RATT – Detonator [remastered SHM-CD] [Limited Release]

Many readers praised the high quality of several Japanese SHM-CD remasters presented here, and asked for more RATT. Now it’s time for “Detonator“, perhaps their last great recording and also the last to feature the late guitarist Robbin Crosby before his departure in 1991.

For this new album, Ratt wanted a re-fresh and parted ways with long-time producer Beau Hill. Hitmaker Desmond Child and his personal sound engineer Sir Arthur Payson were hired to helm the project.
Damn, and they do their job really well.

Desmond Child co-penned most of the cuts providing a new kick to Ratt’s songs structures.
After a short instrumental, “Shame, Shame, Shame” is a kick ass song and just may be in my top 5 favorite Ratt songs of all time. It contains all the hallmarks of a great Ratt song, a nice thunderous beat backed up by the screeching guitar madness of DeMartini / Crosby.
Next is perhaps the album’s most well-known song: “Lovin You’s A Dirty Job” with a typical late ’80s hair metal catchy chorus and where you can appreciate Desmond’s touch.
“Scratch That Itch” goes sleazy, while “Givin’ Yourself Away” is about as close to a ballad as they get on this album and it’s one of the highlights.

The melodic “One Step Away” flirts with Bon Jovi / Warrant, although I think it contains more musical development via DeMartini’s excellent guitar playing. “Hard Time” brings the album back into hard rocking mode, with multiple guitar solos atop a heavy “Blotzer” beat. T
The album continues to reflect the then chart dominance of Pop Metal acts like Poison and Bon Jovi with “Heads I Win, Tails You Loose”. The song actually features Jon Bon Jovi on backup vocals.
“All Or Nothing” sounds almost like Aerosmith during their seminal comeback album Pump, including female backup vocals, rocking really well. Classic Ratt, and a true highlight of the album.

“Can’t Wait On Love” is an energetic number that would not sound out of place on Ratt’s debut album, with blistering guitar solos, and anthem-like choruses and extremely horny lyrics that have always been a trademark of the Ratt sound.
Unlike the previous Ratt Japanese SHM-CD remasters, this one includes a bonus track: the ‘Ratt Fonic Monster Mix’ of the single “Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job”, a very nice addition.

Ratt close out their original era with “Detonator”, their fifth and final album released during the intial run of the band. Detonator may be the soundtrack to the collapse of hair metal, but it is certainly not an album that shows any serious signs of deterioration, at least in a musical sense.
In fact, it should be Ratt’s most complete record, and one criminally underrated.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Warner Music Japan ~ WPCR-13570

01 – Intro to Shame
02 – Shame, Shame, Shame
03 – Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job
04 – Scratch That Itch
05 – One Step Away
06 – Hard Time
07 – Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
08 – All Or Nothing
09 – Can’t Wait On Love
10 – Givin’ Yourself Away
11 – Top Secret
12 – Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job (Ratt Fonic Monster Mix)

Stephen Pearcy: Lead Vocals
Warren DeMartini:Guitars, Backing Vocals
Robbin Crosby: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Juan Croucier: Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bobby Blotzer: Drums, Percussion
Jon Bon Jovi: Backing Vocals on 7

Try here:
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WPCR-13570
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