Ramones Vs. The Clash (USA vs UK punk)

[TonsOfFun]

If you was to the poll US and UK nation for their greatest punk band, Ramones and The Clash would come top of the list.

So which is the better punk band. Taking into account, everything punk is about - like their message, selling out, quality of music...

I've got to say, The Clash are the better for me. Don't get wrong I love the Ramones but The Clash wrote a lot of songs that hit me and made me think about stuff. The Ramones pure energy in each song would just win against the The Clash but all in all, The Clash are the best punk band ever, then Ramones. (then UK SUBS, dead kennedys...)

[Calimero jr.]

You forgot the "both" option :D

[mickill]

If you was to the poll US and UK nation for their greatest punk band, Ramones and The Clash would come top of the list.

This is pretty subjective.

I don't think that The Ramones had the same scope as The Clash, musically. It's hard to say which band was more significant, but The Clash was definitely more ambitious, creative and eclectic. Plus, The Clash made London Calling and The Ramones didn't.

[ms.peachy]

But, the Ramones were more influential in the sense that everywhere they went, bands sprang up in their wake - largely because they weren't as eclectic, creative and ambitious. Kids saw them and thought "Well fucking hell, if they can do it..."

[Rancid_Beasties]

Whos the better band...easily the clash.
Whos the better punk band...the clash by an nose.
Who had more of an influence on the future of punk...probably the ramones.

[Rancid_Beasties]

The Sex Pistols were more important in the UK anyway.
True

[Mr_Complex]

The Ramones are dull.

[Mr.Right]

What's the definition of Punk? Anyway, both of them kick ass.

[Documad]

I've said it a dozen times, but as much as I try, I just can't love The Ramones.

And the more I read about them as they died, and all those icky interviews, I grew to actively dislike them.

I still listen to The Clash weekly. :)

[Drederick Tatum]

Television

[CrankItUp!]

Both - just cannot chose one over the other. (y) (y)

[So Ruff]

I'm gonna have to go with The Clash here.

[Sandinista!]

Clash; I'd listen to tunes about blowing the fuse in Palestine as oppossed to sniffing glue.

[GetYourWarOn]

Television


we have a winnah.

[ms.peachy]

Having had a listen to both on the ol' iPod on the way in to work today, I have to say, not to take anything away from Uncle Joe and the boys, the Clash don't have any songs that fill me with such unadulterated, enthusiatic joy as Rockaway Beach. Train in Vain comes close, but not quite.

I guess in the end it comes down to whether you want to 'think' about the music or not, in a way.

[TonsOfFun]

What's the definition of Punk? Anyway, both of them kick ass.

I wouldn't know the exact one but I would say, questioning authority would be part of it, along with loads of energy put into 90 second - 3 minutes songs. I suppose because when it started in the mid-late 70's, it had an effect because the previous 2 massive genre's of Disco and Hippy movements had died and something new had to come along for the generation who didn't want to listen to music their parents listened to. Along with an angst for the shit in the charts. So people started going to punk-rock gigs where 3 or 4 people had guitars and shouted about stuff that mattered to them.

If you was to just put it in music terms, I would saying anything that is simple to listen to and play, nothing spectacular apart from the amount of energy put into it.

[mickill]

Television
They played their instruments well. I don't think their actual songs were very special, were they?

Having had a listen to both on the ol' iPod on the way in to work today, I have to say, not to take anything away from Uncle Joe and the boys, the Clash don't have any songs that fill me with such unadulterated, enthusiatic joy as Rockaway Beach. Train in Vain comes close, but not quite.

Really? I don't know. Train In Vain is pretty damn catchy. How about Safe European Home, Pressure Drop, Capital Radio One, Rudie Can't Fail, Rock The Casbah, Should I Stay Or Should I Go? One of those?

[TonsOfFun]

Jimmy Jazz is Clash's best song...

[yeahwho]

The Ramones are Fun.

Their cover album "Acid Eaters" is amazing.

I think they even wrote some of their own songs and made them sound cartoonish and punk-rawkish.

My understanding is that The Ramones liked the name of their band so much they change their last names to Ramone.

Bonzo goes to Bitburg (My Brain is Hanging Upside Down)
The KKK took my Baby Away
I'm Against It
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue

The Clash really didn't quite get the joke. Either did a whole lot of other people. Not saying the Clash are not a good band, the Clash are a fine band with many fantastic songs, it's just that the Ramones really meant to change the landscape of what is important at any given moment. Not movement.

[ms.peachy]

Really? I don't know. Train In Vain is pretty damn catchy. How about Safe European Home, Pressure Drop, Capital Radio One, Rudie Can't Fail, Rock The Casbah, Should I Stay Or Should I Go? One of those?
All very good tunes indeed, but none are as likely to make me not care about embarassing myself by dancing with the handrail on the Underground carriage and tossing my hair about wildly as rock-rock-rockaway beach

[Darko]

The Clash started off as a punk band, but as soon as Give 'Em Enough Rope they were already starting to slightly head off into pure rock and roll territory.

By the time they reached Combat Rock, there wasn't really any punk left. Which isn't a bad thing at all, because that's still a really damn good album.

[yeahwho]

The Clash had some really supercool songs like "City of the Dead", but then they had songs like, "Lets Go Crazy" from Sandinista with whistles and marimbas and shit....

I love some of what the Clash put out....but their seriousness bugged me.

On the other hand bands like the Beasties, the Undertones (http://www.rhino.com/retrovid/VideoKeeper.lasso?Artist=The%20Undertones&Partner=), DEVO, and a whole slew of local yeahwho's got the message, it's fucking cool to be stupid and have fun. It's a blast as a matter of fact!

[DroppinScience]

I still listen to The Clash weekly. :)

It's actually not necessary for me to listen to my Clash albums anymore (not that I'll let my copies collect dust though). I practically have all those songs imprinted in my DNA and I can just play all the albums in my head anyways. :)

[mickill]

It's actually not necessary for me to listen to my Clash albums anymore (not that I'll let my copies collect dust though). I practically have all those songs imprinted in my DNA and I can just play all the albums in my head anyways. :)
Wtf are you on crack?

[DroppinScience]

Wtf are you on crack?

It's a testament to how often I listened to those albums. I'm listening to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club right now, yet the song blaring in my head at full blast is "Overpowered by Funk" by The Clash.

And I don't think I've put on any Clash albums for maybe a year or two... :eek:

[mickill]

It's a testament to how often I listened to those albums. I'm listening to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club right now, yet the song blaring in my head at full blast is "Overpowered by Funk" by The Clash.

And I don't think I've put on any Clash albums for maybe a year or two... :eek:

The new BMRC?

Do you have The Clash On Broadway or the anniversary edition of London Calling? Maybe those have some songs that haven't been imprinted in your DNA yet.

[DroppinScience]

The new BMRC?

Do you have The Clash On Broadway or the anniversary edition of London Calling? Maybe those have some songs that haven't been imprinted in your DNA yet.

I have Clash on Broadway. Some great rare songs on there.

My brother has the reissue of London Calling. I've been meaning to get around to that one.

[mickill]

The Vanilla Tapes. Track 3. Paul's Tune. Listen.

[Documad]

I enjoyed the Clash being political even though it was often misguided. It seemed refreshing at the time. I was a little put off when I later learned what Strummer's background was, but I guess it's true of most "punks."

I'm going to relisten to some of the Ramones songs you folks are talking about. But first I have to find my CDs because I deleted almost all of the Ramones from my ipod. :o

[Darko]

The 1st disc of The Clash on Broadway is my favourite punk album of all time. Although it's not really an album.