Def Leppard - X
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Free Music Notes for X
Free Music Review: This Is How You Do It
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of Leppard since Hysteria, yep like nearly 15 million others I jumped firmly on the band wagon.I have been visiting the Def Leppard website ovr the last few weeks leading to the release of this album, they recently put quite a few sample MP3's on the site for tracks on X, I listened to them all and was shocked by how little any of them made an impression, I have to say that most of what I could gather from the samples was cheesy out of date rock, pleasing the die hard fans, but not holding any promise for bringing in any new fans that are probably caught up in the new wave of anthem rock singles..you know the ones, anything by Creed, Nickelback's monster hit and The Calling's Wherever You Will Go etc.
I was watching the Kerrang channel on Cable TV and came across the video for NOW, and I was like WOW, how good was that, not only was it true Leppard but it actually came across like any off the above named bands singles, it surpasses them as far as sound goes, its sonic, anthemic it gets into your head and will not let go.
So I got the album and well I'm probably close to wearing it out, its so solidly good and my favourite Leppard track is now on this album, if its not a global top ten hit then my radio ears are failing me, its a track called Long Long Way To Go, its so absolutely gorgeous it swathes over you like a reassuring blanket, then you just keep hitting repeat repeat repeat.
Unlike previous albums there are no fillers here, heres my short view on each track.
NOW: Fantastic track, great sound the best opening track from a Leppard album since Hysteria's Women.
UNBELIEVABLE: Verse Bridge BIG BIG CHORUS...excellent.
YOUR'E SO BEATIFUL: The sound of Summer, top down, car CD player blasting, a visit to the local car speaker store because you just cannot seem to get it loud enough may be inevitable.
EVERYDAY: They should release Long Way To Go as next single, but if there's going to be a 3rd single from this album this is it in my opinion, its fantastic, they have'nt nailed harmonies as good as this since Hysteria.
LONG LONG WAY TO GO: Thee (2 E's) stand out track on this album, its so beautiful it makes me wanna cry, dislodges the track Hysteria as my favourite Leppard song.
FOUR LETTER WORD: Coming soon to an arena near you, anthemic fist in the air anthem with excellent AC/DC style riff, I can see people throwing horns right now.
TORN TO SHREDS: Welcome back the sound of big guitars, and big big big chorus's that you just cannot help but sing along too, this kind of tune is just a Def Leppard signature, its stadium rock, no one does it better.
LOVE DONT LIE: Ok stop it, its like they have a photocopier that keeps printing out killer tracks, they are just toying with us.
GRAVITY: A little like the title track to Slang, the chorus definitely reminds me of that, which in my opinion is no bad thing. The verse is the line, the bridge is the bait the chorus is the hook.........GOTCHA.
CRY: See the review to FOUR LETTER WORD, more anthems for your dosh.
GIRL LIKE YOU: Maybe the only weak track, but even this is a non skip track, very much a vintage Hysteria sound, but I have to say it probably would have been an Hysteria single B Side.
LET ME BE THE ONE: No one does rock ballads the way that Leppard do them, and they prove that they are masters of the craft again here, I reckon an acoustic version of this would be excellent, a little like When Love And Hate Collide.
SCAR: Ok, its not the same subject matter, but sound wise this reminds me off White Lightning from Adrenalize all long term fans of Leppard will know the subject of that track. This is vintage Leppard though, this track sounds almost Pyromania era Leppard, and in places maybe even High N Dry, any Leppard fan thats waited for that sound to return will find it in this track.
OK, in summing up, this is the best Leppard album since Hysteria, without a shadow of a doubt. Its All Good, it comes from a band that are not pretending to be anyone else, a band that realise there sound and nail it over and over again, its quality and this is coming from someone that listens to everything from Jazz to Progressive Rock, Blues to Trance music, you just cannot help but appreciate how good this album is.
Free Music Review: A Great Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
As much of a huge fan I am of the band, I really tried to be objective about the album when I listened to it, and I can honestly say that this may arguably be their best album since Hysteria, and in fact, it can even be considered one of their top 3 albums. I loved this album as soon as I listened to it, and there can easily be 4-5 songs on there that can be “radio hit” material, even though there won’t be since consumer’s are “told” to consider Def Leppard as “old” and not “in”.On to the album itself. The first thing I noticed, was the energy and emotion on the album – and by energy and emotion, I don’t mean Joe Elliot grinding his teeth and saying “it’s so bad, it’s so bad” ten times in a row – or growling out in a monotone voice how angry he is about how dismal everything is and how the world needs to be changed, and giving the impression that his insight is so unique and special. The band honestly sounds like they're enjoying what they’re doing, and the energy translates very well on the songs – and this is quite something considering that the band members are in their early 40’s now.
While not having a greatest voice, Joe Elliot is actually singing, instead of screaming and whaling, probably cause he can’t belt out a “Photograph” or a “Love Bites” sounding like he did in the past. And he sounds very good. In fact, the presentation comes off as being very sincere – like he’s more than just singing to you, but he’s “speaking” to you as well.
Another point to be noticed is that it’s obvious that the intent was to write and produce a GOOD ALBUM, instead of writing 1 or 2 songs for the purpose of radio play, and write fillers for the rest of the album (which makes for generally crappy albums), which is so prevalent with rock bands, as well as pop music, these days (see Nickelback, Creed, Aerosmith, and a whole host of others).
Also, Rick Savage has much more freedom on the bass on the album (not Geddy Lee-type freedom though), which makes for quite interesting melodies to the music – and enjoyable as well. He has enough freedom, without abandoning Rick Allen on the drums, and yet complements him very well as part of the rhythm section of the band. He’s actually quite a good bass player.
Last, but not least, the harmonies – Def Leppard’s bread and butter. This is probably the album with the most prevalent harmonies, and some of the nicest ones as well. It’s obvious that there are no egos in the band, as the backing vocals have a lot of freedom, and Joe Elliot doesn’t mind them sounding better than he does in some songs! The harmonies do not sound as “over-produced” and “larger-than-life” as in previous albums, but are very pleasant and catchy.
You can’t put in the CD and expect it to sound like Hysteria, Pyromania or Adrenalize, because that’s not what it is. You won’t hear that polished, over-produced, larger-than-life sound that was their signature in the past, but the hooks and licks are still there, and quite cleverly done – just not “in your face”. And make no mistake, it’s obvious that much work was done on the sound and feel of the album. However, for old school fans, there are a couple of songs that have riffs and rhythms that could have been written for songs on Pyromania or even High‘n Dry, but don’t sound like they would have on those albums. And the rest of the songs are everything in between - this actually shows that the band has evolved and “grown up” over the years. You can’t really consider this as a pure “hard-rock” album – it’s just rock, or pop, or pop-metal, or pop-rock, or call it what you want… it’s Def Leppard.
Free Music Review: Back on top!
Hit: 5 Stars
Def Leppard may be back, but for many of us, they never went away. Hysteria really turned me on to the band, and I can still remember the anticipation I felt before the release of Adrenalize, nearly 5 years later. I had that feeling again in the weeks leading up to the release of X, and I'm not disappointed.Those who prefer the early days of Def Leppard (On Through The Night, High 'N Dry) may not be too impressed with the band in 2002. However, for any fan who loves Def Leppard for the quality of the music and the strength of their melodies, this album will give you the shivers.
1) Now - kind of an odd choice for first single, this one takes some time to grow on you. Melodically, it's not their strongest work, but it combines some interesting sounds and a big chorus to strong effect.
2) Unbelievable - excellent ballad, will make you "feel so damn good". Strong, soaring chorus with great vocal harmonies.
3) You're So Beautiful - another winner, but very poppy. Catchy chorus with unmistakable Leppard background vocals.
4) Everyday - sounds a lot like mid-90s Bryan Adams. This is not a bad thing. Lacks a huge hook, but very easy on the ears.
5) Long Long Way To Go - simply their best ballad ever! Joe's singing has never sounded so emotional. I still get chills every time I hear this song (after a few dozen plays). This will be the second single off the album, and should be a huge hit. You know that if one of today's boy bands did this song, it would get massive airplay, but wouldn't be nearly as good as this version.
6) Four Letter Word - sounds like something AC/DC would do. Classic rockin' tune, but not my favourite on the CD.
7) Torn To Shreds - my favourite song on X. Starts off quiet, but don't turn the volume up too high, or the next part will blow your speakers! The first verse slows it down a bit, but then comes the chorus. Pure ecstasy! Beautiful melody, and background harmonies the way only Def Leppard can do them. Simply amazing (but too short, less than 3 minutes).
8) Love Don't Lie - another strong mid-tempo ballad. Huge catchy chorus, pleasant acoustic background on verses.
9) Gravity - would have fit better on Euphoria. Odd-sounding percussion on this one. Not a fave.
10) Cry - the most non-traditional track on the CD, "Cry" takes a few listens to get used to. Lacks a big hook, but has some great guitar work.
11) Girl Like You - very poppy, upbeat, with another great Def Leppard chorus. The vocals occasionally sound a little strained and too high-pitched, but still a very good track.
12) Let Me Be The One - another beautiful ballad, but doesn't bring anything new to the table. The CD probably could have used another hard rocker before this track.
13) Scar - classic Def Leppard! Reminiscent of "Paper Sun" and "Day After Day" from Euphoria. Haunting guitar sounds building to the massive chorus where Joe finally gets to let loose with his trademark howling vocals. A fantastic way to end the album.
X keeps Def Leppard up with the times while still retaining their classic sound. This is not a metal band, and frankly, I don't think they were ever a metal band. They are a group of guys in their early 40s committed to recording strong, memorable music, and they have accomplished this goal admirably with X. If you are a fan of beautifully executed melodic rock, you won't regret picking up X.
Free Music Review: Hysteria 2002???
Hit: 5 Stars
I only found 2 weak tracks that separated themselves from the quality of the rest of the album, which means that this for me is their best album since Hysteria. The easiest way to describe the album is as a blend of their previous 4 albums (not including Vault or Retroactive).The first half of the album is the more laid back and best half, while the second half picks up the tempo with some more traditional Leppard rock n roll moments, but maybe isn't quite as strong.
The songs on X grow on you and bring you back for more. This is a far more matured Def Leppard. It's a mainly uptempo and free flowing album, but it's not an album driven by hard edged guitar.
The largely pop/melodic rock approach of the album and high quality of several commercial tracks suggests that X could see the Leps back in favor with radio programmers worldwide. There is at least 5 or 6 tracks that could comfortably fit on any radio format playlist.
Track by Track:
Now - A very moody track that runs from an acoustic/high-tech/modern pop intro to a heavier modern rock chorus and then progressively heavier verses. The first single off the album.
Unbelievable - Similar to "It's Only Love" from Euphoria.
You're So Beautiful - The first sign of a "Def Leppard 2002" sound. The first "sing-along" song of the album, with a killer hook.
Everyday - A consistently mid-tempo and evenly balanced song. The song builds towards the chorus but doesn't go over the top.
Long, Long Way To Go - I'll be surprised if this song doesn't do for Def Leppard what "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" did for Aerosmith. This is a killer song...breathtaking. One of the band's best ever ballads that demands repeated listens. A monster if radio gets hold of it.
Four Letter Word - Sounds like it could have been written during the Adrenalize sessions (Heaven Is, Make Love Like a Man). A party-rocker that gets better with repeated listens.
Torn To Shreds - Easily one of my favorites on this album. Has a bit of a Hysteria/Slang feel to it. Catchy as hell and one of the more musically interesting tracks from the album. Could be a hit single for rock radio.
Love Don't Lie - Not bad, but following the last track a little flat. Probably the weakest track of the album.
Gravity - Similar to the title track from Slang and "All Night" from Euphoria. The song is the most high-tech pop of the whole album.
Cry - is the most openly alternative rocker of the album. The chorus is different to say the least. Very in your face and aggressive. Sounds very close to a number of the heavier tracks from the last Aerosmith album Just Push Play.
Girl Like You - I agree with the review that relates this song to "21st Century Sha La La Girl" from Euphria. Lots of layers.
Let Me Be The One - A weaker ballad not as radio friendly as Long Long Way to Go.
Scar - This is a very cool track. Probably the stand-out track for classic Leppard fans. Very similar to the bonus track "I Am Your Child" from Euphoria. Gets better every listen and could easily be a rock radio single.
Free Music Review: FAR more worthy than many reviews indicate
Hit: 5 Stars
Man, X is just not getting the respect it deserves. You would think from some of the reviews on this site that this album is nothing short of terrible and that it deviates so fundamentally from Lep's style that it is not even them. While I do agree that X has a lighter sound than their other blockbusters (Pyro, Hysteria, and absolutely Euphoria), to call this album terrible or even average is a joke and an injustice to Lep. First of all, I have no idea why so many reviews of X refer to this album as a comeback album (and therefore a disappointment somehow). Where have ya'll been? Euphoria was their comeback album, not X. Euphoria, which was another Mutt Lange collaboration, returned to the sound of Pyromania and Hysteria and is easily their best album since Hysteria. So, stop calling X a comeback album, because it aint.
Next, why do so many people feel the need to corner bands into a particular sound and style? Last I checked, musicians were free people who can experiment with their craft anyway they like. For people to expect Lep to just continue producing the same ole sound album after album is ridiculous. True fans of any band will always be open-minded and try to appreciate why the band is creating the sound they are creating. Seems there are more wanna-be Lep fans out there than real ones.
The new style is precisely why X is such a great album in its own right. It demonstrates that the boys can still create great music without Lange's involvement and it also demonstrates that they can expand their style without compromising their globally unique sound (any one of these tunes, even void of Elliot's voice, is identifiable as Lep almost instantly). Those people who state that this CD is mush and has no intensity to it (or that it does not ROCK) are either crazy or on something. Even the ballads have rich, intricate rock guitar work going on and there are at least a handful of songs on the CD that are as rockin' as anything they've turned out since Pyromania. One must only open their ears and mind to the difference in style and the quality of the songs begin to take hold quickly.
All of the songs on the album are good -- there is not one of them that I don't like. Standouts are Unbelievable, So Beautiful (awesome), Four Letter Word (sounds like a mix of Armaggedon It and Photograph), Love Don't Lie, Gravity, Cry, Girl Like You, and Scar.
In conclusion, if you are a REAL Def Leppard fan (and not some fair-weather fan who corners them into a certain sound and blasts them if they don't produce what you want), you MUST get this CD and give it a fair number of listens (10 or so) before you walk away in errant disgust as so many here have apparently done. This is definitely a cornerstone to your DL collection and I personally can't wait to see what they produce in the future. The boys are BACK IN YOUR FACE.