"An irresistible combination of  Aerosmith  swagger and finely honed pop sensibilities": Ratt's best album Out Of The Cellar revived - just don't call it hair metal

The ultimate Ratt'N'Roll album returns

Ratt - Out Of The Cellar cover art
(Image: © BMG)

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I don’t wanna hear anything about “hair metal”. Ratt were a goddamn rock’n’roll band. One of the best of the 80s. And Out Of The Cellar was easily the best thing they ever did. It was an irresistible combination of Aerosmith swagger and finely honed pop sensibilities.

Girls loved them, guys loved them, they rode the whirlwind all across the globe on the strength of pulse-pounders like Round And Round, Lack Of Communication, Back For More, Wanted Man, etc. Seriously, like 70% of this album was big hits.

RATT - Round And Round (Official Music Video) - YouTube RATT - Round And Round (Official Music Video) - YouTube
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And unlike their litter mates Mötley Crüe, they did not resort to power ballads to pander to radio. They just figured they’d get by on sheer charisma. Of course it couldn’t last, and their legacy has been in shambles ever since, but whatever.

They were gods at this point. I’m not sure this redux is necessary, since you can still buy an OG copy of this record for like $7 in every record store in the world, but it does come with a bonus outtake of Reach For The Sky (and on a 7” single, if you buy the vinyl version) and a lenticiular cover. So there’s that.

Sleazegrinder

Came from the sky like a 747. Classic Rock’s least-reputable byline-grabber since 2003. Several decades deep into the music industry. Got fired from an early incarnation of Anal C**t after one show. 30 years later, got fired from the New York Times after one week. Likes rock and hates everything else. Still believes in Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction, against all better judgment.