Search - Ratt :: Ratt & Roll 8191

Absolutely rocks!

Yih Dzelonh | ER | 12/24/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There were very few, if any, hard rock bands of the '80s that could rock like Ratt could. I enjoy their style of hard rock moreso than that of any other band. It's simple, but very hard and fast -somewhat similar to music produced by "The Scorpions" and "Motley Crue" though I like only a few songs of the latter. The only way to describe Ratt is that "they abso-fraggin'-lutely rock.""Ratt & Roll 81-91," as the title implies, is a compilation of Ratt's best from '81-'91. The CD is a great value as it includes 19 tracks. Included is their most noteworthy song ever (and my favorite) "Round And Round" which was a huge radio hit for several years in the early '80s. Less popular, but just as good songs as Round And Round are: "Lay It Down," "Lack Of Communication," "You're In Love," and "One Step Away."There are several songs which aren't very good or memorable but as far as hard rock goes one would be hard-pressed to find badder, faster, and harder music than Ratt's best."

4.5 stars- Great hits compilation

M. A. Scott | Kansas, USA | 06/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the 1980's when glam/rock-metal ruled the world, my friends and I stayed away from that scene because the big teased hair and make-up seemed kind of gay and it's seemed like a parody of itself, but still I secretly did get into a handful of songs by those kind of bands. It seemed like most of them sounded almost exactly the same. All my friends liked the progressive and classic rock groups like Jethro Tull, Kansas, Old Genesis, Yes, Moody Blues, Foreigner, Journey, Alan Parsons Project, and the real metal groups like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest. I did like some of the hits of Ratt (some of my friends did like a couple of their hits too) but liking a few of their songs wasn't enough for me to really fully become a Ratt fan. I thought the songs "Round and Round", "Lay It Down", "You're In Love", "Back For More", and "Way Cool Jr." were basically good but nothing that I thought was great enough to go out and fork out the dough for. But in the early 90's, I bought this greatest hits compilation RATT AND ROLL '81 to '91. Until about a week ago, I don't recall ever playing it before, but last week I dusted it off and played it on my car cd deck and really enjoyed most of the 19 tracks on it. There are a few songs that I don't like but I really liked about 14 or 15 of the tracks. I think I played "Lay It Down" about 7 times in one day. Man that's a rocking tune. The guitars sound great at the start of it and all the way throughout. I know everyone (including me) thinks that De Martini is really great but I don't think Robbin Crosby was too shabby either. I think they should have respected Crosby a little more because I heard some interviews with him and I think he was pretty soured by the way they treated him. I think that might have contributed to his heavy drinking and heroin addiction, but on the other hand, Crosby shouldn't have been jealous if someone like De Martini came along to outshine him. There's always someone who will come along that will be a better guitarist than you, and basically, life's too short to let that ruin your life. It's too bad about his fatal overdose a few years back but that happens a lot in the rock world because drug use is like breathing to a lot of rock stars. Of the glam scene I do think looking back on it, that Ratt was one of the top bands of that period. Now that those days are over with, for some reason, I'm checking into the hair bands that I hated in the mid to late 80's, and kind of wish that I would have hung around the glam rock crowd because they did seem to have a fun time back in the day. I would wholeheartedly recommend this because almost all of the tracks are very good to great, and being that it's close to 78 minutes in length, it's worth buying at least from one of the used Amazon sellers. They have a used copy in very good condition that's selling for $4.44 at this present time of September 1st 2006. If you just are looking for a single cd best of compilation, this is one of the best I've ever found. Just buy it!!!"

Excellent Compilation

Yih Dzelonh | 10/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"[...]

Ratt, often said to be a typical 80's hairband, was really more than just that. The combined elements of lead vocalist Stephen Pearcy's unique rugged voice, Warren Demartini's crazy guitar riffs, and lots of greasy hair, gave Ratt the edge they needed to become a legendary band of metalists. This disc compiles ten years Ratt's finest tunes, although not ALL of them.



1. Tell the World- A very basic early metal song from the 1982(?) Atlantic Release. If you listen to this song a few times, you'll appreciate the catchy awesomeness.



2. You think you're Tough- Another track from the Atlantic Release. This is also a song that you may need to listen to several times to really enjoy it. NOTE: Pearcy still cranks this one out on his current solo tours.



3. Round and Round-Ratt's most famous song, from the album Out of the Cellar. A pretty original one, that any hair metal fan can sing along to. This was THE track launched Ratt into fame.



4. Wanted Man-A pretty good song from Out of the Cellar. Bon Jovi is credited for starting the whole western theme, but This song came out in '84, 2 years prior to Slippery When Wet.



5. Back for More-The third track off Out of the Cellar, the intro is packed full of power that pounds you, man.



6. Lack of Communication- Great anger-driven song. "Lack of communication, BACK OFF" The guitar sounds like something from Invasion of Your Privacy.



7.Lay it Down- Ratt's other only other chart-topping song. Sounds like classic Ratt.



8.You're in love-One of my favorites off of invasion of your privacy. Packed full of punch, and a nice chorous.



9.Slip of the Lip-A traditional song (off DACNING UNDERCOVER)with a 30 year old man singin about a 16 year old girl. Remember KISS also had a 16-year old song, Winger had 17, and the record-holder Motley Crue featured a 15-year old girl. Kinda gross, but its all in good spirits.



10. Dance- Track off DANCING UNDERCOVER. Makes sense with the name and all. Its a good kind of pop-ish, but still nice and heavy, like of Dancing Undercover. Oh, and its about Dancing.



11. Body Talk-A very outstanding song, featured in the Eddie Murpghy flick THE GOLDEN CHILD. "You make my body talk, when you're next to me."



12. Way Cool Junior- Excellent, fun jazzy song from Reach for the Sky in '87, complete with tap dancers and saxaphones. The main character, Way Cool Jr. is the new kid in town that scores with all the chicks.



13. I want a Woman- Self explanatory theme. The 2nd out of 2 songs on here from Reach for the Sky. Its a typical pop-metal 80's song, but all the better to listen to.



14. Lovin You's a Dirty Job- A pretty good song from the 1990 release DETONATOR. This song is fun, but has really weak lyrics. Excerpt: "You break my heart in pieces but I've got the glue to glue it...you put me through the ringer and hung me out to dry, you licked me off your fingers just like a piece of pie..."



15. Shame, Shame, Shame- Angry song. A really good song from Detonator about some lady that cheated on a dude.



16. Givin' Yourself Away- Powerful ballad song, sounds kinda like Jon Bon Jovi. Kinda funny since, Desmond Child produced this and also produced Bon Jovi.



17. One Step Away- In my opinion the best song off Detonator. A superb ballad that I listened to for probably 2 months strait.



18. Heads I Win, Tails You Lose- Another Ratt song, driven by old phrases. Jon Bon Jovi actually DOES the background vocals on here.



19. Nobody Rides for Free- The last song recorded before the band completely disbanded. Its an okay track that was on the Keanu Reeves movie POINT BREAK.



If you took enough time to read my review, you'd be a total idiot not to buy this CD. Just give it a fair listen and you'll love it.

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