100 Greatest Albums of All Time

33. Ramones, Ramones, Sire, 1976

 “Our early songs came out of our real feelings of alienation, isolation, frustration ”“ the feelings every body feels between 17 and 75,” said singer Joey Ramone. Clocking in at just over 28 minutes, Ramones is a complete rejection of the spangled artifice of 1970s rock. The songs are fast and anti-social, just like the band: “Beat on the Brat,” “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue.” Guitarist Johnny Ramone refused to play solos ”“ his jackhammer chords became the lingua franca of punk ”“ and the whole thing was recorded for just over $6,000. Yet amid the buoyantly nihilist fury, Joey Ramone’s leather-tender plea “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” showed that even punks need love.