Search - Rose Tattoo :: Scarred for Life

Final Part of The Classic Tatts Trilogy

Mark A McGrath | 06/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was Rose Tattoo's 3rd release and formed the third part of the classic trilogy of albums they released between 1978 and 1982 - all produced by Harry Vanda & George Young - the team behind AC/DC's rise to greatness. This album was probably The Tatt's most innovative work, but paradoxically, also stayed closest to the bands' roots of the early Stones, Kinks and Chuck Berry.It's got the huge wall of sound with clever hooks and searing vocals laid over the top by Angry Anderson but its probably a bit brighter and flashier than the preceeding works - but no less brutal in delivery. The title track lays the foundations first up with an opening axe attack that floors you. We Can't Be Beaten is truly anthemic and an unashamedly honest if you've ever seen this band live.Of the remaining tracks, Branded and the thuggish Who's Got The Cash are the standouts. In short, the album kicks arse and in true Australian style does not bother with any of the niceties - it just rips, tears and lacerates or as we put it in Oz: it's got mongrel.This was the last album before Rose Tattoo's classic line-up fell apart (even though Mick Cocks had already left by this stage) and represented the last of the classic Rose Tattoo sound as all other subsequent releases were commercially compromised (even though there are some good songs still to be found on these later albums).Rose Tattoo should have been as huge as AC/DC but bad luck and internal troubles dogged the band just when they were breaking in the UK in 1981. Ironically, their lack of success makes their early albums all the more treasurable."

Good but not comparable to the debut album

Ronald | 04/06/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Rose Tattoo was a great band. In my opinion they just had one problem. Their debut album was an absolutely perfect rock and roll album. It was impossible to improve that one. So, if this is your first album from Rose Tattoo you probably will regard it as great. If you already know the album "Rock N Roll Outlaw" you will find this one dissapointing and boring."