Album of the Day

The title of the eighth Ramones album, TOO TOUGH TO DIE, spoke both to the band's steely determination and the 1984 collection's grittier sound, a return to the quartet's punk roots. The presence of producers Tommy Ramone and Ed Stasium, who'd helmed the classic ROAD TO RUIN, worked wonders in this regard, with a live-in-studio approach amplifying the group's full-bore attack. While closer in spirit to hardcore or metal than the pop of the previous couple of Ramones albums, these 13 songs don't skimp on hooks; “Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La),” “Wart Hog” and the title track are as infernally catchy as ever. Rhino's Expanded & Remastered edition of TOO TOUGH TO DIE adds a dozen bonus tracks, including rare demos, a fiery cover of “Street Fightin' Man” and a song from new drummer Richie Ramone, “Smash You.”