Customer Reviews

Collage

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is some previously unreleased tracks and demos plus a funked up version of Dirty Job only available on the Detonator video.

A great little collector for the true Ratt fan!

I'm shocked by the negative reviews. No, they didn't rehash "Out of the Cellar". They've matured into a great mix of old and new sounds. I've always considered Stephen Pearcy to be a terrific talent. He shines, soars, and sneers on this with one of the most underrated guitarists of the last 20 years, Warren Dimartini, pushing the groove behind him! This is a great CD.

I consider myself a pretty big fan of Ratt, having listened to all those Ratt albums which came out during my grade school years from "Out of the Cellar" to "Reach for the Sky". I also have all of the releases after that including the new one "Infestation".

That said, I can understand why this album gets a lot of critical reviews. It's the only Ratt album that was recorded with "dry" production. It sounds like it was recorded on a strict budget - not surprising, given the fact that this music was not cool or in fashion in the late 90's. What that means is that you can hear Ratt better than ever before, including some of the lesser aspects - like Stephen Pearcy's actual singing voice - which is quite raspy and somewhat shrill.

However, I didn't think this was a terrible album. There are a couple of good songs - in particular:

Dr. Rock - a bluesy mid-paced arena rocker with a nice walking bass-line, unique for them
Diamond Time Again - Has a kind of "What You See is What You Get" type of a vibe going for it
I Want It All

And, a few bad ones as well

Top Secret - The dry production did this one in.
Lovin' You [Fonic Mix LP Version] - A horrible and pointless "club remix" of a mediocre song - a low point for the group.

Overall, the writing of the album doesn't depart much from their past work - other than the fact that for the most part it's a step down - same good time party rock with some bluesy flourishes. The musicianship is competent and the guitars, as usual are excellent. This is a good addition for a Ratt completist. However, if you're not familiar with this group's work - check out the first 4 albums 1st. Or if the early 80's production doesn't agree with you, "Infestation" is a good listen also.

Also for the record, I don't put this group into the same classification - even on their worst days - with good-for-what-they-were but far inferior contemporaries like Poison or Motley Crue. Ratt had defined a genre of music and then transcended it. They were the perfect combination of hard rock, riffs, attitude, and musicianship that few bands can match, and those basic elements do exist on this record.

I am a longtime Ratt fan who owns their entire collection and have seen them live many times. They never disappointed me -- until this one. Bottom line, this "album" is horrible, and the band should be ashamed for taking their fans' money this way. Something well short of the original Ratt posse delivers what can best be described as an unpolished, garage-band product. And believe me, I'm being generous. I still love Ratt, but I have to Tell the World that the boys should feel nothing but Shame Shame Shame on this one.

Ratt 'Collage' was the first album the band put out in 6 years and a lot of people thought it was a new studio album. Thus, they were suckered into buying it. This is an album of unreleased stuff from various points in their career, some of it from the original sessions and the other songs are rerecorded with the new bass player (at the time), Robbie Crane, on the bass.

It is really no wonder these songs never came out, they show a lot of potential and even have a good production but they totally lack melody and hooks. I know this sounds negative but none of the songs are remotely catchy. "Steel River" is an unmemorable song that really sounds like a different band. "Dr. Rock" has to be one of the worst songs Ratt has ever put on a record, it sounds like a bad, bad cover of a bad, bad Kiss b-side. Fitting considering that "Dr. Rock" was written when the original lineup of the band (PRE-record deal) was in high school and known as MICKEY RATT.

Things get slightly better with the next two tracks, which are among the best on the record, "Diamond time again" and "Ratt Madness." Both of these are aggressive and classic Ratt. Ironically, "Ratt Madness" is one of the shortest songs on the disc, clocking in around the 3-minute mark as it seems to be missing a verse. "Hold tight" and "I want it all" are very generic and not even worth mentioning.

"Mother Blues" is a softer acoustic song and another of the limited highlights. The song was actually recorded for the band that Stephen Pearcy formed after he first quit Ratt, called Arcade. The song is rerecorded for 'Collage.' The next song is intriguing, if not overly memorable. A song from the 'Detonator' cd, called "Top secret" is on here in its original and rawer demo version. Remember, the 'Detonator' version of this song was slicker and more polished, it's good to see what it was like before it was finished up for that album.

"Take it anyway" is a pedestrain rock song and another very short track, about the same length as "Ratt madness" and like "Ratt madness" this song is fast-paced and has a pseudo-punk vibe to it. The album is closed with an extended dance/club remix of a song from 'Detonator', "Loving you's a dirty job" which is another highlight if you are into that sort of thing.

There really isn't much stellar musicianship on this album, which is a surprise as Ratt was known for having a tight rhythm section, even though Steve Pearcy puts through a good vocal performance. These songs could have used some more work, especially considering a few were in fact reworked/fixed-up with an altered lineup during the recording in 1996-1997. I get chills thinking of what some of the original sessions of these songs sounded like.

This album is strictly for the Ratt diehard or to complete a collection, certainly not a good introduction to the band, it doesn't do them much justice. However, it is good of DeRock Records and the band to put this out for the diehard Ratt fans as these songs do have a right to be heard. That still doesn't mean you have to like it. I am a fan of Ratt, owning every album all the way back to the self-titled debut EP. However, this is easily their most disappointing release.

This is what a CD sounds like when MGNT doesn't get involved ...
ARTISTIC CREATIVITY

There are some repeats, but with a different beat.

Ratt On !!

Great B - side songs that would be appreciated (mostly) by Die Hard Ratt Fans (that have own their 1981-1990 albums for a long time. There's a kick-...ss alternative versions of TOP SECRET(I normally don't go for the versions that didn't make it to the original album release)...but this one is excellent (similar to the case of Sweets' "Fox on the Run")....!!! RATT ON

I like Ratt's music, but the musicianship was poor on this C.D. The band sounded tired. There are a few of good songs and I am a fan so.. Their latest, Ratt Infestation sounds like they're back on track. I'd like to see them live.

Overall the lp rocks, not there strongest material obviously. True Ratt fans must realize the band just got back together prior to the release of Collage. Let me add that they do have a new member, so there not 100% old Ratt. For those who think the boys may have lost a step or two: CHECK OUT THERE NEW ALBUM!!!!

This is good album by Ratt. Warren Demartini's guitar riffs are above average as usual and for a change Stephen Pearcy does not drown out the other members of the band. This band reminds me of a clean Motley Crue. Check it, you will be surprised.