Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we drop the needle on Animal Boy—the Ramones' ninth studio album and one of the most idiosyncratically awkward records in the band's back catalogue.

Animal Boy is a far from perfect record. Yet, there are flashes of brilliance buried beneath some questionable production, strange sequencing, curious keyboards, and moments where Johnny's guitar sounds like it’s been away locked in a cupboard. But underneath the sonic clutter is some seriously great songwriting—and, perhaps more importantly, a fascinating snapshot of a band beginning to pull in different directions.

In this week's Deep Dive, we get under the skin (or fur) of 'Animal Boy' to uncover what works, what doesn't, and why the most interesting Ramones albums aren't necessarily the ones where every single song hits the bullseye...Sometimes the fun is in finding the few bullets that somehow survived the gunfight!

Join us as we explore the production, the personalities, the song choices and the wider cultural landscape surrounding the band during the mid-'80s period. By the time Side A is over, you might find yourself listening to Animal Boy a little differently...

As always, head over to www.patreon.com/cjsays to stream the Side B Deep Dive and all the rest of our exclusive bonus content. There is now over 30 hours worth of extra episodes waiting to be enjoyed!

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Hey kids! Welcome to another instalment of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

We've got a great artist interview lined up this week.

Before New York became a cultural phenomenon, it was a state of mind—a city where punk rock, fashion, nightlife, and art collided inside smoke-filled clubs beneath neon lights.

This week, we're joined by one of the true architects of that world…

Miss Guy is a musician, DJ, performer and trailblazer whose journey into New York's underground began with a chance meeting with Malcolm McLaren and quickly evolved into a life spent at the heart of the city's creative explosion. From the drag-fuelled chaos of St. Mark's Place to co-founding the legendary SqueezeBox club night, Miss Guy wasn't simply there watching history unfold—he was actively helping to shape it.

In Part One of this week's fascinating conversation with a proper New York legend, we explore the clubs, the characters, and the beautiful misfits who transformed New York into the creative capital of the punk rock world. Along the way, we discover why style became confidence, how the city's outsiders found strength in one another, and where the Ramones fit in amongst the underground scene that transformed pop culture forever.

It’s time to leave daylight behind and step back in time to a New York that could never exist today. You just had to be there...and Miss Guy was…this is his story!

To stream the second half of this week’s artist interview, as always, head over to www.patreon.com/cjsays

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey kids! Welcome to another Deep Dive episode of CJ Says: A Ramones Podcast.

This week, we drop the needle on Too Tough to Die — the album that didn't just save the Ramones…it reminded the world who they were…

By 1984, the musical landscape had shifted beneath their feet. Punk rock had splintered into a thousand different directions, mainstream success remained frustratingly out of reach, and the band themselves seemed caught somewhere between experimentation and lack of direction. Then came Too Tough to Die.

With Tommy Ramone back behind the console alongside longtime Ramones collaborator Ed Stasium, a rejuvenated Dee Dee firing on all creative cylinders once again, Richie Ramone injecting fresh energy behind the kit, and Joey developing a grittier, more confrontational voice, the band stopped chasing the charts and started sounding like themselves again.

In this week's Deep Dive, we explore the songs, the stories, and the subtle reinvention that makes Too Tough to Die one of the most important records in the band's entire back catalogue. This record is the sound of the Ramones planting their boots firmly back on the sidewalk and reminding the world that nobody ever did punk rock quite like the Ramones.

Join us as we revisit the album that truly lived up to its name…Too Tough to Die!

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