Don't Worry About Me

1	What A Wonderful World 2:23
2	Stop Thinking About It 2:57
3	Mr. Punchy 2:35
4	Maria Bartiromo 3:58
5	Spirit In My House 2:02
6	Venting (It's a Different World Today) 3:17
7	Like A Drug I Never Did Before 2:04
8	Searching For Something 4:12
9	I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up) 3:42
10	1969 3:40
11	Don't Worry About Me 3:55

Barnes & Noble

When Joey Ramone died last year after a long battle with cancer, it was clear that an era had ended, but it was equally evident that said era was worth celebrating -- a feeling that's played out on every groove of this posthumous release. There's a bittersweet tinge to much of Don't Worry About Me: in the quiet resolve of the bopping title track and the snide yet sweet version of "What a Wonderful World," which puts a Sid Vicious-like take on the Louis Armstrong classic without losing the spirit of the original. Songs like "Maria Bartiromo" (Joey's paean to cable's so-called Money Honey) burst with all the infectious, simple joyfulness as the best moments on the Ramones' Rocket to Russia or Leave Home, even if it is a bit disconcerting to pogo along to a tune about checking the stock ticker. Similarly, "Like a Drug I Never Did Before" captures the same wide-eyed romantic wonder that Joey brought to classics such as "Questioningly." That's not to say that the disc doesn't have its rough edges: "Venting" lives up to its name with punchy riffs and smart-aleck commentary, while a cover of the Stooges' "1969" pumps up the volume with panache. It's not "Gabba Gabba one last time," it's "Gabba Gabba forever." David Sprague

All Music Guide

In the wake of the sad passing of Joey Ramone, Don't Worry About Me is the first posthumous release to come from his estate. Consisting of pop-punk anthems along the lines of '60s garage rock and very early punk, Don't Worry About Me is a sad reminder of how good Ramone really was. With a brilliant ear for melody, a songwriting skill based in simplicity, and the most unpretentious lyrics this side of Chubby Checker, Ramone didn't care about making groundbreaking music when he had mastered the art of pop-punk to a degree most of his disciples will never understand. "What a Wonderful World" and "1969" are excellent covers that do their source material justice, although Louis Armstrong probably never expected his torch song to be rocked out à la Sid Vicious' "My Way." But the two best tracks are "Searching for Something," his Beatlesque tribute to a girl, and "Mr. Punchy," a gorgeous pop song that features a guest appearance from the Damned's Captain Sensible. The anti-cancer anthem "I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)" is a heartbreaking stance on his condition that is pure punk rock all the way ("I want my life/I want my life/It really sucks/It really sucks") that only goes to show how even toward the end, he refused to give into sentimentality. Nothing new to see here, and that's a good thing, as Ramone's trademark whine never sounded so sincere as it did in his last studio recordings. Bradley Torreano

Rolling Stone

1/2 "...Don't Worry About Me is hardly melodramatic: It's not a bold new beginning, a cheesy ride into the sunset or any kind of grand statement. It's just a big loud punk-rock record that makes you feel alive - the kind of music Joey Ramone devoted his whole life to making, years after a less passionate man would have given up. Adios, amigo." Rob Sheffield

Spin Magazine

Who else but Joey Ramone could make covers of the saccharine "What a Wonderful World," most often associated with Louis Armstrong, and the jaded Stooges anti-anthem "1969" sound equally heartwarming? [8 out of 10] Eric Weisbard