Animal Boy

Animal Boy
Studio album by Ramones
Released	May 19, 1986
Recorded	c. May 1985, December 1985 – January 1986
Studio	Intergalactic Studios, New York City Polar Studios, Stockholm
Genre	Punk rock[1]
Length	31:44
Label	Sire
Producer	Jean Beauvoir
Ramones chronology
Too Tough to Die (1984) Animal Boy (1986) Halfway to Sanity (1987)
Singles from Animal Boy
"Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" b/w "Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)" Released: June 1985 (UK) "Somebody Put Something in My Drink" b/w "Something to Believe In" Released: April 1986 (Double A-side, UK) "Crummy Stuff" b/w "Something to Believe In" Released: July 1986 (UK) "Something to Believe In" b/w "Animal Boy" Released: August 1986 (US)

Animal Boy is the ninth studio album by the American punk rock band Ramones, released through Sire Records on May 19, 1986. Due to conflicts within the group, the album features less of lead singer Joey Ramone, both in performing and writing, and less performing from guitarist Johnny Ramone. Bassist Dee Dee Ramone wrote and sang more on this album than on previous albums, and Richie Ramone became the first drummer to write songs for the band since Tommy Ramone, the band's original drummer. Richie also wrote for Too Tough To Die (1984). The album spawned four singles, all of which charted on the UK Singles Chart, as well as other charts. In addition to singles, the band promoted their album using a music video for "Something to Believe In", which parodied the contemporary benefit concerts Live Aid and Hands Across America.

Lyrical themes of the album range from band members' frustrations with one another, themselves, and loved ones, to more politically themed songs—a rarity in Ramones music. "My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)" saw the Ramones criticizing U.S. President Ronald Reagan for his controversial visit to a military cemetery in Bitburg, Germany, despite Johnny Ramone disagreeing with the song's message. Critically, Animal Boy was not as acclaimed as its predecessor, Too Tough to Die, with some critics quick to point out that the band had strayed far from their original style and were experimenting with several genres by this point. However, the album charted in four different countries, including the United States and United Kingdom.