Yes, this is silly. Dad Brains are a bunch of SoCal punk survivors who play for beer money (if that). Ramoms is a Philly Ramones cover band (perhaps not as cool as the Ramonas, an all-female Ramones cover band that practiced next door to my house in Durham, N.C., but I'm probably biased). Two songs each: Flip, flip, done.

Dad Brains/Ramoms Merry Xmas split 7" (Pirates Press Records)

"It's Christmastime" is the calling card here. It's a traditional suburban angst Christmas tale set to Suicidal Tendencies "Institutionalized." If that description doesn't make you want to lay down your cash now, well, go read another review. It's blistering, hilarious and totally worth the price of admission.

The other Dad Brains song, "Grinch," is not the song from the Dr. Seuss special. I think it is also patterned after another classic punk song, but my enfeebled mind can't place it.

On the flip, the Ramoms restructure "Chinese Rock" as "Lego Blocks," which works even better than you might imagine. The cover of "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" is solid, but mostly it makes me want to throw the original on the turntable.

Don't overthink it. This is pure fun spun into vinyl. Get some and get happy.

Jon Worley