MICKEY RATT - Ratt Era: The Best Of
April 7, 2005, 19 years ago
(Deadline)
Given the beating his Ratt legacy has taken in recent years (feuding with previous band members about who owns what) frontman Stephen Pearcy can be forgiven for taking part in the current updating/re-recording trend. And admittedly, it's kinda cool hearing some of these Ratt classics done in bare bones garage band style. Mind you, songs like 'Sweet Cheater', 'You Think You're Tough' and 'U Got It' actually sound better, fatter and stronger than the original versions from the 1983 self-titled EP. As for the rest of package, which draws from Pearcy's official pre-Ratt days all the way to 1990's Detonator, it is decidedly unspectacular ('Lack Of Communication', 'You're In Love'), occasionally disappointing ('I'm Insane', a butchered solo on 'Round And Round' courtesy of George Lynch), and a hell of a lot of fun ('Lay It Down', 'Body Talk', 'Slip Of The Lip', 'Ratt Madness', 'Back For More'). Pearcy's high range, such as it was, is now shot, and the backing vocal harmonies found on the original recordings are sorely missed. There is an edge to the proceedings that gives these new oldies a definite charm, however. Also comes with a DVD that supposedly tells the Ratt story but is embarrassing more than anything as it focuses on Pearcy noodling on guitar for the most part.
