Def Leppard's New Album Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

I am a huge Def Leppard fan, I have all of their albums, and while the 80s are long gone, it's amazing how these bands keep that little part of the 80s alive with their music. Probably Def Leppards most successful album, Hysteria sold an amazing 18 million copies worldwide, and this was definitely one of my favorite albums too. Any Def Leppard fan will tell you that their harmonically written ballads are truly at the top, and that their hardcore rock anthems still stand the test of time, but would their newely released album "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" be able to continue the long legacy that Def Leppard has created for themselves? We shall find out.

Producer Robert "Mutt" Lange was rumored to be a part of a few songs on Def Leppard's new album, but those rumors were quickly banished and he would be no where to be found. That's the only thing that made me a little skeptical regarding this new album, because Lange produced their top selling album in "Hysteria", and this album follows in Hysteria's footsteps, or at least tune-wise. The producer of "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" is Ronan McHugh, who also assisted on Def Leppard's 2002 released album "X". The album "X" wasn't one of the popular Def Leppard albums, as a matter of fact, it sold the least out of all of their albums, so that made me even more worried about this album. So here goes...

"Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" features the hit radio tune "Nine Lives" that features country superstar "Tim McGraw". The song definitely sounds like a Def Leppard like song, as you can hear the harmonic style in the background. Tim McGraw only really sings for maybe 10 seconds in the beginning? The song isn't really a country song, so major rock fans and Def Leppard fans will enjoy that fact. Although, there have been a few rock artists who made a turn at writing a rockcountry album. Bon Jovi is one of those bands, and the album did very well. I really enjoy the title "Nine Lives", but it isn't my favorite tune. Another hit "C'mon C'mon" is a catchy PopRock style song that brings us back to the 80s, and possibly even the 70s. When you first hear the song, you will notice that it has a bit of a dance beat to it, and I definitely like that about the song.

Immediately after "C'mon C'mon", the album dips into the title "Love", which is a definite power ballad, and one that should be placed in Def Leppards top power ballads list. We really get to hear the whole band and their harmonies in this song. Surely the nostalgia is starting to kick in now, and hardcore Def Leppard fans are beginning to remember the "old" Def Leppard (no pun intended). In my honest opinion, the best of the album is definitely towards the beginning of the album, but it doesn't mean it gets terribly worst. The next title on the album is the faster tune "Tommorow", and it really hits a special spot in your mind when you listen to it. While "Tomorrow" isn't particularly a classic Def Leppard tune, Elliott and the guys sure know how to sing it well, I have no problems with the song.

"Cruise Control", the next track on the album is a darker song that flaunts Def Leppards lower keys, and while this isn't a bad thing, it's probably one of the more forgettable tracks on the album. If I could categorize the song in any way, I would put it in the "gothic" category, it's an average song, but being a die-hard Def Leppard fan, I can't hate the song, I just have to be honest to everyone else who will be reading this review. "Hallucinate" revives the album greatly, and this song basically allows people to listen to Collen's and Campbell's awesome guitar licks. There isn't anything bad to be said about "Hallucinate", surely goes back to "Hysteria", and one can compare the song to plenty of the older Def Lep hits.

The next tune after "Hallucinate" is the catchy "Only the Good Die Young", and no it's not a Billy Joel cover tune, but a song that will stay in your head for a long time. This song is exclusively penned by Vivian Campbell, and his truly brilliant chorus made this song what it is. "Bad Actress", the next track on "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" is a true guitar hit, and one that any hardcore rock fan will love. It surely isn't a song that one can lay back and relax to, but the song will get you going. The next track is a tune where you can sit back and relax to though, "Come Undone" features the whole band and their classic harmonies once again. I wouldn't call it a ballad, but it's a tune that is catchy and definitely "Def Leppardish"... Ending the album is the song "Gotta Let it Go", and I must say that the finale is not something to be ashamed of, as this is definitely one of the top songs on the album. Like I said earlier, the first half of the album is the better half, but if I were to rank songs, this would probably be towards the first half. The chorus definitely blasts out a bang in this last song.

"Songs From the Sparkle Lounge" is not a bad album at all. Surely there have been different opinions on the album, critics rating it a 2 out of 5, and other people rating it a very good 4 out of 5, it's basically a personal opinion, and you can't always go by critics opinions. I will be fair and give this album a 4 out of 5, simply because I am not harsh when it comes to reviews, and I think the album has great potential. There are a lot of songs on this album that can be concert hits, even encores, so purchase this album and check it out for yourselves, you will not be disappointed.

Top 3 Songs off of the album -

3. Nine Lives ft. Tim McGraw
2. C'mon C'mon
1. Love