This album shows a more "classic" pop sound as well as a shift to a more serious personality to the music, a theme that would remain in later albums, most notably 1980's End of the Century. The influence of 1960s girl groups is in evidence, as well as the influence of The Byrds on tracks including "Don't Come Close" and the cover of "Needles And Pins".

The album also contains the track "I Wanna Be Sedated", one of the band's most popular and beloved tunes.

This is their first album with Marky Ramone on drums, after original drummer Tommy Ramone left due to fatigue from touring. However, Tommy (credited as his birth name, Tommy Erdelyi) stayed to produce Road to Ruin, as well as a brief comeback for 1984's Too Tough to Die.