"Brad Marino has produced a homage to the Ramones and, in the process of paying tribute, has created one of the most authentic Ramones-sounding records I’ve ever heard. The thing is, Marino has been perfectly capable of producing short, snappy songs that get straight to the point in his own style, so keeping things succinct is no problem for the guy. On top of this, he obviously appreciates the roots of the Ramones as well, from Sixties Pop and Girl-bands through to Seventies Glam rock. Too many bands just think it’s about three chords and lyrics about sniffing glue, but if you want to get it right, you need to understand their influences, their sense of melody, harmonies and humour. These were their individual strengths. Brad Marino clearly gets the whole deal and that’s why this album works so well and this is probably the closest we’ll ever get to hearing new songs from The Ramones again. Trust me, get this album and you’ll be bltizkreig boppin’ all night long." - Fear And Loathing Zine
"Brad Marino recently found a little spare time, which he utilized as an exercise to write some “Ramonescore” songs. Yet this resulting album is not full of Ramones copycat songs. These are Brad Marino songs, and he’s always had a knack for writing short, catchy rockers." - Scott Hudson, The Ledge
"The New Hampshire-spawned Marino’s music is steeped in the essence of classic Ramones — self-described as “Ramonescore.” The album plays out like a long-lost classic from the band’s early years. Guitars grind like Johnny, and Marino has nailed the pop sensibilities of da brudders at their best. Downstroke heaven for lovers of the inventors of punk." - Mark McStea, Guitar World Magazine
"Brad Marino is Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy in one convenient package on Basement Beat." - Add To Want List
"Pure Ramonescore bliss!" - Punk Rock Theory
"A bullet train of a record bristling with punk energy that flashes by like graffitied railroad cars at a crossing." - Pop Geek Heaven
"“I don’t wanna go down to the basement,” Joey Ramone once sang, but this basement proves an exception." - Michael "Denim" Toland
"That Brad Marino record is amazing. It caught me completely off guard. It was like being back in college and discovering punk all over again." - Adventure Tom
"Great Ramonesy Album" - Hank's Alternative Radio
"Your "Basement Beat" album is causing me the kind of problems I don't mind. This is the first LP I've heard this year that doesn't have a weak song on it." - Bill Kelly's Blackhole Bandstand
"Hell, not enough bands are worshiping at the altar of Da Bruthers and knocking out the rhythms. I know times change and music evolves but every now and again its wonderful to hear that at least someone still gets it. From the brattish riff-a-rama of those downstrokes to the Joey drawl and those insanely catchy melodies Dee Dee wrote in his sleep. ‘Communist Creep’ being one of the finest tunes Dee Dee never wrote." - Dom Daley
"And so the music gods have given us a new Brad Marino album we weren't even expecting. If you're a fan of his, you will enjoy this release. If you're into Ramonescore, you will enjoy this release. If the first Riverdales album and The Hanson Brothers' Sudden Death are the perfect ten albums of this musical style, Basement Beat is a solid nine." - Lord Rutledge
"Brad Marino is Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee. A drummer with a fantastic name Beau-Beau Basement is doubling as Tommy. All together it is a powerhouse of punk music. Can we call this Ramonesque?, to use a word from the bio. I would say spot on. If this had been a cover album, everyone would have believed it." - WoNo Blog
"From the style to the production to the lyrics to the vocals, Basement Beat basks in the devout worship of the first two or three Ramones albums. In most cases, an album like this would just make me wish I were listening to the actual Ramones. But because Brad Marino is such an exceptional songwriter, he has managed to make what sounds like the missing Ramones album between Leave Home and Rocket To Russia. He enlisted drummer extraordinaire Beau Basement to be his Tommy Ramone and played everything else himself (and also produced)." - Faster And Louder
"Man, Brad must have been gutted that only he and the drummer were in on this bad boy. Twelve tracks of unadulterated joy from the player to the listener this is a wonderful tip of the hat. there are times I have to stop myself from wondering what Ramones album this or that was left off haha! running the whole gambit of Ramones styles Marino nails it song after song and for a lockdown project I’m yet to hear anything come close to this bad boy. Take a bow Mr. Marino you’ve done yourself proud and you’ve done the Ramones legacy a huge tip of the hat and ‘Baby Doll’ is just a killer." - RPM Online
"Pure punk rock perfection. screw the neighbors play it loud & often." - Mister Suave's Mod Mod World
"That Girl is the lest subtle song I have ever heard by Brad Marino and it works from second one to second 136." - WoNo Blog
"“Basement Beat” is surely simply to be enjoyed, with a stupid grin on your face. I swear there were moments here where I Googled to see if these were actually covers. They aren’t, as far as I can see, but “Brain Gone Dead” should be, by rights, “Sick Sick Sick Sick” must be. Either that or Marino has been in the band for years and not told us." - Maximum Volume Music
"Marino whacks out dumb/brilliant pastiches like “Communist Creep,” “Nancy is Narcoleptic,” “Sick Sick Sick Sick” and, inevitably, “Brain Gone Dead.” Given Marino’s own melodic instincts, which lead him to add sweet harmonies to “That Girl” (but hey, the Beach Boys were a Ramones influence, right?), it’s not a perfect replica, but straight copies wouldn’t be as much fun as the real thing anyway. In keeping with the spirit of the Ramones, Basement Beat is only 23 minutes long in any case. “I don’t wanna go down to the basement,” Joey Ramone once sang, but this basement proves an exception." - Big Takeover Magazine
"Brad Marino's upcoming album is being described as "Ramonescore," which is a genre I've never heard of but know exactly what it sounds like. The first single, "That Girl," sounds like classic Ramones. Sure, there are a lot of bands that sound like the Ramones, and it's not like there aren't a ton of Ramones albums to listen to out there, but if you love "Ramonescore," than you love this sound and will never get sick of hearing it. It's buzzsaw guitars over the catchiest song possible about a girl (naturally). It's a fun time and will have you longing to hear more from Brad Marino as soon as possible." - If It's Too Loud
"Brad Marino has done something different with his latest album Basement Beat. He’s already proved that he can deliver a quality pop/punk/garage album at will. Now, Basement Beat is his version of a Ramone’s album. Brad says right on the cover that “no upstrokes were used in the making of this record”. That’s step one, and you can hear it’s true. Then alliteration in the song titles, he’s done that with: “Rubber Room”, “Communist Creep”. Nancy is a Narcoleptic” and over the top with “Sick Sick Sick Sick” and “Talk Talk Talk Talk”." - Boston Groupie News
"The sound, melodies and the chord changes are all spot on. It’s so obviously a labor of love. There’s not a false note figuratively or literally in the whole project. It does its job by reviving your love of the Ramones again as it serves up its replica Ramones tunes." - Paul Blowfish
With the downtime of the past 2 years I've been writing a lot. As sort of a little songwriting challenge every once in a while I’d write some Ramonescore tunes. It's almost a concept album in that sense. Most of these songs were written in 2020/2021 but a couple are some of my first attempts at songwriting circa 2004!
I was originally going to release this under an alias but decided to just make it a Brad Marino album on the advice of some people whose opinion I trust. It's different than "Looking for Trouble" and "Extra Credit" but It's all rock and roll to me...
NO UPSTROKES WERE USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS RECORD!
Cassette available from Memorable But Not Honorable:
www.mbnhtapes.com
Vinyl LP available from Hey Pizza Records:
www.heypizzarecords.com
Check out Brad Marino's full discography:
bradmarino.bandcamp.com
released October 14, 2022
Brad Marino - Vocals & All Instruments (except drums)
Beau-Beau Basement - Drums
Recorded & Produced by Brad Marino
Drums Recorded at Mind Rocket PA
Mixed by Josh Roman at Mind Rocket
Mastered by Justin Perkins @ Mystery Room Mastering
Art/Layout by Glenn Robinson
