 Rocket to Russia was well received by critics , and was often given a positive review . Many critics appreciated the band 's progression of sound quality and production value , as opposed to the album 's predecessors . Stephen Thomas Erlewine , a music critic at AllMusic said that the production " only gives the Ramones ' music more force . " He rewarded the album five out of five stars , stating that although it lacks the revolutionary impact that their debut had , Rocket to Russia is the band 's " most listenable and enjoyable album " because of its surplus of hooks and varying tempo . 
