Various Artists – “Brats on The Beat: Ramones For Kids”
Album Reviews | Jan 22nd, 2007

Record Label: Go-Kart Records
Genre: Punk
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link
So the majority of The Ramones are dead, and now the tribute & cover albums are going to pour through. This album is aimed at parents to get their little stupid twerps into the Ramones. Here’s a dumb question, why not just show the kids the actual band and have them listen to the real thing? I started to listen to the Ramones in 1st or 2nd grade and haven’t stopped listening to them. So my first suggestion is to stop being such a wimp parent and show them the Ramones. Or face reality that your kid is a wimp and listens to the Wiggles and be done with it already.
I was kind of dreading this album because hearing a bunch of kids singing Ramones songs isn’t my idea of fun. Unless those kids happen to be from Widney High…hmm do I sense a potential spin-off?. But thankfully, some grown-ups actually sing on the songs. Some of the punk singers/musicians featured on this album include Jim Lindberg of Pennywise, Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio, Greg Attonito of the Bouncing Souls, Tony Reflex of Adolescents, Jack Grisham of TSOL, and Brett Anderson of the Donnas. All of the older people sing up front, while all the rugrats sing back up vocals. It’s actually not that bad, but if the kids sang just by themselves, it might make me throw myself off a building. All the songs actually remind me of Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out.” If I was going to get my children into punk rock, I would start with the real thing. If you want to try this album out on them first, then go for it. I just think the Ramones aren’t that bad to show kids when they are young. But what the fuck do I know, I don’t have kids nor do I want them.
Bottom Line: Want the kids to hear the Ramones? Have them listen to the real thing you wimp parents!
Notable Tracks: Blitzkrieg Bop, Rock N Roll High School, Rockaway Beach
Overall Rating: