There aren't many bonus tracks -- only five -- on Rhino's 2001 expanded edition of the Ramones' third album, Rocket to Russia, but it doesn't really matter because the album itself is so good and the presentation is so fine. Like the other editions in Rhino's Ramones reissue series, this has a... [+] Expand

There aren't many bonus tracks -- only five -- on Rhino's 2001 expanded edition of the Ramones' third album, Rocket to Russia, but it doesn't really matter because the album itself is so good and the presentation is so fine. Like the other editions in Rhino's Ramones reissue series, this has a terrific booklet with the original artwork, full lyrics, plenty of photos, and great notes (this time from Legs McNeil). And while the bonus tracks are a little slight -- single versions of "I Don't Care" and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" are nice to have but not drastically different than the album versions, while a previously unreleased version of "Needles & Pins" is charming but rather anemic -- the demo of the non-LP "Slug" is really excellent (but probably too pop for the Ramones in 1977) and it's good to have the U.K. B-side "It's a Long Way Back to Germany" along for the ride. Apart from those two songs, these bonus tracks don't pack the punch of the full concert on Leave Home, nor do they have the historic importance of the tracks on Ramones. But that's minor quibbling, since the music is good, the package is excellent, and the album is one of the best records ever made. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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