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Rating:
Ok, ok. I admit it, this can be considered a flashy album, a typical product of hair metal made in 80's. Teased hair, spandex, package reinforcement, traces of lipstick. Concerts in large arenas, with very American-style blondes screaming with their breasts out. Cocaine, lots of cocaine. Rivers of alcohol. Reaganite hedonism in spades. Party rock.
But what can I tell you? I grew up with this music. Stephen Pearcy, with that hoarse voice, raucous and terribly sensual, was the uncontested idol of my adolescence. The opposite sex was a new world, and the audacity of Step and his companions helped me discover it. It gave me confidence.
Then you grow up and start listening to other stuff. Serious things, like Bowie, Reed, Led Zeppelin, Doors. You educate yourself, listen to friends who come over and say "what are you doing with all those glam/street vinyl records, in a couple of years they'll be out of fashion, and you won't even remember them anymore." In fact, it did happen. Because this is also the story of a little betrayal: grunge came along and wiped everything away.
I forgot about all of them. But not them. Not the Ratt. I couldn't leave them behind, after all they had given me. For the record: six albums (I’m including the EP here) of extraordinary hard'n'roll. Or ratt'n'roll, as they called it.
"Out of the Cellar" is the first full-length, released in 1984. My older brother had this TDK 90 tape with "Out..." and "Invasion..." recorded on it. I duplicated it and wore it out for entire months. The funny thing is, I don't even own this album in its original form. I’ll have to remedy that, sooner or later.
Ten tracks of a perfect cross between glam/sleaze rock and class metal (for the uninitiated, class is a melodic hard rock, with very clean sounds, slightly heavier than A.O.R.).
A monstrous riffing, geometric, circular, impeccable. Melodic hooks that rip underwear. Simplicity. That's what Ratt was. "Round and Round" kicks in and you're instantly on Sunset Boulevard, riding a red-hot convertible, the world is yours, and there’s nothing others can do about it. "What goes around comes around".
"In Your Direction" and "Lack of Communication" are pure rhythm, baby, so melodically optimized that you feel like shaking your hips and humming, shaking your hips and humming, forgive me mom, I haven't finished my homework, I want to spend a little more time with Stephen and Warren, they know how to do it, they know.
"Back for More", with that acoustic intro, makes you think "here’s the ballad" but no, the Ratt were always allergic to ballads (atypical in this respect compared to other bands of the genre), and then it starts again, with a damned boogie verse (Aerosmith?) that flows into the usual bastard chorus.
"I'm Insane", entirely written by Crosby (R.I.P.), is a killer fast song, a worthy prelude to "Scene of the Crime", the closing episode: one of the best tracks in their entire discography. Pearcy invites you into his room with a wink, Blotzer and Croucier pump like crazy, all leading you to the crossed solo by De Martini and Crosby, who duel to see who has the longer one... damn, if I close my eyes I still see myself there with them, with my shiny hair guitar.
So. I’m not interested in insults, nor in raspberry noises. I don't care about those who say this is a senseless genre of music. This is great rock'n'roll, and if anyone thinks otherwise, they can just fuck off.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Wanted Man (03:41)
Well, low dealer, with snake eyes
You cross me, you realize you're-
You're hot leather, you're cold steel
You make a move, I'll make you feel like a
Human target, in my eyes
I've got you, well, in my sights
And by the rope, you will hang
It's your neck, from this Ratt gang
'Cause I'm a wanted man
'Cause I'm a, a wanted man
Well, gun fighter, you think twice
Are you fast, you heed my advice
I drink whiskey, you say goodnight
I'll put an end, to this here fight you're a
Human target, In my eyes
I've got you, well in my sights
And by the rope, you will hang
It's your neck, from this Ratt gang
It's really what you wanna be
A wanted man (a wanted man) (repeat)
Solo
'Cause I'm a, a wanted man
'Cause I'm a, a wanted man, yes I am
'Cause I'm a, a wanted man (repeat)
02 You're in Trouble (03:20)
Oh yeah
Well, fast as lightnin', and the gun
Your shadow's got you on the run
You're such a fighter, I said you're the one
And I will only tell you once
(Chorus)
You're in trouble, what are you gonna do
You're in trouble, it's what you're goin' through, goin' through
You're such a teaser, you give me life
I live in jungles and live with knives
There's always trouble on your mind
And won't you make me draw the line
And that's the price you pay to lie
You wanted trouble, you tell me why
We're gonna get you, what ya gonna do, do, do
We're gonna get you, what ya gonna do
(Chorus)
Yeah!
You're on the top, top, the top, well, top of the night
Hey hey, hey hey, hey hey
Solo
(Chorus)
You're in trouble, well, trouble, I got a finger on you
You're in trouble, It's what you're goin' through
You're in trouble
03 Round and Round (04:25)
Out on the streets, that's where we'll meet
You make the night, I always cross the line
Tightened our belts, abuse ourselves
Get in our way, we'll put you on your shelf
Another day, some other way
We're gonna go, but then we'll see you again
I've had enough, we've had enough
Cold in vain, she said
I knew right from the beginning
That you would end up winnin'
I knew right from the start
You'd put an arrow through my heart
Round and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why
Dig
Lookin' at you, lookin' at me
The way you move, you know it's easy to see
The neon light's on me tonight
I've got a way, we're gonna prove it tonight
Like Romeo to Juliet
Time and time, I'm gonna make you mine
I've had enough, we've had enough
It's all the same, she said
I knew right from the beginning
That you would end up winnin'
I knew right from the start
You'd put an arrow through my heart
Round and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why
Out on the streets, that's where we'll meet
You make the night, I always cross the line
Tightened our belts, abuse ourselves
Get in our way, we'll put you on your shelf
Round and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why
Round and round
With love we'll find a way just give it time, time, time, time
Round and round
What comes around goes around
I'll tell you why, why, why, why
Round and round
04 In Your Direction (03:31)
Well, I saw the time closin' in, you said you're leavin' me
I'm cursed with your heart's perfection
Well, said it's right to believe
Well, months and days, they slowly pass
I'm not waitin' for you
You turned me 'round in your direction
I'm lookin' for you, yeah
(Chorus)
You spin me your way, in your direction
You pull me your way, in your direction
Well, city lights are shinin' on me
Well, said it's time to go
Abusin' you all across the country
Said I feel hot coals, yeah
(Chorus)
Solo
(Chorus) (repeat)
06 Lack of Communication (03:54)
Too many problems, the world can't solve
Too many people, no-one wants to be involved
(Lack of communication, back off)
Keep rearranging, it's all the same
Always saying, someone else is to blame
(Lack of communication, back off)
Look all around me, who's standin' tall
Hold tight, no-one's gonna answer your call
(Lack of communication, back off)
Put up our boundaries, we build our walls
It's alright, no-one's gonna change us at all
(Lack of communication, back off)
Time's passin' us by, we have our reason
No-one wants to try, we have our reason
Questions askin' why, we have our reason
Problems still arise, we have our reason... for
Back off !
You're so together, you fall apart
You never miss, when you're shootin' straight for the heart
(Lack of communication, back off)
You see it your way, I'll see it mine
Well, conversation is a useless change of line
(Lack of communication, back off)
Lack of communication, back off)
Lack of communication
(Lack of communication, back off)
Well, back off, well, back off
(Lack of communication, back off)
In the age of the modern man
(Lack of communication, back off)
We see the problems, we don't really understand
(Lack of communication, back off)
Well, lack of communication
(Lack of communication, back off)
Well, lack of communication
(Lack of communication, back off)
Well, lack of communication
(Lack of communication, back off)
Lack of communication
(Lack of communication, back off)
Back off, well, back off...
(Lack of communication, back off) (repeat)
07 Back for More (03:47)
You turn him away, you tell him you're mine
You make him believe you're but one of a kind
You give him a cold look, you tell him a lie
You turn him away, girl, you know you're mine
(Chorus)
And you're back, you're back for more
You turn away, you're back for more
You gave him an inch, he took you a mile
He made you believe you're society's child
Then get in his new car, get in his style
I told you his way, he won't take you far
(Chorus) (repeat)
Solo
(Chorus) (repeat)
08 The Morning After (03:34)
You think unkindly, simple not sane, know what I mean
Say I'm deliberately sent here to please
It's what you need, so I'm here tonight
You won't confuse me with somebody else
Look in your mirror, you're too good for yourself
It's all in your books, your magazines, can't you see
I'll be headin' out in time, if it's wrong or right
(Chorus)
I'll leave the morning after (repeat)
Say I'm in --------to somebody else, know what I mean
I know you'll always think one of my kind
You're on my mind, baby, all the time
Lift your skirt, lady, high in the night
I'm just what you need, won't you give it a try
Don't put up a fight, it's gonna be alright, can't you see
I'll be headin' out in time, if it's wrong or right
(Chorus)
Stay by my...
Solo
It's gonna be right, right out of the night
When out of the night, now, it's gonna be right
It's gonna be right, right out of the night
When out of the night, can't you see
(Chorus)
I'll leave the morning, morning, morning,
morning, morning, on and on
(Chorus)
10 Scene of the Crime (04:59)
I wanna rock, but you, you dared to roll
I came by your house, but you, you weren't at home
Well, I knock on your door, I hear you beg for more
You broke the law you see, and that's a felony
(Chorus)
I think you've been caught (You have been caught)
At the scene of the crime (You have been caught)
At the scene of the...
Now I know what you've done to me
At the scene of the crime
Cold blooded bitch goin' out on me
I've got me a weapon, got me a loaded gun
You know I'll track you down
And you'll be on the run, no fun
(Chorus)
You broke the law in the first degree
Cold blooded bitch goin' out on me
(Chorus)
Now I know what you thought of me
Cold blooded bitch goin' out on me
Well, I know, well, you know, well, I know
Well, I know, well, your games
And I don't wanna play
Solo
(Chorus)
You broke the law in the first degree
Cold blooded bitch goin' out on me
(Chorus)
Well, now I know what you thought of me
Cold blooded bitch goin' out on me
Solo
You've been out, and I've been cheated
Well, I've been lied to, again and again, again and again
(Chorus)
Now I know what you've done to me
At the scene of the crime
Cold blooded bitch goin' out on me
At the scene of the...
(You have been caught) At the scene of the crime, yeah
(You have been caught) At the scene of the...
You broke the law in the first degree
At the scene of the crime
Cold blooded bitch goin' out on me
At the scene of the crime
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Other reviews
By cricchio426
"'Round and Round' was played non-stop on radio stations of the time and remains their most famous track."
"'The Morning After' is without a doubt my favorite of the entire album."
