Latest Def Leppard Album (Songs From The Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard)

Member Name: aero-zeppelin

Product:	Songs From The Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard
Date:	09/06/09 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice sounding album, vintage Def Leppard material

Disadvantages: Doesn't match up to Def Leppard's previous work

Songs From The Sparkle Lounge is the latest album released by Sheffield's greatest, Def Leppard. Released worldwide in late April 2008, it contains 11 tracks initially, with a bonus track for those here in the UK, and a further 2 bonus tracks for Japanese fans. The length of the initial 11 tracks is just over 39 minutes, with the length of each individual track very similar to the next, with the shortest tracks both being 3 minutes 3 seconds, and the longest at 4 minutes 17 seconds.

As a Def Leppard fan, I'm used to their songs not going on for too long, but when they do, I tend to find they get a bit repetetive, therefore the use of short tracks on the album does benefit myself and others to an extent, though variety within an album is often appreciated.

I enjoyed their previous album, 'Yeah!' which was a series of 1970s covers by Def Leppard, and I really did like their versions, preferring a majority over the originals. Although SFTSL is their first studio album since 2002, I wasn't overly excited about their new material, but the album does contain some decent songs.

My favourite track off the new album is Nine Lives, which was co-wrote with country singer Tim McGraw. This also happened to be the first single off the album. It's a song that has a lot of energy and a good sound to it, which justifies its reason for my favourite track off the album.

The overall sound of the album is good, containing what you could say as a new collection of vintage Def Leppard material. Despite my criticism of the album, it's only because I'm comparing it to previous albums by Def Leppard, and they were exceptionally good which is why I'm not overly excited about SFTSL.

If you were to go out and buy the album, it is available on HMV's website for £9.99, which isn't too bad given that's it's Def Leppard and a fairly recently recorded album. Don't let the price put you off though, despite me not being too enthusiastic about SFTSL, it has a good overall sound and would be something I'd quite happily listen to in the car.

Long Live Def Leppard!

Summary: Listenable album, nice feel to a lot of the songs