The Rattlers - Rattled - 1985

The Rattlers were a New York City band whose sound straddled the thin line between punk and power-pop. This disc anthologizes the 1985 album Rattled! with two singles from 1979 and 1983, respectively. The singles, released on tiny independent labels, boast a crisper, more compact production than the album, originally released on the larger label PVC. Lead Rattler Mickey Leigh is Joey Ramone's brother. The Rattlers, however, staked out their own musical territory based more on an updated '60s garage rock sound. The Rattlers' most obvious '60s influence is the Who, with "Pure and Simple" hinting at "My Generation"'s chord progression and having "Magic Bus"-like between-chorus exclamations of "No-ooo". The lyrics are also more from the Pete Townshend school of introspection than the Mick Jagger-esque blustering bravado typical of many similar groups. The Who influences are however, a foundation for the band rather than a crutch, as Leigh and company bring original ideas into their music. There are stylistic nods to brother Joey's group. Both bands cover obscure '60s tunes, with repertoires incorporating garage nuggets (the Nightcrawlers' "Little Black Egg") as well as shameless pop (a sincere version of the Amen Corner's "(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice"). They also both feature odes to dementia; "I'm In Love With My Walls," the Rattlers' entry, was penned by veteran rock scribe Lester Bangs. The Rattlers' approach, however, is more understated than the Ramones'. -AMG