Post by Yesterday's Gone on Jun 11, 2006 10:27:27 GMT -5
Originally I reviewed this at the end of the other thread, but figured it would be better served in it's own thread. Ok, I guess I'll attempt to review this one.
Let's start with the album title and cover ... "YEAH!" is what they finally decided on which is kind of fitting because after you see the cover it sort of leaves you scratching your head saying, "Yeah .. ok?!" Since the cover it has them standing on a stage with a HUGE "YEAH!" sign in the background with them making rediculous poses it will take a long time for you to get it out of your head.
Now the album art is meant to have somewhat of a throw back feel to it. It opens with Rick Savage doing a Queen Bohemian pose ... each band member has their own look but Phil Collen does the "best" at capturing the glam rock gender bending look. With Rick Allen's being the most off of them all ... as they have him holding a guitar in several places including his period photo where he's standing in front of a mic with a guitar around his neck ... which wouldn't be out of place if it wasn't for the fact that he only has one freaking arm.
Ok, enough with the cosmetic stuff ... let's look at each track.
1. 20th Century Boy (T Rex): I've heard only a couple of songs from T Rex and this happens to be one of them. Def Leppard does a great job of staying true to the original songs. If anyone has heard " No Matter What" you know what I mean, as sometimes it's hard to distiguish the original from the Lep cover. This song is catchy and I rather enjoy it. I doubt you'd see me wear a feather boa and high heels anytime soon, but I'm definitely feeling the vibe.
LOL!
2. Rock On (David Essex): Can you say permanent skip? I can't stand this song ... couldn't stand the original, couldn't stand Michael Damian's Young and the Restless version ... can't stand this song! I can't really give a good review on this one just because I seriously CAN't stand it!
3. Hanging On The Telephone (Blondie): I don't recall the Blondie version of this one. But it is very catchy and has a really nice groove. It's one of those songs that works well with Def Leppard's trademark melody and has enough guitar hooks to pass the test. Rick Allen does an aweome job on this one ... for a guy with one freaking arm he may be one of the most underrated drummers.
4. Waterloo Sunset (The Kinks): This was one of the early songs to hit the market. I believe this one made it to their re-release of their hugely popular Vault: Greatest Hits album. They do a good job on it. I don't recall The Kinks' version, but it's a well written song. I like it as it's a good filler song.
5. Hellraiser (Sweet): I like this song .. maybe it's because it's just so goofy? I think of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" everytime I hear it. LOL! It has the classic Sweet feel to it. Well done ... has anyone seen my mascara and leather chaps?!
6. 10538 Overture (ELO): I personally feel that this is the gem of the album. Great song, great production ... I personally would rather seen them use this song on a regular album and release it as a single in support of something other than a covers album.
7. Street Life (Roxy Music): Good filler song ... on a regular album I could see it as a B-side release.
8. Drive-In Saturday (David Bowie): Filler song ... could take it or leave it. Maybe because I was never a huge fan of Bowie.
9. Little Bit Of Love (Free): Ok, let me say this right now! It was cool seeing Lep paying a tribute to Paul Rodgers and the boys of Free. I like this one a lot. Joe Elliot did one thing that Kid Rock couldn't do ... that is not butchering a Paul Rodgers' vocal. Joe definitely isn't Paul, but Lep served up a decent cover.
10. The Golden Age Of Rock 'N' Roll (Mott The Hoople): I can definitely see Hoople's influence in Def Leppard's style. This is a very tight song and it rises to the top in my opinion.
11. No Matter What (Badfinger): As it says in the liner notes about Badfinger: Great name, great song, great vibe!! ... this song is so well done that it's almost scary. Really, I'm serious ... I honestly believe they took a mic and set it next to a CD player that had the original playing in it. Then they removed the hiss and placed it on this album ...
12. He's Gonna Step On You Again (John Kongos): Good filler song ... maybe a little to over done. I've never heard the original, or I don't believe I have so maybe it's ok?
13. Don't Believe A Word (Thin Lizzy): Good cover ... still has some of the Thin Lizzy "Boys Are Back In Town" vibe to it. I like this one as well ...
14. Stay With Me (Faces): Joe Elliot pulls off Rod Stewart very well .... I mean really well. I hope Joe doesn't choose to sing this one that oftern. He would blow his voice out having to keep up the rasp. LOL!
In the end Def Leppard pulled off this album. There are some bumps along the way ... the biggest one once again was the photographer or other band members that decided to make Rick Allen hold the guitars. Seriously, I can see the conversation now ... [Spoken with English accent] "Hey guys! Hey guys! I have it ... let's make Rick carry around this guitar and then let's have them super impose a guitar everywhere his photo comes up" .... [Fade to Rick Allen] "... You got to be freakin' kidding me?! I only have one freakin' arm ... you see this stump?! How the hell am I suppose to play a freakin' guitar?!" LOL!
In the end, this album has done what it was suppose to do. It will cause those that aren't familar with the glam rock era to revist it and check out some artist that they may never had. It also has made me raid my wife wardrobe [sitting in pink teddy and four inch high heels].
LOL!
Let's start with the album title and cover ... "YEAH!" is what they finally decided on which is kind of fitting because after you see the cover it sort of leaves you scratching your head saying, "Yeah .. ok?!" Since the cover it has them standing on a stage with a HUGE "YEAH!" sign in the background with them making rediculous poses it will take a long time for you to get it out of your head.
Now the album art is meant to have somewhat of a throw back feel to it. It opens with Rick Savage doing a Queen Bohemian pose ... each band member has their own look but Phil Collen does the "best" at capturing the glam rock gender bending look. With Rick Allen's being the most off of them all ... as they have him holding a guitar in several places including his period photo where he's standing in front of a mic with a guitar around his neck ... which wouldn't be out of place if it wasn't for the fact that he only has one freaking arm.
Ok, enough with the cosmetic stuff ... let's look at each track.
1. 20th Century Boy (T Rex): I've heard only a couple of songs from T Rex and this happens to be one of them. Def Leppard does a great job of staying true to the original songs. If anyone has heard " No Matter What" you know what I mean, as sometimes it's hard to distiguish the original from the Lep cover. This song is catchy and I rather enjoy it. I doubt you'd see me wear a feather boa and high heels anytime soon, but I'm definitely feeling the vibe.
LOL!2. Rock On (David Essex): Can you say permanent skip? I can't stand this song ... couldn't stand the original, couldn't stand Michael Damian's Young and the Restless version ... can't stand this song! I can't really give a good review on this one just because I seriously CAN't stand it!
3. Hanging On The Telephone (Blondie): I don't recall the Blondie version of this one. But it is very catchy and has a really nice groove. It's one of those songs that works well with Def Leppard's trademark melody and has enough guitar hooks to pass the test. Rick Allen does an aweome job on this one ... for a guy with one freaking arm he may be one of the most underrated drummers.
4. Waterloo Sunset (The Kinks): This was one of the early songs to hit the market. I believe this one made it to their re-release of their hugely popular Vault: Greatest Hits album. They do a good job on it. I don't recall The Kinks' version, but it's a well written song. I like it as it's a good filler song.
5. Hellraiser (Sweet): I like this song .. maybe it's because it's just so goofy? I think of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" everytime I hear it. LOL! It has the classic Sweet feel to it. Well done ... has anyone seen my mascara and leather chaps?!
6. 10538 Overture (ELO): I personally feel that this is the gem of the album. Great song, great production ... I personally would rather seen them use this song on a regular album and release it as a single in support of something other than a covers album.
7. Street Life (Roxy Music): Good filler song ... on a regular album I could see it as a B-side release.
8. Drive-In Saturday (David Bowie): Filler song ... could take it or leave it. Maybe because I was never a huge fan of Bowie.
9. Little Bit Of Love (Free): Ok, let me say this right now! It was cool seeing Lep paying a tribute to Paul Rodgers and the boys of Free. I like this one a lot. Joe Elliot did one thing that Kid Rock couldn't do ... that is not butchering a Paul Rodgers' vocal. Joe definitely isn't Paul, but Lep served up a decent cover.
10. The Golden Age Of Rock 'N' Roll (Mott The Hoople): I can definitely see Hoople's influence in Def Leppard's style. This is a very tight song and it rises to the top in my opinion.
11. No Matter What (Badfinger): As it says in the liner notes about Badfinger: Great name, great song, great vibe!! ... this song is so well done that it's almost scary. Really, I'm serious ... I honestly believe they took a mic and set it next to a CD player that had the original playing in it. Then they removed the hiss and placed it on this album ...
12. He's Gonna Step On You Again (John Kongos): Good filler song ... maybe a little to over done. I've never heard the original, or I don't believe I have so maybe it's ok?
13. Don't Believe A Word (Thin Lizzy): Good cover ... still has some of the Thin Lizzy "Boys Are Back In Town" vibe to it. I like this one as well ...
14. Stay With Me (Faces): Joe Elliot pulls off Rod Stewart very well .... I mean really well. I hope Joe doesn't choose to sing this one that oftern. He would blow his voice out having to keep up the rasp. LOL!
In the end Def Leppard pulled off this album. There are some bumps along the way ... the biggest one once again was the photographer or other band members that decided to make Rick Allen hold the guitars. Seriously, I can see the conversation now ... [Spoken with English accent] "Hey guys! Hey guys! I have it ... let's make Rick carry around this guitar and then let's have them super impose a guitar everywhere his photo comes up" .... [Fade to Rick Allen] "... You got to be freakin' kidding me?! I only have one freakin' arm ... you see this stump?! How the hell am I suppose to play a freakin' guitar?!" LOL!
In the end, this album has done what it was suppose to do. It will cause those that aren't familar with the glam rock era to revist it and check out some artist that they may never had. It also has made me raid my wife wardrobe [sitting in pink teddy and four inch high heels].
LOL!
