Ramones (1976) — Ramones

The Ramones may have invented the punk rock genre, sure, but that doesn't change the fact that this album is literally just the same song, modified slightly, fourteen times over.

This is a perfect example of why I'm not a big fan of punk music. It's supposed to be revolutionary because it's messy and sprawling, but mid music is still mid music.

There's definitely something to be said about the artistic innovation that this album and the punk genre at large helped pioneer, but this is an unfinished prototype at best, not a masterpiece.

I was relieved when this album was finally finished, so I don't think I'll be returning to it. Is it an important album? Absolutely. But important does not always equate to good, and it definitely doesn't in this case.