Out of the borough of Queens, the Ramones stuck out like a sore thumb in the ‘70s New York music scene. Wearing ultra-tight torn jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, leather jackets, and bob haircuts, the Ramones’ anti-style style would become as legendary as the band’s raw Punk Rock sound.
First releasing their self-titled album in 1976 (which included such legendary tracks as “Blitzkrieg Bop”), the band continued to grow in the years to follow with albums such as 1977’s Rocket to Russia and 1978’s Road to Ruin. Moving forward, they starred in the 1979 Roger Corman film Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, with a plot centering around them and the energetic Riff Randell (played by P.J. Soles).
Experiencing internal strife along the way (due to conflicting personalities, etc.), as the ’80s came to a close, it was starting to look like the Ramones may not survive. With several lineup shifts transpiring, by the time 1989 came, the Ramones would be sticking together with the core of Joey on vocals, Johnny on guitar, Dee Dee on bass, and Marky on drums (who rejoined in the summer of 1987).
Arguably, it was one of the best Ramones lineups ever, and while the band was sometimes at odds, they were still like brothers. With that in mind, they were prime to make a big splash after the unforeseen resurgence of their 1978 song “I Wanna Be Sedated,” which arrived in September 1988 as a promotional music video for the compilation record Ramones Mania. Turning on many new listeners, this preceded the band going into the studio in December of ’88 to record what would become their eleventh album, Brain Drain.
Looking back, it is said the sessions were filled with conflicted feelings from the band, including Dee Dee feeling alienated, while Johnny was not keen on the production, and he was far as to call it one of his least favorite albums they made. That is unfortunate to hear because if you ask fans, many consider Brain Drain an incredible album.
Originally released on May 23, 1989, the album is filled with bright spots, including “Pet Sematary” (which Stephen King asked the band to do for the film adapted from his novel that hit theaters in April of 1989) as well as the colorful “I Believe in Miracles,” “Don’t Bust My Chops,” “Punishment Fits the Crime,” and “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight).” Just some of the record’s highlights: there is no denying the impact of “Pet Sematary,” which anchors it. Ironically, it was created by Dee Dee (with the help of Producer Daniel Rey) in under thirty minutes. In fact, Marky Ramone reflected on the creation of “Pet Sematary” in a 2015 interview with Cryptic Rock Magazine, stating –
“Dee Dee had the idea in twenty minutes, but he wrote it in around forty minutes. Then we did the video in a graveyard, Sleepy Hollow, New York.”
Rather wild to think about, Brain Drain also includes a really cool cover of Freddy Cannon’s 1962 Rock-n-Roll classic “Palisades Park,” which is a fitting bedfellow to their take on Bobby Freeman’s 1958 hit “Do You Want to Dance” featured on Rocket to Russia. Furthermore, the album is also worth recalling because it was the final with Dee Dee Ramone, who bowed out shortly thereafter to pursue other projects. In any case, Brain Drain is a significant part of the Ramones’ history, and it is fantastic to see the album re-released on vinyl by Rhino Records in 2025.
A handpicked selection for their Start Your Ear Of Right series, the new vinyl pressing of Brain Drain arrived on January 3rd along with two other Ramones records – 1984’s Too Tough to Die and 1987’s Halfway to Sanity. Reissued to vinyl numerous times in the last decade in several parts of the globe, this 2025 edition of Brain Drain is of the highest quality with an even, powerful sound.
Complete with original front and back art, the inner sleeve is also replicated with care and features each of the song’s lyrics. Overall, this pressing is one of the best reissues of Brain Drain to date and a perfect addition to any Ramones fan’s collection. That is why Cryptic Rock gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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