X

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Self belief at work, 2008-06-13
2002 saw Def Leppard release this album to very little press or push. Let's face it they weren't going to score a hit single anyway so why spend the money on a PR push. Anyway the album starts off with the quite acceptable Now. An upbeat rock `n' roll number. After that we go straight into a ballad. Like the world needs more of them by this band. br / br /Though as the album unfolds it seems that the presence of outside writers hasn't altered the bands chemistry but has probably kept things fresh for the boys in the band. The feel of the tracks is not altered - check out You're So Beautiful - this is quintessential 90's Def Leppard. Lots of production and technology poured into a track with big choral effects. Lyrically the album is the same as their last ten years. Meaning it's pretty much all kept within the human realm which is firstly comfortable and secondly connective. Value is added by the fact that some versions of this album came with bonus tracks and these versions seem quite readily available. No lyrics in the booklet - nice portrait photos of the guys - but no lyrics. br / br /But who cares about lyric sheets when it's mostly all ballad stuff anyway...track after track of soft rock wimpouts. Some respite is provided by the production values but tunes with life such as Four Letter Word and Cry are far too infrequent. It's not like I'm hankering for endless rehash of Wasted, Rocks Off or High `n' Drys' AC/DC influenced grunt but some more uptempo rock songs would of been nice. And a few tunes (I'm thinking tune #7, Torn To Shreds here) do have full instrumentation but as usual only during the chorus; fellas the template is beyond boring by now! And while we're comparing this to their earlier stuff why have they not done something like Die Hard The Hunter? Maybe not musically, but you know, perhaps something with some intellectual heft to it? You see I'm a fan of this band. And can accept totally that they'd get mellower with age as most bands tend to. But your supposed to bring maturity and insight to even things out. There is none of that here. And that's such a shame as given the low expectations for this album you'd think they'd have the guts to do a few different things and visit a few different sub genres, crank the guitars every now and then. I mean Viv Campbell used to be a great metal guitarist for example and surely there is still some testosterone in his system? Well, there is the bonus track Kiss The Day with a darn good guitar attack. One on the whole album, wow.... br / br /But I refuse to petulantly give this one star as a lot of studio work has obviously gone into this and it's not a bad thing to throw on when your mentally busy with something. Good background music and little of it will demand your attention nor will it be too heavy to put on when your wife is around.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Pathetic attempt to rehash nothing for $$$, 2008-05-11
So bad. I loved Def Leppard in the early 80s and lost touch and interest completely until I was surprized by SLANG in the mid-90s and the fact that they were experimenting and doing what it seemed like that wanted to do creatively. br /I admit when I read they were 'returning' to their glory days that I lost interest again until just a week or two ago when the SPARKLE LOUNGE came out. Again, I was impressed by some of it (except for the hideously BLECH duet with Tim McGraw...a putrid grasp for a crossover hit...yuk), so I decided to investigate their 2002 release X figuring perhaps it may have some good stuff on it. br /Don't be fooled. It doesn't. It's bland emotionaless heartless pop and I can't grasp why on earth money and popularity would be more important than actually making good music which they're obviously capable of. br /One listen to this record and their intentions are clear and it's aweful. And it didn't work. br /Keep making music that rocks and that you like guys. br /Stay away from this album.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Half Bad, Half Good, 2008-05-02
This should be a warning to every band that thinks using outside writers will get you hit singles. They won't and in the case of "X" they just make about half of the album really awkward sounding. The album starts off nicely with "Now" but quickly goes straight down with "Unbelievable". What IS unbelievable is that the band convinced themselves that recording this song was a good idea. That's followed by 4 so-so songs that all sound a little too pop for Def Leppard. Then without warning the album starts to actually get good with "Torn To Shreds" through the epic "Scar" with the exception of the sticky sweet misstep of "Girl Like You". Let's see, the first half of the album was written or co-written by outside writers and was very poor while the second half was all penned by Def Leppard and was actually pretty good. Hopefully we can chalk this up to a lesson learned and just forget that "Unbelievable" every happened.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

This is Def Leppard???, 2008-02-11
This is a flat out embarassment from a band that was considered one of the great rock bands of the 1980's. I hated Hystria when it came out, but I appriciate it much more today. I loved High and Dry and Pryomania and still think they are part of the British wave of Heavy Metal, even though say Def Leppard is just rock or areana rock. Mind you, I havent heard anything from this band since "Adrenlize" and by then I thought it was over. I stumbled across this just as I was about to write a review about "High and Dry" and thought, wow, didnt even know they were still around. This 2002 release is once again, an Embarrasment!! Ok ,some of you who give this five stars appriciate the band for changing up their sounds, and from reading most reviews, it seems you like this style of music. But think about it, Grown Men, in thier late 40's and early 50's, playing this garbage. I understand that they might not want to write heavy metal anymore, but at least how bout some staight up rock. This is more like bubblegum preen rock. Are you kidding me??? Instead of dumming down to this nonsense, how bout showing us some progression and advancement. The band has been playing for years and this is the best they can do?????? If this wasnt Def Leppard, I might say its not so bad, as some of the tunes arent that bad, but still most songs are a preen type boy band rock sound BUT....since this is Def Leppard and I see this change as more of a marketing gimmick then a whole hearted personal drive to play this (this is on a major label, so I am sure they had to sell out to Island to play what is popular on FM radio). Just because you are getting older, doesnt mean you have to change completely or lose your edge. Iron Maiden, Motorhead, and Overkill all had awesome new releases either this year or the past two years. Even though all wont match their so called masterpiece albums, they are still releasing material that is worthy. This is most worthy for a coaster. What a shame and disappointment.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Def Leppard Makes a Pop Record, 2007-12-31
Realistically, bands like Bon Jovi are far, FAR from anything even close to hard rock music. Bon Jovi is pop metal's equivalent to what Good Charlotte and Simple Plan are to punk rock. And Def Leppard chose to go the route of Bon Jovi on this 2002 release, "X." The songs themselves are very well crafted, which makes this a 4 star album. But let the buyer beware, if you long for the soaring wall-of-guitars sound and the primal screams of Pyromania and Hysteria, then pick up the band's 2006 album "Yeah!" This music here is a cross between classic Def Leppard melodies and sugar sweet pop in vein of the Backstreet Boys or Bryan Adams. It is hard to imagine Def Leppard sounding like the Backstreet Boys, but if you don't believe me, check out the sound sample for the track "Long Long Way To Go." I have nothing against pop music, but there is kind of a lack of energy with this album, it seems overly technical. Joe's vocals are as always passionate and pitch-perfect, but the guitarists seem to be going through the motions. In 2008, DL is going to release a new set of songs that is said to be similar to the high-energy of "Yeah" and "Hysteria." If they can write up a batch of melodies this good to go along with that approach, then we're talking major comeback. And everyone seems to think of Def Leppard as an ancient band, but when compared to Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and AC/DC, time may be actually on their side.