This is the only Ramones album that you need, but you do need it. A huge influence, and one of the foundations of punk, this does what it needs to do and then gets the hell out. It's stupid in places, but in a smart way. And why spend time writing lyrics if you don't have to? Silly, fun and essential.
When I want dumb ass rock 'n' roll I turn to The Ramones. I'm finding that I want dumb ass rock 'n' roll more and more as life gets ever complex. This is the sound of a band learning how to play their instruments. They never really mastered this, but that's not the point. It's all about the attitude. It's not Year Zero punk, either. There are some glam hangovers to be found in the guitar riffs. It could also be a bastard version of Mick Ronson cutting out the chunky chords. This album makes me want to wear back leather for the rest of my life.