Def Leppard - High & Dry
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Free Music Notes for High & Dry
Free Music Review: A great album from a once great band
Hit: 5 Stars
There was a time, long, long ago when Def Leppard rocked. By listening to the band's musical out-put for the last fifteen years, it may be hard to believe that, but it's true. Early on, before "Let's Get Rocked," before touring with Bryan Adams and Journey, before making adult-contemporary soft-rock with the stink-bomb "X," (2002) there was a time when Def Leppard was genuinely a great rock band.
Released at the start of a new decade, the Judas Priest sounding debut from Def Leppard, '"On through the Night," (1980) may not have been the most original album of all-time, but it's still a great little-known gem in the chronicles of the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal). For their sophomore release, the band hooked-up with its unofficial sixth member, long-time Def Leppard collaborator and producer, John "Mutt" Lange. Released a year after the debut, Def Leppard's second album "High N' Dry" (1981) has some of the same NWOBHM elements that were on the "On though the Night, but also sees the band establishing its own identity and searching out new terrain.
AC/DC's monumental album "Back in Black" (1980) no doubt had an influence on Def Leppard's "High N' Dry." From singer Joe Elliot's attempts to sound like Brian Johnson, to guitarists Steve Clarke and Pete Willis attempts to imitate the Young brothers, "High N' Dry" sounds a lot like AC/DC. This isn't so surprising when you consider the fact that Lange produced "Back in Black." That said, the seeds of Def Leppard's signature sound that is so apparent on "Pyromania" (1983) and "Hysteria," (1987) like the melodic sing-along choruses and metallic yet infectious hooks, make their appearance on "High N' Dry." In a sense "High N' Dry" can be seen as the album that bridged the gap between Def Leppard's NWOBHM years, apparent on their debut, to their definitive pop-metal heyday of "Pyromania" and "Hysteria."
The band's early line-up on their first three albums was by far the best. Sorry Phil Collin (and Vivian Campbell), but the Pete Willis/Steve Clarke combo were by far the finest duel-guitarists that the band ever had. Their riffs and solos throughout the album are just plain killer, easily as good as anything AC/DC had to offer (is it blasphemy to hold that opinion?). It should be noted that apart from "Hit and Run," every song on "High N' Dry" was co-penned by either Clarke and/or Willis. With both long since gone (Willis was fired in '83 and Clarke died in '91) it's easy to see how the band has suffered creatively ever since. The songwriting throughout the whole disc is terrific, with very well-crafted but hard-rocking songs, one after the other, without a dud in the lot. Even the album's one balled "Bringing on the Heartbreak" sounds great and is light-years better than the syrupy trash that made up the band's most recent steaming-pile of manure, abomination of an album "X."
Another great feature of "High N' Dry" is its organic sound. While the band may be most well known for their ultra-slick "Hysteria," on "High N' Dry" the band sounds a lot rawer, much more rough-around-the edges and a lot more ballsy than they would on later albums ("Pyromania" can be seen as a mid-way point between the two).
"High N' Dry" is also great simply because the band wants to rock. Def Leppard at this point in their career were hungry and eager to prove to the world that they kicked ass, and they did. Don't believe Joe Elliot when he tells you that Def Leppard were always really a pop band at heart, not a metal one, that just isn't true. While there is a clear pop-sensibility to "High N' Dry" it most definitely has a metallic edge and a lot of balls.
When I think of Def Leppard, I think of the group existing as two separate entities. First, there is the Def Leppard of the 80s, a great rock band who put out four terrific albums, even if they did get a little too commercial towards the end. And second there is the Def Leppard of the 90s/00s, an embarrassment; a band for soccer moms, the less said about the better.
So even if Def Leppard has sucked beyond belief for years, go back in time with "High N' Dry," and rock out to an album from a once really great band.
Free Music Review: Classic Heavy Metal by a band who wasn't cheesy pop just yet
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. The songs all rock, even though some of them were intended as filler. Joe Elliot screeches like an improved, British version of AC/DC's Brian Johnson (who will never touch Bon Scott, by the way), Pete Willis and Steve Clark serve up riff after awesome riff, and Mutt Lange produces it so that it's crunchy and heavy, but with good sound quality, far better than his echoey sound effects on Hysteria. Songs:
Let It Go 9/10. Great song. Swingin' riff, great chorus, and nice and quiet verse... the one point off is for the lack of anything you could really call a solo. There's a mid-song break, which kicks as much a$$ as the rest of the song, but no solo.
Hit'n'Run 10/10. A tense, melodic intro gives way to an electrically charged riff and a loping verse and chorus, Elliot playing the part of thug well. While it's not the most impressive I've ever heard, Willis' solo is still completely awesome, making this song, and its long pauses, just a little bit better than its sister track, Let It Go
High 'n' Dry 8/10. This sounds like an AC/DC song, and as heavy metal critic Martin Popoff noted, it would be awesome to hear them cover it.
Bringin' On the Heartbreak 8/10. This is the album's power ballad, and of course, its radio hit. It's better than most power ballads (beats the hell out of Skid Row's 18 and Life), with a verse that actually sounds soulful, and a classic chorus. When the song is over, it starts into the bass throbbing of...
Switch 625 7/10. This is one of those instrumentals that would sound better with vocals. Great song nonetheless, especially with its melodic secondary riff.
You Got Me Runnin' 10/10. Hehehehe! Joe Elliot sings like a thug again, and the band pounds out a song that should have been a bigger hit. A little bit simplistic, but hey, isn't that a good thing?
Lady Strange 12/10 THE THIRD BEST SONG OF ALL TIME, behind only No One Like You (Scorpions), and Creeping Death (Metallica). From its classic guitar intro, to its hum-it-all-day-and-still-want-to-hear-it-when-you-get-home riff, to its fist-pumping climax, this song is 4 minutes and 38 seconds of pure metal!
On Through The Night 8/10 Was this supposed to go on the first album or something? No other way of explaining the title. A good song, seeing as nothing on this album is bad, but it could have been better
Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes) 8/10. It sounds like it was supposed to be filler, but its chorus lifts it above stuff like Action! Not Words on Pyromania (anyone remember that song?).
No, No, No 9/10. Thrashing all over the place, spinning out of control... this was one of the first thrash metal songs, along with Judas Priest's Dissident Agressor. Or if not that, it was at least a step up on the speed ladder. Rick Allen's snare gives it a backbone, unlike Metallica's early stuff. A short song, a concentrated burst of speed.
This album is just as good as it was when I first heard it, when I was 10 years old, when I didn't even understand the lyrics.
Buy it or you'll be sorry ... sorry you missed such a classic album!
Free Music Review: It's a shame their heavy metal era didn't last longer
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is absolutely unique in Def Leppard's carrier. It's their only classic of heavy metal ranking in the new wave of british heavy metal. The previous one was softer and more friendly, the next is more pop-rock. The songs are not polished at all, on the contrary to "Pyromania". For the "High and Dry" album, Def Leppard has taken advantage of services of AC/DC's producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, which is not nothing. This album is also marked by guitarist Pete Willis, who will be fired after this album for coming drunk to some record sessions. This will be the first big mistake of Def Leppard.
Personal ratings :
Let it go - A+
This was the other single of the album with "Bringin' on the heartbreak". It has some amazing guitar riffs, it's sometimes soft, sometimes hard. It has a good chorus, with Joe Elliott's screams as backing vocals.
Another hit and run - A+
This one has also some excellent guitar riffs and an excellent intro. Great guitar solos can be heard.
High 'n' dry - B-
I'm not too much into this song.
Drinking all day, drinking party, saturday night, that's not my style.
Bringin' on the heartbreak - A+
Def Leppard's best ballad. Typically my point of view. I agree with this song.
Switch 625 - A
This is an instrumental that follows directly "Bringin' on the heartbreak", on which you can hear the begining at the end of the song. Best of Vault wasn't well made for that !
Some screams can be heard on this instrumental.
You got me runnin' - A
I find this song sounds a lot like the Rolling Stones. It's really pure rock 'n' roll.
Lady strange - B+
Strange song. Sounds quite immature, but it's still a pleasure to hear this. It has a good chorus.
On through the night - C-
On my opinion, the weak point of the album. Although it's the title of the previous album, it's on this CD. Strange.
Nothing really catches me, the chorus is mediocre, it's annoying.
Mirror, Mirror - A+
One other high point. Sounds like a strong ballad, though the word 'ballad' isn't really appropriate. The chorus is catchy and powerful.
No no no - B-
I don't like this song very much, it's very immature. Just for fun, when you need something strong.
Finally, this is a great album of heavy metal, an album Def Leppard won't make again. There's almost no production, which some don't appreciate and therefore prefer "Pyromania" and "Hysteria". My opinion is that "high 'n' dry" and "Pyromania" are the best Def Leppard albums.
Line-up :
Rick Allen - Drums
Pete Willis - Guitar
Joe Elliott - Vocals
Steve Clark - Guitar
Rick Savage - Bass
Free Music Review: High and Dry : A must have for the true Leppard Fan
Hit: 5 Stars
High and Dry is the album to hear passionate, raw vocals from Joe Eliott and excellent guitar work form Steve Clark and Pete Willis. They seemed to have captured a mystique on this record that would culminate later in Pyromania. The first time I heard "Another Hit and Run" I was hooked.. There's a spontaneity felt here that is really genuine and sadly missed in there most recent few albums. Pyromania is a metal masterpiece yes, but High and Dry is where they truly took musical risks and put there guts on the line. "Bringing on the Heartbreak" is just a classic ballad and by far there best...it's haunting yet very melodic and it's candidness is unmatched...even Joe's Sheffield accent when he sings, "Taking on the best of me"...his vocals never sounded so passionate! Another great thing is the pace of the record..the songs are in your face almost without a pause. Steve may not be in the Hall of Greats but his style of riffs and songwriting were unique..Pete Willis was great too..there styles meshed like no one else..High and Dry rocks hard and has pop harmonies which was unique considering how hard they rocked. That's what made them stand out as a band...how they cleverly mixed both of these qualities and pulled it off and still remaining heavy. I think Def Leppard knock Pete Willis too much..he was there for the writing of Pyromania too...Phil Collen replaced him and recorded a few solos but the songs were already there...High and Dry is a great album with only one track that is weak "(No, no, no)"...One song that to this day still gets me going is "Mirror, Mirror"...just a brilliant song..very moody and one of there most memorable and interesting riffs. There have been lots of comparisons to AC/DC but what separates High and Dry is the brilliant harmonies and the ricochet of 2 separate guitars weaving in and out of Joe's vocals.
I highly recommend this cd...It's a must have in a quality hard rock collection. This will always be the album that Def Leppard truly rocked in a genuine way...no pretenses, no premeditations just honest Rock and Roll from 5 truly talented musicians... A very underated classic hard rock album. Who cares if the production paled next to Pyromania or Hysteria???...the songs are strong and the very rawness of the recording only adds to the greatness of it...
Free Music Review: Buy This Album. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200.
Hit: 5 Stars
This is Def Leppard's best album, and that is saying a lot. "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" are two of the best recordings ever put on tape, but High 'N' Dry is better. Nearly 20 years after its original release, it still sounds as fresh as the day it came out."High 'N' Dry" isn't quite as polished as Lep's later stuff. There's fewer synths, and the production's not as strong. Once you hear it, you'll quickly realize that this is a good thing. It lays the raw power of Def Leppard bare, and the listener quickly notices that these guys are even more capable than "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" would indicate.
There simply isn't a bad or even a mediocre song on this album. No filler here for sure. Any one of the tracks on "High 'N' Dry" would justify the price of the CD. "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" set the standard for power ballads, and in my opinion has yet to be topped by anybody. The title track, "Let It Go," "Another Hit And Run," "You Got Me Running," and "Lady Strange," however, show that there is a lot more to "High 'N' Dry" than "Heartbreak." These songs rock like nobody's business. It's a real shame that Joe Elliot and the guys have pretty much disowned this album except for "Heartbreak". If they were to make a new album that even came close to "High 'N' Dry," they'd attract a whole new generation of fans in short order.
The CD and later LP versions add two bonus tracks, a remix of "Heartbreak" and "Me And My Wine," that weren't on the original LP release in 1981. The original "Heartbreak" is the better of the two, but the remix and "Me And My Wine" are still a plus. As if there wasn't plenty there already.
If you don't have this album, buy it now. If you have it on LP or cassette, this one's well worth upgrading to CD. This is truly a landmark recording, and is not to be missed.