The Ramones' fourth studio album Road to Ruin was released in 1978. It was their first with new drummer Marky Ramone. Their previous drummer Tommy Ramone co-produced the album. Once again, the album failed to get much commercial success but this time, critical opinions were somewhat mixed. However, the album has been critically reassessed as one of their best and the album remains a fan favorite.
Where their second album initially hit me as somewhat of a sell-out, it is immediately obvious from the crystal-clear production to guitar overdubs to several guitar solos that this is the band's true sell-out if they ever released one. I've loved it from the get-go. The band were very crude musicians and songwriters initially (and they still are no doubt) but there are noticeable improvements in their playing and writing that help vary this record and the clean production just doubles to keep this band sounding fresh. And the humor isn't so one-dimensional anymore--"I Wanted Everything" starts out like a classic Ramones joke but ends with a desperate truck driver robbing a supermarket. A-