Def Leppard – Def Leppard (2015)
Def Leppard fall into the category of bands who have now been shit for a lot longer than they were ever good. In part this is not their fault: like any band whose uber-hits define an era, their relevance dies with that era. But it is also the case that when this band tries to branch out from their ‘80s sound, it has never been convincing. Add in to the fact that in 2016 this band looks like a partially-melted wax-work of their 1987 selves – or, with the addition of hair dye and 40lbs, like a bunch of welders who have begun the first stage of gender-transition therapy – and the whole saga is very sorry indeed. Or, it would be if this eponymous record was not REALLY, REALLY FUCKING GOOD. Leppard has also been a pop band in heavy rock clothes, and their proud of that heritage. Reading interviews with other ageing rockers always reveals a sense of embarrassment about their musical credibility (do you really believe a 15 year old member of any 80s spandex warrior band was hooked on Muddy Waters?) but with Leppard you get no such nonsense. Grew up listening to Bolan, Mott and The Sweet and damn proud of it – that sense of joy de vive oozes out of this record. If you’re too cool for Def Leppard, the chances are you’re probably an asshole.
Opener ‘Let’s Go’ is Leppard by numbers. Powerchords, those trademark Phil Collen guitar licks, and a MASSIVE chorus – summarising a 35 year career, it is a highly appropriate way to open an eponymous record, and you will reach for the volume control. Similarly, ‘Dangerous’ is an up-tempo, no-nonesense rocker which would sit comfortably on any of the band’s first four records. But this is no nostalgia trip. ‘Man Enough’ is something of a musical departure, and it is easily the best tune here. A funky bassline (which nods to Queen) and a teasing, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, this is catchier than VD in a whorehouse. Add to that the fact that the bluesy, acoustic ‘Battle of My Own’ sounds like Marc Bolan would have done if he’d grown up in the delta, and you’ve got a band on fire. ‘Sea of Love’ is more ‘70s glam than ‘80s pomp, ‘All Time High’ leaves you feeling like you’re on one, and ‘Forever Young’ is a pocket rocket of a tune. Simply put, this is a band who knows how to write a hook. Metal and hard rock are in thrall to an awful lot of ‘retro-rock’ bands at the moment, but critics would do well to remember a bunch of dudes from Sheffield who discard better melodies than most of those bands will ever write.
There are certainly problems. 14 tunes is too many for a band of this ilk, and less is certainly more here. ‘Energized’ is a chorus in need of a song, and ‘Invincible’ is wholly unnecessary. But it is refreshing to report that although the ballads – despite being cheesier that Def Leppards’ cocks c.1985 – are actually good. ‘We Belong’ will probably get a lot of 50-somethings laid this year, and ‘Wings of An Angel’ has a hook of epic proportions. Everyone needs to be sentimental sometimes, Jim.
It’s safe to say that should the ‘I’m gonna crank some Def Leppard’ mood take you, you’re still more likely to reach for Pyromania than you are this album. But don’t over-look it. This is not an exercise in the law of diminishing returns – it is the best record Def Leppard have made in a quarter of a century.
Def Leppard fall into the category of bands who have now been shit for a lot longer than they were ever good. In part this is not their fault: like any band whose uber-hits define an era, their relevance dies with that era. But it is also the case that when this band tries to branch out from their ‘80s sound, it has never been convincing. Add in to the fact that in 2016 this band looks like a partially-melted wax-work of their 1987 selves – or, with the addition of hair dye and 40lbs, like a bunch of welders who have begun the first stage of gender-transition therapy – and the whole saga is very sorry indeed. Or, it would be if this eponymous record was not REALLY, REALLY FUCKING GOOD. Leppard has also been a pop band in heavy rock clothes, and their proud of that heritage. Reading interviews with other ageing rockers always reveals a sense of embarrassment about their musical credibility (do you really believe a 15 year old member of any 80s spandex warrior band was hooked on Muddy Waters?) but with Leppard you get no such nonsense. Grew up listening to Bolan, Mott and The Sweet and damn proud of it – that sense of joy de vive oozes out of this record. If you’re too cool for Def Leppard, the chances are you’re probably an asshole.
Opener ‘Let’s Go’ is Leppard by numbers. Powerchords, those trademark Phil Collen guitar licks, and a MASSIVE chorus – summarising a 35 year career, it is a highly appropriate way to open an eponymous record, and you will reach for the volume control. Similarly, ‘Dangerous’ is an up-tempo, no-nonesense rocker which would sit comfortably on any of the band’s first four records. But this is no nostalgia trip. ‘Man Enough’ is something of a musical departure, and it is easily the best tune here. A funky bassline (which nods to Queen) and a teasing, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, this is catchier than VD in a whorehouse. Add to that the fact that the bluesy, acoustic ‘Battle of My Own’ sounds like Marc Bolan would have done if he’d grown up in the delta, and you’ve got a band on fire. ‘Sea of Love’ is more ‘70s glam than ‘80s pomp, ‘All Time High’ leaves you feeling like you’re on one, and ‘Forever Young’ is a pocket rocket of a tune. Simply put, this is a band who knows how to write a hook. Metal and hard rock are in thrall to an awful lot of ‘retro-rock’ bands at the moment, but critics would do well to remember a bunch of dudes from Sheffield who discard better melodies than most of those bands will ever write.
There are certainly problems. 14 tunes is too many for a band of this ilk, and less is certainly more here. ‘Energized’ is a chorus in need of a song, and ‘Invincible’ is wholly unnecessary. But it is refreshing to report that although the ballads – despite being cheesier that Def Leppards’ cocks c.1985 – are actually good. ‘We Belong’ will probably get a lot of 50-somethings laid this year, and ‘Wings of An Angel’ has a hook of epic proportions. Everyone needs to be sentimental sometimes, Jim.
It’s safe to say that should the ‘I’m gonna crank some Def Leppard’ mood take you, you’re still more likely to reach for Pyromania than you are this album. But don’t over-look it. This is not an exercise in the law of diminishing returns – it is the best record Def Leppard have made in a quarter of a century.
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