DEF LEPPARD "X"
by Dana Brittingham
Cover: 1 Letter X out of 10
In the early days of the West, back when Def Leppard had pretty cool album covers, the peaceful town of Sniddler's Gulch was threatened by one of the meanest desparados of all time: Cowboy X, a man who left his mark everywhere. Well OK, the 'On Through The Night' cover was pretty cheesy, but so was everything in 1980 so we'll give the Leps a break. But can anyone deny that both Pyromania and Hysteria had unforgettable cover art; Adrenalize, Retroactive, and even Slang were well above average designs. However, Def Leppard album covers seemed to take a turn for the worse with 1999's 'Euphoria.' It looked like the designer had a little too much fun in Photoshop with the Lens Flare filter. And now this... Well, what can I say? It's a big white letter X. OK, this is the Lep's 10th album. Roman numberal 10, letter X, yeah I get it. I suppose it would stand out in a CD display at Wal-Mart, so I'll give it a point. But it gets zippo in the creative department. It looks like Cowboy X has just been through town!

Booklet: 5 Branding Irons out of 10
Cowboy X left X's everywhere - on the houses, on the streets, in the schoolhouse, X's on the horses, X's on new Def Leppard CDs, even on the members of Def Leppard themselves! There's X's everywhere in this booklet. If you have a lot of time on your hands, and if you look really hard, you can find a total of 18 X's throughout the liner notes! That bastard Cowboy X. And with a total of 12 panes in this booklet, you'd think there'd be room for lyrics! Alas, there isn't one to be found. Mostly it's devoted to photographs of Def Leppard. There are single panels devoted to each member and 2 group shots in front of a repeating cityscape. Good use of photography, but no lyrics and one too many X's, gets Def Leppard's 10th booklet a 50% (half-assed) rating.

Songs: 8 Angry Townspeople out of 10
Wait, what if we just ASKED Cowboy X to stop marking up Def Leppard CDs with X's? It's so crazy it might work. Truth be told, I really do like this CD. It grows on me more and more with each listen. X is a mix of old-school rockers, mid-tempo pop songs, wistful ballads, and experiments in groovy audio. It's their biggest detour from their Pyromania/Hysteria style of songwriting since 1996's "Slang," which in itself was a radical departure from Def Leppard's signature sound. But those elements are all here - they're just repackaged and given a new coat of paint. Devout Lep heads will eat this up, and it may turn a few new ears as well. Could Def Leppard have their sights set on a younger target audience? This notion is evidenced by the enlisting of co-writer and producer Marti Frederiksen, who's also helped to churn out successes for Aerosmith, Pink, Mick Jagger, and Eminem; and hitmakers Andreas Carlsson and Per Aldeheim, who've penned songs for Britney Spears, Celine Dion, and everybody's favorite metal band - the Backstreet Boys. Who does Def Leppard think they are now, Bon Jovi? Here's a synopsis of the tracks:

Now = The first single and video from X. It sounds modern enough, and Phil Collen does some cool hammer-ons and pull-offs. This is one that Marti Frederiksen co-wrote.

Unbelieveable = This is the song written by those Swedish guys. Doesn't sound like a Leppard tune in the traditional sense: it sounds like Joe Elliot singing a Backstreet Boys song.

You're So Beautiful = Also written with Frederiksen, a near-rocker that sounds like something from the Adrenalize era. Just two or three thinning hairs away from being generic.

Everyday = Yet another Frederiksen-guided track, this is a mid-tempo thing that has a hint of Hysteria thrown in, but also reminds me a bit of their "Two Steps Behind" song that was on the Last Action Hero soundtrack.

Long, Long Way To Go = This is absolutely a ballad, and I generally hate ballads, but this is an exception. Well crafted, top musicianship and those layered harmonies that are the trademark of a Def Leppard tune. Wait, the songwriting credits go to Hector/Robson. Who the hell are those guys? Well, they get to keep the panties this time. Regardless of what genre you'd lump this tune into, "Long, Long Way To Go" is, in fact, a perfect song.

Four Letter Word = Pretty much the only straightforward rocker on the whole CD. A nod to Leppard's influences like T Rex, Sweet, and Mott the Hoople, this has a 70's style dirty rock vibe with up front vocals, gritty guitar, and a hook and chorus not unlike "Armageddon It" from the Hysteria album.

Torn To Shreds = Another mid-tempo rocker with big choruses and lots of layered guitar. Plus the Leps wrote this one all by themselves. An OK song but doesn't give me the cock-sniffles by any means.

Love Don't Lie = Also written independent of outside songwriters. Some funky rhythms, synth drums and samples give this otherwise typical Leppard song somewhat of a modern edge.

Gravity = Probably the least typical track on X, this song is way experimental. It almost sounds like it could be a dance song - if nowhere else, in some sad club in rural
Nebraska. Actually, the more I hear "Gravity," the more I don't like it. Time to move on.

Cry = It starts out almost like a Stone Temple Pilots song, but the chorus is damn annoying. Still, the guitar sound shows that Leppard is willing to branch out in different musical directions, including rock. Ha!

Girl Like You = Also written internally, this track is probably the coolest on the whole disc. Good sound, good hooks, and enough studio experimentation to let it fit into the 2002 technical rock scene. Be sure to check this one out.

Let Me Be The One = Another ballad. Not nearly as good as "Long, Long Way To Go," but not terrible either. A little too wistful. Reminds me of why I generally don't dig ballads.

Scar = The last and longest track on X, timing at just under 5 minutes, and co-written with longtime collaborator Pete Woodroffe. A slower rocker, but there's some elements that are reminiscent of ancient Def Leppard ala Pyromania, or even High 'n Dry. Lots of cool guitar riffs and long solos. Old school Lep heads might dig this one best.

So there you have it. A compromise on Def Leppard's part? Perhaps, but if they want to survive as anything but a nostalgia act, they'll do best to keep their sights focused on the future. Good for them for having the vision to move forward.

Comments: And the citizens of Sniddler's Gulch lived happily ever after, because they really weren't very smart.