The man is back! Brad Marino releases his first new tracks since his album Grin and Bear It on a new 7" which features his 2023 digital smash "Ramones and Stones" and three brand-new songs. Essentially, this is the sequel to Marino's 2022 Ramonescore album Basement Beat. All four of these songs are in the style of early Ramones. And Marino continues to be an exception to my rule that no mere mortal has any business trying to sound like the Ramones. I don't know what it is about Marino, but he has a real talent not just for pulling off Ramonescore but also truly thriving at it. Perhaps it comes down to this guy just being a damn good songwriter who can put his own personality into a tune even when he's worshipping at the altar of the almighty Ramones.
The title track is one of Marino's signature songs — a proclamation that there are really only two bands in all of history that he truly needs in his life. This was too good of a song to only exist in the digisphere, and now you can own it on orange vinyl thanks to Ghost Highway Recordings. It's backed by three more quality cuts. "Theodora" hits the pure pop side of the Ramones and could almost pass for a missing track off Rocket to Russia. I always like it when Marino channels his inner Joey Ramone, so of course this track is a favorite. "A.D.H.D." is a total thumper worthy of a position on the top shelf of Ramonescore. "Teenage Monstrosity" has that raw first album Ramones feel and would have fit right in on Basement Beat. Amazingly, this EP is almost a one-man show. Bobby Davis plays bass on two tracks. But otherwise, Marino plays everything and does a stellar job of recording himself. All in all, this is a perfect EP and a must-own if you're a Marino fan. Copies from Marino's Bandcamp are sold out, but this vinyl is well-worth tracking down. Just when I thought I was out on Ramonescore, Brad Marino pulls me back in!
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