Review Summary: Underwhelming.
Year 1986. Ratt is riding a hot streak. They released two multi-platinum albums and have a few minor radio hits under its belt. The band goes back into studio with producer Beau Hill to follow up Invasion Of Privacy. At that time the first cracks in band's integrity start to show, as Robbin Crosby is starting to get deeper and deeper into heroin addiction and Warren DeMartini takes over most of lead-guitar duties.
The album receives mixed reception from critics and fans alike but still sells over a million copies in the US. The album pretty much continues the direction set with the previous two records, with hints of the sound the band would go for with next releases. The songs are short, simple, driven by tasty guitar work. Vocally it's not quite as strong as the previous efforts, but still Stephen Pearcy manages not to ruin any of the songs.
The strongest tracks on here are definitely the fastest ones. 'Drive Me Crazy' is one of the best deep cuts that Ratt has to offer. The lyrics to this song are ridiculously simple. That is true for most of the songs, it seems as if they realized that no one pays attention to them, because they always come out stupid. 'Body Talk' is another example of that and is also the most, dare I say, aggressive song in the set, that unfortunately failed to catch the world's attention, prompting the band to move into softer, more pop-oriented territory with next releases.
'Dance' is a typical mid-tempo Ratt hit song with a great riff and insanely catchy chorus. So it's appropriate that it was released as the lead single. Unfortunately that's where the bright side of the album ends. There are other solid but unspectacular cuts like 'One Good Lover' and completely average second half of the album, that ends with 'Enough is Enough', that doesn't even start until over a minute into the song. And it's just a little over three minutes long. The chorus is pretty catchy and it goes as follows: Enoughisenoughisenoughis...isenoughisenoughisenoug hisenough. Or something like that.
'Take A Chance' is another peculiar song. It sounds like they just took random parts of other songs and mixed them in no particular order, even the lyrics seem like they don't belong together. One more song from the album was released as a single and landed on every Ratt compilation thanks to that. It's called 'Slip Of The Lip' and features the most boring guitar riff ever as well as lazy lyrics and irritating vocal delivery. Avoid at all costs.
The general problem with the album is that despite its consistency it's a very lazy and cliched effort from a band that knows their creative high point is past them. The songs, with three exceptions, feel forced and don't really stick with you. The catchiness will be back with next two releases, for the better and for the worse. All in all, Dacing Undercover has some strong moments and is worth checking out by any glam metal fan. It doesn't get much better that this... Or does it?
Recommended tracks:
Dance
Drive Me Crazy
Body Talk
