It’s one of Def Leppard’s most consistent records. Like it’s predecessor, a perfect hybrid of hard rock and pop music. Released in 1992, it beat all odds in its success. Reaching number one in four countries at the height of the grunge revolution. It spawned many singles including the immensely popular ‘Lets Get Rocked’. I’m talking, of course, about Def Leppard’s fifth album and first without founding member Steve Clark ‘Adrenalize’.
After the death of Steve Clark Def Leppard were unsure about their future. But they decided that the band had been through strife before and could prevail. So they continued on without their fallen comrade. They decided to record the next album as a quartet. Seeing as how Clark had contributed to song writing in pre-production. Collen has said, ‘I was sitting there with him when we recorded some tracks. I could relay that. But it was like playing with a ghost.’ All of the recorded guitars are Collen.
The album opens with the legendary ‘Lets Get Rocked’. Say what you will about the music video, but this is a damn catchy song and a great way to open an album. Where as ‘Woman’ from ‘Hysteria’ is debatable as an opening track. ‘Lets Get Rocked’ comes right out of the gate. A simple, rhythmic, sing along chorus complete with bad ass funk metal bridge to boot. And it remains in the set list to this day. Sometimes as the closing encore. Then then album mirrors ‘Pyromania’ by having ‘Heaven Is’ as the second track. It’s a pretty similar song to ‘Photograph’. Not a copy, but it’s in the same vein for sure. It’s got that poppy, upbeat chord progression with a hard rock beat and tone. The song solidifies Def Leps ability to cross genres flawlessly. Then ‘Make Love Like A Man’ comes in. And for as lame as the lyrics are, the music is pretty entertaining. Great rhythm, bad ass riff, bad ass chords. So I never skip it.
Then the band shows truly how gifted they are by showing some really intense vocal harmony excellence in the introduction of ‘Tonight’. A dark, moody ballad. But with that Def Leppard swagger. It’s definitive baby makin’ music. Then the album centerpiece ‘White Lightning’ starts up with a Phil Collen amniotic guitar texture. It might be the strongest song on the album. A tribute to the fallen Steve Clark. Then another ballad, ‘Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion), mid tempos its way in. It’s actually a pretty emotional song. One of the bands most underrated ballads in my opinion. ‘Personal Property’ is next. And while the music may rock many times over, the subject matter is little dated. But it’s songs like this one that make the albums success that much more astonishing. I mean, Def Leppards brand of rock was deemed very very unworthy at the time of ‘Adrenalize’s’ release. And yet the album is one of their highest selling in their catalog. And that’s saying a lot.
‘Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad’ is the only slow tempo ballad on the album. And it’s another typical Def Leppard ballad. Done in epic fashion and grandiose brilliance. It’d be cool if they threw it in the set sometime just for kicks. ‘I Wanna Touch You’ is an instant rhythm addiction. It’s got that major phat phat Rick ‘The Thunder God’ Allen’s drum sound. A benefit of his new custom drum set. And of course, it possesses the Def Leppard pop twist. Making yet another hard rock song that’s accessible to even the least rocked. Then the album closes with the strong ‘Tear It Down’. A straight forward, hard rocking, speed inducing song. It’s one of those songs that when it comes on and you’re driving, you just start speeding.
All in all this is a very very good Def Leppard album. It’s often placed third on many lists ranking the bands albums. And it’s their third most successful behind ‘Hysteria’ and ‘Pyromania’. A monster of a record. And side note: The album cover is freakin’ sick. There’s so much you can use with it as far as the stage aesthetic goes when it comes to the tour. So crank it up this weekend and jam on the Lep!
What’s your favorite song on the album?
A legendary music video. Not necessarily for the right reasons.
Steve Clark’s tribute. And my favorite on the album.
Perfect drag racing music.
