their anthemic "Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio", which is odd given that the Ramones were formed ostensibly as a reaction against arena rockers such as Kiss. Don't miss the final track, a scary gem by the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. --Jaan Uhelszki ... (more) (less)