– The Comeback This is the pivot. With Tommy gone and Marky briefly fired, Richie Ramone (a powerhouse drummer) joined. The band suddenly got harder . "Wart Hog" is a speed-metal precursor. "Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)" is a perfect radio single wrapped in distortion. Too Tough to Die announces that the Ramones were not a nostalgia act; they were a hard rock band willing to beat the shit out of the competition. This album saved their career.
(1981): Shifted toward a more polished pop-punk sound. The Ramones - Discography
If you ask ten Ramones fans to name their least favorite album, three will say this one. The other seven won't remember it exists. Halfway to Sanity is the sound of a band on autopilot. There are moments: I Wanna Live is a genuine anthem. Garden of Serenity is a beautiful, uncharacteristically psychedelic ballad. – The Comeback This is the pivot