Album Review: K7s – Mondo Bizarro

Now here comes a first for myself, reviewing an album that was originally released back in 1993 by the original artist, that being the legends that are the Ramones.

Brave or stupid comes to mind initially, K7s have put themselves up for all the flack or adulation that may come their way, and I for one salute them for that alone.

So Mondo Bizarro, the first album that featured CJ Ramone, the album that came in at what felt like a pivotal moment for the Ramones, a time when releases were taking a little beating for being a little lack lustre.  This album smashed all the theory that they may be washed up or worse, giving up.

What do K7s the Spanish pop punk super group made up of Jose Andres Albertos (Airbag), Luis Sanchez (Depressing Claim), Raul Artana and Kurt Baker bring to the party?  

Well for the first few tracks I personally had to wonder a little, is this a cover? Or have they simply reissued the original, having not heard the the original for so long, it was touch and go, until the slick sound and very Joey vocal slipped a little, this happened when the icing on the cake of this album ‘Poison Heart’ hit the ears, to do this song and fool someone who loves it so much was always going to be a big ask.

Stand outs as far as being covered in a way that revives the songs to a modern audience have to be that likes of ‘Strength To Endure’ which has its K7s stamp on it, ‘Its Gonna Be Alright’ with a vocal that takes you right back to when it first arrived to the world, ‘I Won’t Let It Happen’ not at all sounding Ramones as I remember it from the original, but a great version, and then ‘Cabbies On Crack’  a song of so much weirdness that how else can you not like it.

The question that has to be asked at the end of listening to this is, Should they have even attempted this?  The answer has to be, hell yeah!  Why not bring (in my humble opinion) one of The Ramones greatest albums to an audience that may not have had the pleasure of hearing it, and also remind those that have, how great it really was.  

Oh apart from ‘Touring’ an obvious attempt at trying to relive the ‘Rock n Roll High School’ days.

Altogether a cover of a great album, that brings it back to life in a way that you cannot help but love.

To Preorder this album, go to Stardumb Records (all links for rest of world available here too)

For much more info on the band, see there FACEBOOK