Customer Reviews

Blind Love/Tingles

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first heard of Ratcat, it was when my friend picked up the cassette of the 6-song demo recording, "Tingles." We listenend to it and the songs stuck with me ever since ( even though the cassette did not). A few years later and a little internet-smarter i decided to pick up the disc of the demo and Ratcat's first full length attempt, " Blind Love".
Ok. This disc is good - sure, you may not like every song on the album but i think it's a rare deal these days when you do. My particular favorites are " That 'aint bad" ( the band's only entry into US charts - a Ramones-esque ditty and obviously the most radio-friendly of the entire cd.), " My Bloody Valentine" and "The End". The latter two's whispering vocals are very nice touches and a haunting step away from the catchy loops and riffs that power songs such as " Skin" and " Strange". I also particularly enjoy " Getting away from this world" although i must admit to getting a little choked up each time i hear the US Challenger commentary that borders it.
All in all - I do like this band a lot and it makes me wonder what a band has to possess when Blink 182, Weezer, Green Day ( Bands I also do like!) can cut through the clutter and bands with equally as much talent like Ratcat get left behind. Give it a try - it won't disappoint - and what a bargain of a price too!!! :)

Both the Tingles e.p. and Blind Love album are excellent in every way. Their really catchy tunes, at first listen might seem so catchy that they'd grow tired after a few listens, but 10 years on they still hold a special place in my music collection. Simon Day seems to have the knack of writing a timeless pop tune with sincere lyrics that, even when bordering on saccharine sweet, don't fatigue with age.

Tingles 6 track e.p. precedes Blind Love on this re-released version. It ranges from the fast and fuzzy "Skin" (my favorite - and I assume, the inspiration for the title Blind Love) to the slow and morbid "My Bloody Valentine" and contained their breakthrough lead track "That Ain't Bad" which go the most airplay, and took them to No 1 on the Australian Charts.

Blind Love, whilst being instantly likable contains the arguably Beach Boys influenced "Yes I Wanna Go" , and the appropriately titled "Strange" with it's experimental back-masking of some parts, with Simon's vocals mixed in a David Lynch-esque fashion. "The End" is a beautiful mellow finisher which makes it a good album to listen to whilst drifting off to sleep.

If this collection has a drawback, it's the track sequence (and that's being really picky.) Due to the fact that "That Ain't Bad" appears on both Tingles, and Blind Love, it obviously only occurs once on this "compilation" as track one, as it first appeared on the Tingles e.p, which was a little distracting. But, hey, what else were they gonna do! Collectively this is one of those special albums where after a couple of listens I'm not tempted to skip one single track.

(If you like this one - also check out the Hummingbirds album "Love Buzz" and Ratcat's other efforts "This Nightmare" and "Inside Out" if you can find them.)

This is a review of the 2001 release of "Blind love" which included their "Tingles" EP. On this cd the first six tracks are the "Tingles" EP, then the "Blind love" album follows. On first listen I scored this album 85/100 but on second listen I was won over and gave it perfect marks. Would give the full album 5/5 too, but the bonus EP is just the cherry on the top. Entire cd has a run time of 59:36 minutes. Adjectives for the cd: fun, fresh, retro pastiche, raw punk guitar sounds, Beach Boys influenced, Led Zeppelin influenced, Deep Purple influenced, 1960s, girl groups (vibe, I mean. Lead singer is male, but some songs have female backing vocals), 1960s surf, polished, Chuck Berry style (one song), Ramones style (one song). If you like The Offspring, I think you may like this band as much (or more). Do remember reading many years ago how this band were once hugely popular with the kids...skater punk or some such.


Tingles (E.P) - songs in album order:


That ain't bad - "/" The best song on the entire cd. Cool driving riff...sounds like a variation on The Offspring's classic "Gone away"...but having Wikid that Offspring song, the similarity is actually the other way around, chronology wise. Song has a catchy chorus, is bassy with buzzy/humming keyboard (I think). Perhaps their biggest/best known hit/song.

Tingles - raw, raucous guitar sound...fuzzy lead guitar. Gambling related lyrics...poker etc. Cymbals, bell, maraca type instrument, children's 'up/down' whistle sound and spacey sounds outro.

Don't go in the water - bassy, deep drum tone, Beach Boys vocal style but the lyrics could be sharper. Has a Beach Boys' dream turned nightmare vibe to it.

Getting away (from this world) - "." Samples actual N.A.S.A. communications centre chatter around the time of the Challenger space shuttle disaster...pre-flight and post explosion. Has a sort of Black Sabbath style riff, but more 'up'. Nice lead guitar at times. Despite the fraught subject matter, the song works well. Second best song on the EP...or equal second best.

Skin - ">[.]" LIked this song enough on second listen to mark it out. Sharp, rough punk guitar sound, with punk riffing. Catchy bass. Just a catchy song in general. Has backing vocals at times. Faint keyboard outro.

My bloody valentine - "." has guitar playing the lead...Hawaiian style later, sort of. Pleasant track with sensual vocals. Lyrics a bit Nick Cave like, perhaps...Romantic Gothic, maybe. Bright sound.


Blind love


The best tracks:


Don't go now - "/" Perhaps the best song on the regular album. Catchy pop/rock with Led Zeppelin sounding buzzing keyboard (or guitar? Both?). Music is 'up' and has a positive message as far as relationships go. Has female backing vocals. Perhaps their biggest/best known hit/song.

The end - "/" Pretty, sensual vocal melody, languid lead guitar with rich sounding notes...sort of surf music in that way. Sound does alternate to rock at times though...rock riffing with that Led Zeppelin kind of sound I mentioned earlier. Bassy. Snare drum used? Would be close to the previous song as far as being the best song on the regular album goes.

Racing - ">." I gave this song the highest rating on the regular album on my second listen. Lead guitar has a certain vibe to it...can't put my finger on who it reminds me of though. You get a riff, a lick, a riff, a lick (AC/DC's classic "Back in black" starts off with that sequence). Maybe a sort of 1970s rock style...a Deep Purple vibe, at times. Faux American vocal. Bassy.

Hopeless mind - "(.)" Pretty electric lead guitar melody and sensual vocals. Alternates with jarring rock guitar riffing. Vocals are sharp and raw. Lyrics mention a plane crash where there are no survivors and 300 dead.

Pieces - "(.)" Good quick sticks drumming at times. Cymbals feature too. Catchy and familiar melody (what is it?). Faux English vocals. Has riffing. A catchy song.

The wonder of you - "[.]" Hard riffing song with sensual vocals. The scale melody on the guitar is familiar, but I can't place it. A bagpipe sounding keyboard (?) later, violin? and Led Zeppelin like buzzing keyboard or guitar sound.

Yes I wanna go - ">[.]" Sort of a punk Johnny B. Goode/Beach Boys type song. Fuzzy/buzzy guitar. A bit of a 1970s rock'n'roll revival type of song. Has lyrics such as "Fun, fun, fun" and "Interstellar surfin'". Those lyrics bring to mind acts like The Beach Boys and Deep Purple.

Strange - ">[.]" Horn intro, Led Zeppelin style buzzing guitar riffs, bassy, deeper drum sound. Outro has 1960s style psychedelic effects. Middle has an experimental break down.


The rest:


Run & hide - feedback intro, lead guitar, rock'n'roll riffing, cymbals, backing vocals, long vocal notes in a 1960s girl group style (familiar, but can't place what exactly I'm reminded of)...songs like "I want Candy" and "Born to handjive" are brought to mind though). The Who are referenced here as well though.

Baby baby - screechy intro then some nice steel string semi (?) acoustic guitar. This kind of guitar sound alternates with electric guitar riffing. A Ramones type of song. Has female backing vocals. Bass.


Recommendations:


The Offspring - I've only heard a compilation of theirs, but they both have a similar guitar sound and pop hooks to their best songs.

X - X-Aspirations. Late 1970s/early 1980s Australian punk/alt-rock band. Has some ballsy bass guitar grooves.

X - At home with you. Worthy follow up to their debut album. Has the lovely ballad "Don't cry no tears"...a classic.