When it comes to Def Leppard I will say I'm a "best of" fan, but not a "greatest hits" fan. "Best of" doesn't mean the singles or commercial stuff, but "greatest hits does". Most of Def Leppard's hits come from sissy ballads that they resorted to releasing in order to try and keep up with the changing music scene. However, this album contains more than just that. It has stuff I had never heard before, and fell in love with.I may be a bigger fan than just the compilation albums, but I've never been willing to spend the money on any of their studio albums, without listening to them. Then on top of that I've only ever had one friend that owned anything other than Hysteria, and now that I'm doing these reviews Pat lives in another city. So, for now you'll have to just enjoy Rock Of Ages the Definitive Collection. In a later review you'll also get Vault, which is the only other Def Leppard album I own.
The album opens with Pour Some Sugar on Me (Historia Video Edit). Off the top of my head I don't know what the diffence in this edit is. Upon further investigation I come to learn that this version is longer, by about half a minute. I really need to go listen to the original album version again and check out what else is different. Aside from that, this is a good solid song, that was meant for rocking the arenas. I mean this may actually be the best example of 80's Arena Rock that has ever existed. I believe it was Mutt Lange's production that made this song what it was.
I'm not a fan of Photograph. This was probably the song that truly ended their association with NWOBHM (New Wave Of British heavy Metal). At this point they were clearly a Rock band, but that's okay. They never really belonged with that other crowd, and were better off being removed from that title. It allowed them to sell more albums, which normally doesn't mean much to me, but a multi platinum album speaks volumes.
Love Bites is the first time I will not complain about a Def Leppard sissy ballad. "When you make love, do you look in the mirror? / Who do you think of? / Does he look like me? / Do you tell lies? / And say that it's forever? / Do you think twice, or just touch and see? / Ooh babe / Oh yeah / When you're alone, do you let go? / Are you wild and willin', or is it just for show? / Ooh C'mon / I don't wanna touch you too much baby / 'Cos making love to you might drive me crazy / I know you think that love is the way you make it / So I don't wanna be there when you decide to break it / No!". I love how it's pretty much him calling her out, but still admiting the hold she has on him. My only complaint is that this is what we use to call an "Oooo, baby song".
I have a love/hate relationship with Let's Get Rocked. I love the song and hate having to listen to people bash it. This song defined everything I was about when it dropped in 1992. It was a song about a guy that just wants to get rocked one way or the other, or both at the same time if he can. That's what being a teenage boy is all about. However, hearing comments like "What a waste, to put a solo like that in this piece of shit" was a pretty normal statement from my friend Matt.
Two Steps Behind (Acoustic Version) is meant to be skipped. This song has sucked since day one, and did more to kill my respect for Def Leppard than any other song they have ever released. It's just complete commercial shit meant strictly for women, and nothing more. If you like this song, you either have a vagina, or wish to be one. I have to struggle to sit through this song every time I hear it and can't hit a skip button.
Animal is a lot like Photograph to me, however the chorus on this song is a major saving grace. I absolutely love the way the pre chorus and chorus sound, as well as the slightly cheesy lyrics, especially at the end of the song, during that big climax. "I gotta feel it in my blood / Whoa-oh / I need your touch don't need your love / Whoa-oh / And I want, and I need, and I lust / Animal / And I want, and I need, and I lust / Animal / And I want (And I want) / And I need (And I need) / And I lust (And I lust) / Animal (Animal) / And I want (Take me) / And I need (Tame me) / And I lust (Make me) / Animal (Your Animal) / And I want (Show me) / And I need (Stroke me) / And I lust (Let me be your...) / Animal (Animal) / And I want (I want) / And I need (Ooh-ooh-ooh) / And I lust (Yeah Animal)". I just love the arena rock sound on it.
I'm all for skipping Heaven Is. It's pretty stock sounding, and that means that it sounds like every other 80's song. Sadly this song was from the 90's so it was even dated to boot.
Take everything I said about Animal, which is basically the verses are blah, but the pre chorus and choruses of Foolin' are sweet. It's not as good as Animal, and that's because of the production which makes the sound kind of hollow. Imagine a bubble. Now picture the music as being that bubble with the outside being all cool and pretty, but you know there is nothing in the middle but air. That's how I think of the audio on this one.
Rocket (Visualize Video Edit) is the version that comes from the music video. This is the version that we all know, because it's the one that was on the radio, and the music video. What anyone that has never owned the Hysteria album may not know is that this is actually a much shorter version of this song. The original is over two and half minutes longer. It's been so long since I've heard that version that I couldn't tell you how much of a difference it makes. However, since this song is so cool I can only imagine that it was two and half minutes of excellence. It really sucks how the radio really got stupid about song length, or the fact that so many people lack the patience to listen to a song for that long. It forces good songs like this to get dumbed down.
I'm not going to complain or bitch about When Love & Hate Collide. It got me many slow dances, with many teenage breasts pushed up tightly against my chest. It was worth suffering through, and still better than other really shitty ballads on this double album set.
Armageddon It is okay, if you are into this kind of typical Def Leppard song. I find it a bit boring, but because it's so typical of them.
Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad is one of those ballads I really want to go on a tirade about. I want to go on about how all the members of the band decided to get sex changes, and become a cliche girl band. However, instead I'm going to say that it was after this song that they went that route instead. This was from the album before the record Two Steps Behind came from. At that point, they had clearly given up being men, because now that I think of it Retro Active was the only other album I had access to besides Hysteria. My step mom owned a copy, and I remember borrowing it, and then never listening to it again. I really hate these silly power ballads of their's.
I don't know if I really like Rock of Ages. I find it boring, and a bit stale. However, I find it ironic that the first line after the count in is "It's better to burn out, than fade away." I have been saying for years that they need to stop touring. Joe Elliot can't sing the songs like he use to, and I don't like the way they've had to alter them to suit.
To be honest, by the time I hit Hysteria on this disc I'm pretty burned out on these song that are Slow Rock. It's great if you are trying to get in a girls pants, especially with this song, but I really want to hear something with more of a pulse. Don't get me it's a good song, but it's just so damn slow. If the tempo had gone up from 107 to a more lively 130, and had a bit more back bone it would be better. Miss You in a Heartbeat is one of the ballads that I'm a little okay with, but after all the other slower songs I'm not overly happy to be listening to it. I normally don't listen to this one on my own either.
Okay so you would think that after all the bitching and complaining I've done about slow songs and ballads I'd be ready to shoot myself by the time Bringin' on the Heartbreak starts. However you would be wrong. This is one of my favourite Def Leppard, if not my favourite, Def leppard song. Why do you ask? What makes this song so special and different? Because I will crank the fuck out of this song to hear Joe Elliot's multi layered vocals in the chorus any day of the week. Also this song is heavy as fuck. I know it sounds like I just smoked a huge bowl of crack, but I'm serious. The production is a bit hallow, but for a song that came out in 1981 it was Led Zeppelin-esque with how heavy it sounds on the outside of that bubble. I mean this song is heavier that Diamond Head's Sweet And Innocent or Iron Maiden's Remember Tomorrow, and that says something. (Which is not, that I'm on crack.)
Bringin' on The Heartbreak fades in the instrumental Switch 625. This is why I rate Def Leppard as being a really talented and skilled band. This is also why I ask "What the fuck were they thinking by 1992?" I mean this is three minutes of some really fun and awesome playing. Also this is the only time, that the one song runs into the other, except for on the original album.
The second disc in the Rock Of Ages set are songs that were not singles, but were fan favourites or band favourites. I actually find myself listening to this disc more than the other, just for the break from the standards.
Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop) kicks off the disc. This really reminds me of a lot of the 80's bands. It sounds like Ratt, or Accept, or Kiss, or Brian Johnson AC/DC, or a combination of all of them. It's a good solid lead song, but it doesn't do too much for me personally.
The next track, Let It Go, can be described the exact same way as the last song, with the exception that it seems to run on forever.
Which brings me to High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night). I like this one. It has a good riff, a solid rhythm, and sounds a lot like Kiss. But, I mean good Kiss, not that cheap gimmicky Pop shit. My only complaint is the constant cash register noise that keeps going off in the background. I find it annoying.
Too Late for Love, is not quite a Power Ballad, but it's pretty close. It has just enough of a smokey Hard Rock Blues feel to keep me from bitching about the standard 80's lyrics. "Somewhere in the distance I hear the bells ring / Darkness settles on the town as the children start to sing / And the lady across the street, she shuts out the night / A cast of thousands waiting as she turns out the light / But it's too late, too late, too late / Too late for love / Too late, too late, too late". I will say that I do enjoy singing the chorus, it's catchy.
Def Leppards cover of Badfinger's No Matter What, it a really nice break from the last bunch of songs. It's nice, simple, and has a really nice feel good tone to it. You can't help but get into a good mood.
I respect the "Ooo, baby" campiness of Promises for one reason. "I won't make promises that I can't keep / I won't make promises that I don't mean / I'll even mean the things I tell you in my sleep, yeah / I won't make promises babe, that I can't keep". Everyone should live by that. Also I do really dig the music on this one, even if it's happy, bubbley, and full of mush.
By the time I'm getting to Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes), I'm starting to figure out what it is that I both like and dislike about many of these songs, I've already described as sounding like Ratt, or Accept, or Kiss, or Brian Johnson AC/DC, or a combination of all of them. They all sound very much like everyone else in that time. I would blame it all on Mutt Lange, but the only bands that have anything in common with Mutt and Def Leppard are AC/DC and Foreigner. I mean as far as overall sound. The 80's just got too generic sounding I think is the problem, but that also means that I can throw this disc on and listen to some great sounding music from a time, where you are never sure who you are listening to.
I never knew Women was a single from Hysteria, and I can sort of hear why. Of all the singles this may be the most basic musically and lyrically.
Another Hit and Run has a great vibe and feel to it. Which every other song so far has as well, despite how some of the reviews may read. However, I like the music on this one a little better than most. The music has a little more depth and dimension, than just matching the vocal pattern.
Slang is one of those songs that many people I'm sure wish they could forget. I'm not one of them. I really like this song. At least within the confines of this disc. It's a bit funky, a bit spunky, and there's just a little cocky attitude, that's totally groovy. I won't say that I like the Steven Tyler-esque Rapping, but I will say that this song makes me want to get my groove on, on the dance floor. Just get up, and grind on my Editor just a little bit.
Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion), is a skipper, unless you like cliche Power Ballads. Although the chorus is catchy I really have no use for this song.
Songs like Rock Brigade are just fucking campy. I love the music, but the lyrics just make me shake my head. Had this been on any album other than the first one, On Through The Night, I would have demanded an apology. However, this is a perfectly acceptable song for a starting band of young pups.
I believe the newest song on this collection is Now. It's from 2002's X. I'm not a fan of the song, but I do have a respect for it.
Paper Sun is balls to the wall awesome. I know people are wondering what the fuck I'm talking about, but the way the production works just get's me so hard. This song is full, heavy, and kickin'. I find it impressive that this is from the 1999 album Euphoria, not because the album sucked, but because it sounds like it should be from Hysteria. I almost want to check out the album that much more, because of this song.
Work It Out is really cool if you like the sound of Tom Cochrane with deep and thick balls. This song makes me think of Life Is A Highway, but much, much better. Because, this song has a great low end. The guitars are minimalized in the mix, but they really work the song all over, and there are some great really heavy hit chords, that are allowed to just ring. But the approach and overall vibe is very much like the other song.
I just really respect the crap out of Die Hard The Hunter. I think the music is great, and the arrangements are top notch. It's one of those songs that made it on here because of the band's love for it, and it's totally understandable. It's a great album cut.
Wasted sounds like really early Iron Maiden, which makes total sense since it's from the exact same time period. If I didn't know that this was Def Leppard, I may have mistaken it for Di'Anno era Maiden.
The album ends with Billy's Got a Gun. I don't mind this one, but I don't like it like others do. However, that's not to say that this one shouldn't be cranked, especially during the catchy chorus. Damn Mutt and his amazingly catchy chorus production.
I'm not a fan of listening to both albums back to back. After a while it gets very repetitive and boring, but mixed up with other discs, this album takes on a whole new level of enjoyment. If you are looking to buy your first Def Leppard album, this is a great place to start. If all you are looking for is the commercial stuff, I would suggest the Vault greatest hits package instead.
9/10 - content
8/10 - production
8/10 - personal bias
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