Don't Worry About Me

“I want my life…it really sucks!” That’s not exactly an epitaph for the ages, but when taken as the sneering lyrical wisdom of punk founding father Joey Ramone, it’s certainly fitting. Sadly, Joey didn’t get his wish (he died from lymphatic cancer last April), but this posthumous release of his solo debut is one spirited swan song. The Ramones gleefully stomped all over the line between clever and stupid for over 20 years, and the tightrope act continues here with irreverent covers (“What a Wonderful World”) and an original two-minute ode to CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo. Don’t Worry is a bit slick compared to Joey’s glue-sniffing glory days, but it’s still a last laugh worth cranking up.