Slang - Def Leppard

This is a change from the normal Def Leppard rock 'till you drop kind of music. It's an album that did not do particularly well ... Def Lep fans, myself included, simply didn't like the changes and experiments that the guys had implemented. It just doesn't sound like a Def Leppard album.

But hang on ... is it really that bad an album? Perhaps I didn't give it enough of a chance the first time round. Since the album came out in 1995, ...
...Puddle of Mudd introducing a type of rock that doesn't rely so much on heavy use of power chords.

So here I'm going to look at it as another rock album, rather than another Def Leppard album and see what we get ...

Song 1 - Truth?
===============
This is bass-heavy number with some interesting guitar and vocal effects throughout. The song gells together nicely and is a good song to start with. It gives ... more

This is a change from the normal Def Leppard rock 'till you drop kind of music. It's an album that did not do particularly well ... Def Lep fans, myself included, simply didn't like the changes and experiments that the guys had implemented. It just doesn't sound like a Def Leppard album.

But hang on ... is it really that bad an album? Perhaps I didn't give it enough of a chance the first time round. Since the album came out in 1995, the rock scene has changed dramatically with bands such as Puddle of Mudd introducing a type of rock that doesn't rely so much on heavy use of power chords.

So here I'm going to look at it as another rock album, rather than another Def Leppard album and see what we get ...

Song 1 - Truth?
===============
This is bass-heavy number with some interesting guitar and vocal effects throughout. The song gells together nicely and is a good song to start with. It gives an indication of the rest of the album ... if you don't like this song you're unlikely to like the rest of the material.

8/10

Song 2 - Turn to Dust
=====================
Starts off sounding quite Arabian before continuing on a relatively slow tempo which doesn't speed up much during the chorus. Contains bursts of heavy power chords. This is a slightly lacklustre song which only really comes to life for me during the solo. Disappointing.

4/10

Song 3 - Slang
==============
The title song is indulgent 'old skool' Def Leppard. A minimalistic all-out fun'n'sexy rocker. Guitars are a little under-employed for my tastes, however, although they've done a fair amount of similar work in the past. There is a very sexy-sounding interlude (with a Spanish female voice thrown in). If you like Def Leppard's other stuff, you'll like this but sadly it might be the only one you DO like.

6/10

Song 4 - All I Want is Everything
=================================
A slow ballad but not one I find particularly inspiring. It's rather boring with very little variation although the lyrics aren't too bad. However, it's one of those 'track skip' songs.

3/10

Song 5 - Work it Out
====================
This one starts off with plenty of reverb which continues through to the chorus, amidst a lot of string scratching. As a typical rule, what makes a Def Leppard song is the chorus ... here, it is the opposite. The chorus is bland while the verses are quite interesting, as is the solo. This song is probably best described as one that shows budding guitarists what is possible with a good stomp box!

5/10

Song 6 - Breath a Sigh
======================
A VERY SLOOOOOW accoustic song along the lines of some of Bon Jovi's slower ballads. The chorus is pure Def Leppard in that there's heavy use of vocal harmonies. It's not actually a bad song to listen to if you want to put your feet up with a glass of wine, or fancy a close clinch with your girlfriend/boyfriend. It's probably one of those songs you either love or hate.

7/10

Song 7 - Deliver Me
===================
This is pure NIRVANA!! The style of this song owes more to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" than "Pour Some Sugar On Me." The verses are slow with minimal guitars while the song kicks into more life during the chorus with Joe pushing out his lungs more than at almost any part of this album. As a song on its own right, it's reasonable enough to listen to from time to time.

7/10

Song 8 - Gift of Flesh
======================
Starts off 'old skool' rock a la Alice Cooper but then the guitars ease off a little while still keeping that 'old skool' sound. The guitars return with a vengeance in the chorus. This is a song you can jump up and down to and is one of the better ones on the album. Even the production team seem to have tried to make this song sound like an older rock song. It's pretty effective stuff.

8/10

Song 9 - Blood Runs Cold
========================
Another VERY SLLLLOOOOOW song and one that the album could have well done without. One very slow ballad is enough for one album. At times it sounds like Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U". The lyrics are actually pretty good and the song picks up slightly during the second half but unlike "Breath a Sigh", the lyrical content of this song doesn't give it such a romantic edge. As a result there's nothing to really keep you coming back to it.

6/10

Song 10 - Where Does Love Go When It Dies
=========================================
A rather long title and a rather long-winded song that does little for the album. It's a strange little song. At times I'm almost expecting Joe to start singing "Kumbaya". It's a very soft strong ... another VERY SLOW acoustic ballad. This makes it too much of a muchness.

4/10

Song 11 - Pearl of Euphoria
===========================
Ever heard of a band called U2? I think you immediately get an idea of the style of this song. Another slow song with minimalistic guitars which eventually picks up, albeit only slightly, during the chorus. If you like U2, you'll enjoy this. Joe even starts to sound like Bono in places!

7/10

This was a very brave attempt from the guys and the album is certainly diverse (except for the quantity of ballads). Some of the stuff is actually quite decent. Despite its flaws it's an album I would probably play in the car. I'm in two minds whether or not to recommend it. If you're into Def Leppard, you'll hate it, but if you're into some of the newer bands (such as Puddle of Mudd) then it may be up your street.

So I'll recommend it, but with the above reservations. 

...less