The first song on The Huntingtons' new album Plastic Surgery is named "I Wanna Be a Ramone." That pretty much sums it up. Over their past five albums, the New England-based foursome has tried their darndest to carbon-copy Joey and the boys, and for the most part have succeeded. Unfortunately, this latest album does not quite live up to the standards they have set for themselves in the past.
Don't get me wrong. Plastic Surgery is a great album, and is all you've come to expect from The Huntingtons--fast, fun pop-punk songs about school, girls, and, of course, The Ramones. And there are some great songs on the record, most notably the ultra-fast "Moral Threat," the fun-as-heck instrumental "Mutant Monster Beach Party," and the 50s-esque ballad "I'll See You Tonite." The band is also getting better at lyric writing:
I went downtown and I bought a leather jacket
And tried on jeans that were two sizes too tight...
Some people think I'm crazy
Or that I'm sniffing glue
But I don't care, 'cos I just wanna
Have something to do
("I Wanna Be a Ramone")
We can sit down and read from Psalms
While we're listening to the U.S. Bombs
Tell your mama and tell your pop
And your big brother, too
I'm not dangerous, and I wanna let them know
("I'm Not Dangerous")
While these lyrics are obviously not on the level of T.S. Eliot, they accomplish their purpose - they're funny, and an awful lot of fun to listen to.
The problem comes in the album's production. While Plastic Surgery's companion piece, Get Lost, had crisp, smooth production, its keyboards (and too often, its vocals as well) are buried deep in the mix, which results in a very cluttered sound. To be fair, though, most punk fans don't listen to the genre for its production, and Plastic Surgery should appeal to fans of The Huntingtons' previous albums.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #83Reviewed by Bob HoweGrowing up in the 80's, I listened to a lot of different bands. Punk rock was my choice. So, being a teen in the 80's, I heard a lot of Ramones songs. I never owned an album, but I considered myself a Ramones fan. What is the sound that the Ramones had? Beach Boys meet Buddy Holly? With a punk flare? Why am I going on about the Ramones? All of these questions will not be answered in this review.…Bandoppler 2000Reviewed by Earl CampbellSomeone tell the new guy about the Huntingtons' obsession with the Ramones. This is probably the band's fifteenth release, or something like that, and it sounds like all the ones before it, except surely better in some abstract or technical way. Good production, good melodies, obvious confidence in their formula, and fun to listen to at night while doing email, pirating mp3's off Napster, or…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by ConradThis is the eighth record Huntingtons have released in the past two weeks. Fortunately they've been steadily getting better and more catchy. Of course these songs are pretty much like Ramones influenced punk. Very simple. Power Chords. Lots of "Uh-Oh," kind of singing. This release is better than their last one that I gave a B+ to. Sonically this CD is great. I'm pretty sure Cliffy and Mikey did…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by Tom BastianThe Huntingtons do it again. They put out yet another great pop punk album. This album tends to be a little more poppy than "Get Lost", but thats what I really liked about this one. I think the Huntingtons strong point is their ability to write catchy pop punk tunes filled with energy. Probably the most surprising thing about the album is that two of the songs were very different for the…Decapolis 2000Reviewed by OrvillePlastic Surgery is the Huntingtons millennial debut and boy did they rip into 2000 with this one! It's no surprise that they started off the year so fast after a very busy 1999 which included massive touring, a live album, a cover album, and a ground breaking full length called "Get Lost". For Huntingtons fans "Plastic Surgery" serves as the best of both worlds. You have the vocal and musical…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Todd BallardIt is easy to find one's self in a love/hate relationship with the Huntingtons. They make no bones about being a "wanna-be" band with songs like "I Wanna Be a Ramone" off their second release in less than a year, Plastic Surgery. Although they may sound just like the Ramones, they are doing something with the bubble-gum punk sound that the Ramones themselves never achieved. Plastic Surgery boasts…Similar sounding releases
2000Ghoti HookTwo Years to Never
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2002Authority ZeroA Passage in Time
2005Alkaline TrioCrimsonMore from Huntingtons
1998All the Stuff (And More) Vol. 1
1999Get Lost
2000Split
2001Songs in the Key of You
1998High School Rock
2001Rock 'N' Roll Habits for the New Wave
