For My Sunday Song #258, we are going to talk about “Best of Me” by Ratt. The song was the first single off their 2010 comeback album ‘Infestation’ and was the first signs that Ratt was back and back with a vengeance. When I first saw the video and heard the song, I was so pumped for this album. I hadn’t felt that way for a Ratt album in almost 20 years. This was the Ratt I knew and loved. ‘Infestation’ was a beast of an album, but sadly, the band didn’t capitalize on it and ended up fighting and suing each other, it was a mess. But the song was great.
The song was written by Stephen Pearcy, Carlos Cavazo and Michael “Elvis” Baskette. “Best of Me” is about Stephen’s wife at the time, Melissa Pearcy. He realized that she was the best part of him, but it took him to look elsewhere to realize what he had. He made the mistake and thought the grass might be greener on the other side and found out he already had the best thing in life he needed. Guys are stupid and get caught in this thinking all the time…they always want something newer or better…at least what they think is better…WRONG!! I think the band Cinderella summed it up nicely, “You don’t know what you got, ’til its gone”…that is the right saying for this.
That opening guitar riff by Warren DeMartini was pure Ratt magic. It immediately takes you back to the 80’s to when Ratt was in their prime. It sounds like it could’ve been on ‘Out of the Cellar’ or ‘Invasion of Your Privacy’. Bobby Blotzer’s drums sound great and he and bass player Robbie Crane are the driving force behind the song. Carlos Cavazo’s rhythm guitar is there is highlight Warren’s magical fingers. I mean his solo even sounds like it was ripped from the 80’s. And don’t forget Stephen Pearcy. His vocals are in great shape and still have that bluesy, gravely vocal he did back in the day. The song screams Ratt & Roll!! Yes, I went there!!
For My Sunday Song #253, we are going to dissect “Luv Sick” off the band’s 1999 album ‘Ratt’. Don’t remember this album? Well, not many people probably do. It isn’t their best. In fact, I don’t think I spoke very kindly about it. However, this song was the highlight for me. The album didn’t chart, I don’t think it had any singles and I think I didn’t hear it until I wrote the review on it back a few years ago.
But the song is what we want to talk about and not that album. “Luv Sick” was written by Warren DeMartini, Stephen Pearcy and Taylor Rhodes (who has worked with Aerosmith). The lyrics are a little pedestrian and nothing that Shakespeare is going to drool over. The song is basically about a guy who is obsessed with a woman. He tries to walk away and move on but he can’t. He wants her too much. I am not sure if he crosses any kind of line to hurt her or anything, but I am a little worried for her. Stalking laws might have been written for this guy!!
It is the guitar playing on here that is really what I love. Warren gets flat out down and dirty laying down some nasty Blues licks. I love how when they sing the “Luv Sick”, part in the chorus, Warren rips into this little riff that is a great little combo with the lyrics. It is really cool sounding. Towards the end, the guitar gets even more bluesy and it is just Warren jamming. This the first album the band has with bass player Robbie Crane and he lays down a great bass line and drives the song home with Bobby Blotzer banging heavy on those drums. The real drawback is Stephen Pearcy as his vocals aren’t what they used to be. If there was a negative to the song, it would be that.
After the album ‘Ratt (1999), the band had a very troubled time. Stephen Pearcy left the band (again) and started his own band that eventually tried to use the Ratt name, but the other members sued and won. The remaining Ratt members continued on as a band…or at least made several attempts with many line-up changes.
In 2000, the current Ratt was Warren DeMartini, Bobby Blotzer, Robbie Crane, John Corabi (Motley Crue) and Robert Mason. Robert was brought on as lead singer, but left shortly after when the band couldn’t get a major label deal. That brought on Jizzy Pearl at lead vocals. This would remain the band until at least 2006.
In 2002, the band and fans were delivered some bad news. Original guitarist, Robbin Crosby, passed away from a Heroin overdose. He had long battled with addiction and it finally grabbed hold for good. Robbin has also been battling HIV, but the drugs got to him first. Any hopes of the original band getting back together were quickly dashed.
In 2006, Jizzy would leave and Stephen Pearcy rejoined the band. Then 2 years later, John Corabi would leave and he was replaced by Carlos Carvazo from Quiet Riot. The line-up was now complete for the next album…whew, that was exhausting. Wait, where is Juan Croucier? He was out doing his own thing. He comes back to the band, but not for many years.
Finally, in April 2010, Ratt released their seventh studio album called ‘Infestation’. It had been over 10 years since the last album and with all the line-up changes and the fact the last album was so bad, my expectations for this release were pretty low.
‘Heavy Fire’ is Black Star Riders third album in just 4 years and they keep getting better. For those that don’t know Black Star Riders, the band is really made up of the current members of Thin Lizzy. They wanted to release some new songs, but they didn’t want to release them as Thin Lizzy so they created Black Star Riders.
I think I understand why they did it. If you think about it, was anyone looking to hear new music from Thin Lizzy…No, probably not. This was actually a brilliant move as it caused a lot of buzz around the original release and here they are 4 years later getting better and better.
The band members are as follows:
Ricky Warwick – vocals
Scott Gorham – lead guitar
Damon Johnson – lead guitar
Robbie Crane – bass
Jimmy DeGrasso – drums
The album is a guitar heavy, hard rock release and you wouldn’t expect anything less when you have two lead guitarists. The opening track and title track, “Heavy Fire”, comes screaming in with the guitars and a nice heavy sound. Ricky sounds fantastic and they deliver a shot that resonates throughout the album.
The first single, “When the Night Comes In”, keeps up with the opening track and now you are completely invested in this album. I love guitar rock and they bring it even more on this song. “Dancing With the Wrong Girl” is a little more pop sound, but that doesn’t take away from anything, but actually adds to its charm. Jimmy’s drums on this one are perfect. They aren’t over powering and just enough that set perfectly in the song.
The heaviest and baddest song on the album is “Who Rides the Tiger”. The song is a full on attack of your senses and even the lyrics are a blast. They guitar solo was amazing and I don’t think I will ever tire of this duo of Scott & Damon. This is probably my favorite song they have ever done.
“Cold War Love” is next up, but this is one song that I could never connect with. It is a nice slow ballad, but I wasn’t feeling it. Hopefully you can connect with it and enjoy it. Luckily, the next song was their current single, “Testify or Say Goodbye”. The song picks the tempo back up and gives us more of the what you love from this album. The classic rock sound, the vocals and all around musicianship make it another standout on the album.
“Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed” gives us a little more darker sound and is a nice change of pace for the album without losing the flow of the album. “True Blue Kid” is another song that misses the mark for me. I can’t pinpoint what it is about the song, but I found myself skipping it which is never a good sign.
“Ticket to Rise” brings me back to the enjoyment with another solid guitar heavy song with a great solo. Keep it coming and I won’t tire of it. “Letting Go of Me” is the only song on the album not co-written by Damon Johnson and yet it is still a great song. This one was a fun song with a faster tempo.
The final track, “Fade”, is considered a bonus track but it is too good and fits nicely with the overall album. It doesn’t have the bonus track feel. It is a slower song and actually kept my interest. I usually like albums to end with a bang, but this worked for me nonetheless. A nice way to end the album.
Track Listing:
“Heavy Fire” – Keeper
“When The Night Comes In” – Keeper
“Dancing With the Wrong Girl” – Keeper
“Who Rides the Tiger” – Keeper
“Cold War Love” – Delete
“Testify or Say Goodbye” – Keeper
“Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed” – Keeper
“True Blue Kid” – Delete
“Ticket to Rise” – Keeper
“Letting Go of Me” – Keeper
“Fade” – Keeper
9 keeper out 11 songs – 82%(4.1 out 5 stars). The Black Star Riders are killing it on this album. I always talk about how rock today seems to be missing the guitar rock sound and these guys are not missing anything. The guitars are outstanding and take me back to when guitars were king. Nobody wanted to be a DJ, they wanted to play guitar. For that alone this album is worth it, but it has so much more to offer. Go grab a copy and get ready to have your ears blasted with what rock should sound like.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 