Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue - The Ramones (Self Titled, 1976)
The sixth and shortest track off The Ramones highly influential first album remains one of the most popular tracks amongst Ramones fans. This is only justified because most Ramones fans were young teenagers who just listened to them so they could fulfill whatever angst they were coping with; they obviously don't care about the music
"Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" is one of The Ramones most controversial tracks. This is because the track is synonymous with getting high off inhalants. The lyrics just repeat this childishness over and over and of course the music here is like most of The Ramones music: fast, simple and ridiculously stupid.
There's no structure evident, clocking in at just 1:35, the track fails to even strike a chord at all musically. But as said before, The Ramones are more than about just the music; they're about immature lyrics repeating over and over again in an attempt be a cool role model for teenagers. The two drab chords underneath repeat, with an equally dull simple rhythm, almost endlessly to a point of irritation.
After the first short verse/intro there's a short breakdown section where it's just the hi-hat and doubled up vocals in unison. With two boring snare hits we get into a change in which four monotonous chords just descend. After this, the vocals start counting through to eight as if it was somehow making the solo section more distinct.
The solo section just utilises repetition of simple notes and advancing a scale. This is a failed attempt to try and get a head bangin' feel here.
The drums, bass and melody line are embarrassing which underly typical Ramones one note bass and guitar riffs.
After that it goes back into the boring four chord section and shortly comes back into the childish lyrics that started this mess: "Now I wanna sniff some glue, now I wanna have something to do, all the kids wanna sniff some glue, all the kids want something to do.”
Not only is this song completely atrocious from a lyrical and musical stand point, but the fact that in an attempt to parody teenage drug abuse, their message was presumably overlooked and of course it was an antonymous reality.
Of course, the fact remains that this song contributed to the highly influential status that The Ramones had with punk back in the 70's. But by todays standards the track serves primarily for a serve of laughter. Don't forget kids, its cool to wear Ramones t-shirts nowadays...
Rating: 1/10
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