This album marked the return of Marky Ramone to the Ramones. It also was Dee Dee Ramone's last album with the group. And their last studio album for Sire Records. The album is pretty good, overall. It can't measure up to their earlier albums, but how could it? There are good songs here, but only two true Ramones "classics" ("I Believe in Miracles" and "Pet Sematary"). Although the Christmas song is a near classic. Ramones fans should enjoy this album.

Any Ramones song, album, book or movie is good no matter what. The Ramones were the best band of all time, this is a fact not an opinion. The dead members of the Ramones will be resurrected by me and play a one month non-stop show for the world to enjoy, and it'll be FREE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

This was a terrific album by the Ramones that featured one of their best songs ever ('Pet Semetary') and several other very good songs (the heavy 'I Believe in Miracles', the comical 'Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)', and an excellent cover of 'Palisades Park'. The remaining tracks are all decent (Even Joey's latest attempt at a Spector-esque ballad 'Come Back Baby' -- is top-notch). This was Dee-Dee's last album as bass player. Surprisingly, the change marked a vast improvement over the previous album (the dreadful 'Halfway To Sanity') and the subsequent hiring of C-Jay kept the band interesting through much of the 90s.

As i understand why people don't like this album it is among one of my favorites: Can't Get you outta my mind, I Believe In Miracles and the best one Pet Sematary are all great songs.
When In DOUBT
Whip It OUT!

Just as the Ramones faced a crisis in 1979, wondering where they should allow musical direction to drift in the early '80s post-punk confusion, they also faced a similar crisis ten years later. The band was looking for another new direction. The Ramones struggled to keep their fan base all decade long, shining momemtarily on "Too Tough to Die" and "Animal Boy," but otherwise came up lackluster. The two really good albums from the '80s, "Pleasant Dreams" and "Subterranean Jungle," were panned by critics and ignored by fans. Now, come 1989, they were tired, were about to lose their long-time bassist, and looking to make a bold statement.

That statement came in the form of the extremely hard-hitting "Brain Drain." The Ramones re-invented their sound in a fitting way for the explosion of nu metal, grunge and retro punk that would define the '90s, and brought them into that decade looking and sounding relevant.

"Brain Drain" does not follow the Ramones' punk formula. The album is mostly goth rock and proto-heavy metal. But it works. The production is as heavy as it gets, but is also necessary. The songs wouldn't work if not for the bone-crunching sound that master chops man Bill Laswell provides. In short, "Brain Drain" is a seriously loud album, but enjoyable.

I could do without "Palisades Park," which is just downright silly and doesn't fit well into the album, but the other songs jive with their new direction in style and sound. Excepting the obvious "Pet Sematary," the best songs are "I Believe in Miracles," "Zero Zero U.F.O.," "Don't Bust My Chops," "Learn to Listen," and "Can't Get You Outta My Mind."

Considering this was Dee Dee's swan song with the Ramones (before returning years later stricly in the role of songwriter), you'd think that he'd have more lead vocal duties. Dee Dee delivers a delicious vocal performance on "Punishment Fits the Crime," accentuating the lyrics in poignant style. He should have sung "Zero Zero U.F.O." and "Ignorance is Bliss" as well (not to demean Joey's vocals in any way). Also, Bill Laswell, a bassist himself, didn't do Dee Dee any favors either by mixing his bass well into the background. The bass is a barely audible thump, song after song. Shameful.

However, despite any oversights in vocal duties or production techniques, "Brain Drain" is a stellar album, featuring very rich and satisfying heavy rock. If you're looking for an album that defined the Ramones during the early '90s, forget the miserable "Mondo Bizarro." Listen to "Brain Drain" instead.