One of six
Ramones tribute albums released concurrently by Clear View Records in late 1998 (the others are by
Screeching Weasel,
the Vindictives,
Mr. T Experience,
Parasites and
Boris the Sprinkler),
the Queers' take on da brudders' 1978 classic
Rocket to Russia is probably the most faithful to the original. This is not at all surprising, considering head Queer Joe King's unswerving devotion to
Ramones-style pop-punk in all of his band's own releases. All 14 songs, even the covers of
Bobby Freeman's "Do You Wanna Dance" and
the Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird," sound pretty much exactly like the originals with King's voice dubbed over
Joey's. It's all an impressive feat of mimicry, as well as a nice tribute to the group's obvious heroes. It doesn't make one want to listen to the album more than once, though. ~ Stewart Mason