Collage

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

This may not be essential Ratt. But there are a few reasons why this is a very good disc. First, Mother Blues is easily a top five Ratt song. It's a great guitar/vocal blues song with Pearcy and DeMartini sounding like they are working towards their strengths, at least during this time period. It's clearly a shame they haven't tried this style more often. Second, Hold Tight is another personal favorite that has what I would consider possibly DeMartini's best Ratt solo. Third, Blotzer's playing is noticeably improved and more crisp on this record. Lastly, Steel River, Dr. Rock and Diamond Time are not great songs but are all better than average rockers that give the album a strong start. Just have to ignore the amateurish sounds on the reworked closing track. No, it's not a 5 star record. But I think the production is fine/appropriate to these gritty songs and it holds up better than much of their other material.

Ever since i saw and heard Ratt in the 80's been a big fan. This cd rocks i enjoyed every track i know its not the original group. But it still rocks. Favrorite song Steel River. If your a ratt fan like you should pick this one up.

The music on this album is acceptable but mostly blues/hard rock. The fun hair metal of their first few releases is long gone.

Collage is an overlooked and under-rated album by the hair-band Ratt. Despite containing a remix of 'Loving you is a dirty job' from 'Detonator' as well as the 'original version' of 'Top Secret' - most of these tracks seem to fit into a mould of easy-going, stripped down rock 'n' roll.Actually, on this album where all the stadium-rock sound and technology has been stripped away, singer Stephen Pearcy's vocals have that pitch-imperfect quality of the Troggs. Anyway, the great thing about this album is the great riffs that seem to flow effortlessly from the guitars.The opening 'Steel River' is an attempt at a menancing hard-rock tune. The riffs are good but the vocals are rushed. The second song, 'Dr. Rock' is a laid-back rocker, and a good one, with things really improving with 'Diamond time again', 'Hold Tight' and 'I want it all'. 'Ratt Madness' is a rave-up rocker, sort of like 'Scratch that itch' from the previous Detonator, but sloppy. 'Mother Blues' is a heartfelt acoustic ballad about family problems, and this version of 'Top Secret' is rushed and sloppy, but then comes 'Take it anyway' , just a good time rock 'n' roll song, and one of my favourite Ratt songs. Then there's the remix, and my version finishes with 'She's got everything' a really fun rock n roll song.Collage is a very laid-back, easy going rock n roll album that's fun to listen to and has great songs. It sounds very 'classic rock' but the riffs are very fresh and exciting. Worth checking out.

A lot of the music back in the 90's to me had a "watered down" somewhat "soulless" sound to it but the music on this album has a classic, 70's feel to it which to me is a breath of fresh air.

CD PLAYS PERFECTLEY

Yeah, I liked a few of their songs in the 80s, though I was never a die-hard and just picked this up on a whim. But I found that these guys have got a very good heavy metal sound now, it isn't the same as "Out Of The Cellar" per se, but times have changed. As it is, the singer is still distinctively himself. DiMartini, the guitar player, sounds occasionally awesome on this release with some very tasty solos and general excellent work all around. On top of that, the mastering on this Japan-made CD is excellent. Glad to see these guys still know how to make music. Only criticism might be that some of the songs slightly reminisce other bands - sometimes for better, sometimes for worse - I don't think they should have ended the DeRock label edition edition on "Lovin' You (is a dirty job)" which sounds a bit like Bon Jovi (fortunately none of the other tunes do). The Japan edition ends with bonus track "She's Got Everything" though this reminded me a bit of Brian Johnson ACDC. Point being that the last or last two songs on either edition aren't as great as some of the good stuff that comes before.