Pitchfork 500: 6. The Ramones – Rockaway Beach

Now part of the whole thing behind my Pitchfork 500 series is that it is about listening to these songs and reacting to them, without actually reading the book. That is a book about songs, this is a series of blog entries about listening to them. But I can't figure out why this song is in the book. I will read the book, when I'm finished listening, but this one is curious.

Not that it isn't awesome. The fact that it sounds like a cover of an early sixties song only makes it more awesome. And the theoretical original would have an awesome organ solo, you know it would. But it is a Ramones original. So, like, awesome. Taking that garage rock template and updating it with musical aggression and irony was a winning formula. And of course it is all over in barely more than two minutes.

But what is really shocking was that 'Rockaway Beach' made the book and 'Sheena is a Punk Rocker,' from the same album, didn't.

I suppose when I read the book, things may become clear, but 'Sheena...:? Damn that's good Squishy.