The Ramones: Joey Ramone (vocals); Johnny Ramone (guitar); Dee Dee Ramone (bass); Ritchie Ramone (drums).
Recorded at Intergalactic Studios, New York, New York.
Recording information: Intergalactic Studio, NY, Unites States.
Photographer: George DuBose.
After the resurgent TOO TOUGH TO DIE the Ramones topped themselves with the brilliantly goofy (or goofily brilliant) ANIMAL BOY. It's all here: the jungle stomp of "Apeman Hop," the chugging title track, the sweet affirmation of true love in "She Belongs to Me," (in no way to be confused with the Dylan song) and even Dee Dee's ode to long lost friend Sid Vicious, "Love Kills." ANIMAL BOY has more hooks and surprises than one would have expected at this point from the boys, and even Ritchie Ramone proves himself an excellent songwriter with "Somebody Put Something in My Drink."
Dee Dee, spurred by Ritchie's challenge and a sympathetic ear in producer and ex-Plasmatic Jean Beauvoir, comes up with two genuine Ramones anthems. "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)" is a hooky indictment of Reagan that would make Jello Biafra proud, and "Something To Believe In" which finds the Ramones searching for meaning in a world inundated with feel-good songs and finding it in punk rock. And if you aren't humming along by the time Joey gets to the "crummy crummy crummy" chorus of "Crummy Stuff," you must have a hole in your punk rock soul.