The Ramones‘ eighth studio album is an exhilarating summation of all that they do so well, from the classic thrash of “Mama’s Boy” and “Human Kind” to the big-beat balladry of “I’m Not Afraid of Life.” But Too Tough to Die is also a significant step forward for this great American band: along with such better-than-ever neck whippers as “Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love),” they also essay a supercharged rockabilly one-off called “No Go” and a greasy, proto-garage grinder called “Planet Earth 1988". In short, Too Tough to Die is a return to fighting trim by the kings of stripped-down rock & roll. Don’t miss it.
