Def Leppard – Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

Edward Box takes a look at the new Def Leppard album 'Songs from the Sparkle Lounge'...

Like many bands, Def Leppard ,or the Leps as they are affectionately known, suffer from the proverbial albatross that is the career defining album. In their case it’s called Hysteria and 18 million sales later they just can’t seem to shake its grip.

Let’s face it, most bands are lucky to sell 18 albums these days so full credit to Sheffield’s finest for being a truly global act. As the title suggests this contains songs that were written back stage on Leppard’s tour for the covers album Yeah. In the spirit of this I will take a track by track look at each tune and we will see if it sparkles like a diamond or is as dull as a chavs fake gold knuckle duster.

Overview!

Go: This is a great opener and is probably one of the heaviest things the band has ever done. Everything sounds crisp, which is what you would suspect from these arch perfectionists, but there is a rawness to the sound that we haven’t heard since the High and Dry era.
Nine Lives: This features Tim McGraw on guest vocals at the start of the song. I don’t know why they bothered quite frankly because I have being doing impersonations of his singing for the last two weeks. I would have done the session for a case of lager and no writing credit. Top tune though with a classic leppard pre chorus.
C’mon C’mon: This has a cool Glitter band vibe. It’s not my cup of tea but Leps fans will love it.
Love: Undoubtedly the most ambitious track of the bands career, this one has Queen written all over it. Lush vocal harmonies and orchestral arrangements abound and the fact that it was written soley by Rick Savage surprises further still. A superb Phil Collen solo spices up proceedings and the lads pull off a truly unique ballad.
Tomorrow: Really catchy song from the pen of Mr Collen. One of the albums best tracks.
Cruise Control: My lass reckons this doesn’t really sound like a Leppard track and is more akin to material from their album, Slang. Either way it’s OK but nothing more.
Hallucinate: Another catchy ditty. It won’t stick around like some of the other tunes but it maintains the standard.
Only the Good Die Young: This track begins with a nice Sgt Peppers inspired intro and the rest of the song motors along nicely. A very humable tune, this is what Lepppard are famous for.
Bad Actress: This song is the albums only true stinker. It is bad, bad and badder still. Hang your head in shame Mr Elliott.
Come Undone: Top late entry with a cracking chorus. This makes me want to get in my 106 and cruise the banks of the Tyne.
Gotta Let it Go: The album finishes on a bit of a lull and it seems silly to have another song with go in the title but again it is pleasant enough. 

Conclusion

In concluding this is definitely the most consistent Leppard album since Hysteria. Some of their other albums have better tracks but they are too patchy. This contains half a dozen killer tunes and the fillers are of a good standard. All the performances are very good and the production has a great contemporary edge. 

One point of note though: back in 1983 Viv Campbell played up a storm on Holy Diver and Phil Collen’s playing was merely serviceable on Pyromania. Fast forward to present day and Collen smokes Campbell everytime and is fast becoming one of the unsung heroes of British rock guitar (he can form his own club with Adrian Smith and Glenn Tipton).

Roll on the Leppard/Whitesnake tour but be warned: Neither Leppard guitarist stands a hope in hell against the combined force of Aldrich and Beach!