X

Def Leppard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 30, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B00006AWKG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (354 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,355 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Now

2. Unbelievable

3. You're So Beautiful

4. Everyday

5. Long Long Way To Go

6. Four Letter Word

7. Torn To Shreds

8. Love Don't Lie

9. Gravity

10. Cry

11. Girl Like You

12. Let Me Be The One

13. Scar

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FAR more worthy than many reviews indicate, August 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: X (Audio CD)

Man, X is just not getting the respect it deserves. You would think from some of the reviews on this site that this album is nothing short of terrible and that it deviates so fundamentally from Lep's style that it is not even them. While I do agree that X has a lighter sound than their other blockbusters (Pyro, Hysteria, and absolutely Euphoria), to call this album terrible or even average is a joke and an injustice to Lep.

First of all, I have no idea why so many reviews of X refer to this album as a comeback album (and therefore a disappointment somehow). Where have ya'll been? Euphoria was their comeback album, not X. Euphoria, which was another Mutt Lange collaboration, returned to the sound of Pyromania and Hysteria and is easily their best album since Hysteria. So, stop calling X a comeback album, because it aint.

Next, why do so many people feel the need to corner bands into a particular sound and style? Last I checked, musicians were free people who can experiment with their craft anyway they like. For people to expect Lep to just continue producing the same ole sound album after album is ridiculous. True fans of any band will always be open-minded and try to appreciate why the band is creating the sound they are creating. Seems there are more wanna-be Lep fans out there than real ones.

The new style is precisely why X is such a great album in its own right. It demonstrates that the boys can still create great music without Lange's involvement and it also demonstrates that they can expand their style without compromising their globally unique sound (any one of these tunes, even void of Elliot's voice, is identifiable as Lep almost instantly). Those people who state that this CD is mush and has no intensity to it (or that it does not ROCK) are either crazy or on something. Even the ballads have rich, intricate rock guitar work going on and there are at least a handful of songs on the CD that are as rockin' as anything they've turned out since Pyromania. One must only open their ears and mind to the difference in style and the quality of the songs begin to take hold quickly.

All of the songs on the album are good -- there is not one of them that I don't like. Standouts are Unbelievable, So Beautiful (awesome), Four Letter Word (sounds like a mix of Armaggedon It and Photograph), Love Don't Lie, Gravity, Cry, Girl Like You, and Scar.

In conclusion, if you are a REAL Def Leppard fan (and not some fair-weather fan who corners them into a certain sound and blasts them if they don't produce what you want), you MUST get this CD and give it a fair number of listens (10 or so) before you walk away in errant disgust as so many here have apparently done. This is definitely a cornerstone to your DL collection and I personally can't wait to see what they produce in the future. The boys are BACK IN YOUR FACE.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back on top!, July 31, 2002

By 

Dan Robertson (Kingston, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: X (Audio CD)

Def Leppard may be back, but for many of us, they never went away. Hysteria really turned me on to the band, and I can still remember the anticipation I felt before the release of Adrenalize, nearly 5 years later. I had that feeling again in the weeks leading up to the release of X, and I'm not disappointed.

Those who prefer the early days of Def Leppard (On Through The Night, High 'N Dry) may not be too impressed with the band in 2002. However, for any fan who loves Def Leppard for the quality of the music and the strength of their melodies, this album will give you the shivers.

1) Now - kind of an odd choice for first single, this one takes some time to grow on you. Melodically, it's not their strongest work, but it combines some interesting sounds and a big chorus to strong effect.

2) Unbelievable - excellent ballad, will make you "feel so damn good". Strong, soaring chorus with great vocal harmonies.

3) You're So Beautiful - another winner, but very poppy. Catchy chorus with unmistakable Leppard background vocals.

4) Everyday - sounds a lot like mid-90s Bryan Adams. This is not a bad thing. Lacks a huge hook, but very easy on the ears.

5) Long Long Way To Go - simply their best ballad ever! Joe's singing has never sounded so emotional. I still get chills every time I hear this song (after a few dozen plays). This will be the second single off the album, and should be a huge hit. You know that if one of today's boy bands did this song, it would get massive airplay, but wouldn't be nearly as good as this version.

6) Four Letter Word - sounds like something AC/DC would do. Classic rockin' tune, but not my favourite on the CD.

7) Torn To Shreds - my favourite song on X. Starts off quiet, but don't turn the volume up too high, or the next part will blow your speakers! The first verse slows it down a bit, but then comes the chorus. Pure ecstasy! Beautiful melody, and background harmonies the way only Def Leppard can do them. Simply amazing (but too short, less than 3 minutes).

8) Love Don't Lie - another strong mid-tempo ballad. Huge catchy chorus, pleasant acoustic background on verses.

9) Gravity - would have fit better on Euphoria. Odd-sounding percussion on this one. Not a fave.

10) Cry - the most non-traditional track on the CD, "Cry" takes a few listens to get used to. Lacks a big hook, but has some great guitar work.

11) Girl Like You - very poppy, upbeat, with another great Def Leppard chorus. The vocals occasionally sound a little strained and too high-pitched, but still a very good track.

12) Let Me Be The One - another beautiful ballad, but doesn't bring anything new to the table. The CD probably could have used another hard rocker before this track.

13) Scar - classic Def Leppard! Reminiscent of "Paper Sun" and "Day After Day" from Euphoria. Haunting guitar sounds building to the massive chorus where Joe finally gets to let loose with his trademark howling vocals. A fantastic way to end the album.

X keeps Def Leppard up with the times while still retaining their classic sound. This is not a metal band, and frankly, I don't think they were ever a metal band. They are a group of guys in their early 40s committed to recording strong, memorable music, and they have accomplished this goal admirably with X. If you are a fan of beautifully executed melodic rock, you won't regret picking up X.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hysteria 2002???, August 8, 2002

By 

John Blue (Kansas City, Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: X (Audio CD)

I only found 2 weak tracks that separated themselves from the quality of the rest of the album, which means that this for me is their best album since Hysteria. The easiest way to describe the album is as a blend of their previous 4 albums (not including Vault or Retroactive).

The first half of the album is the more laid back and best half, while the second half picks up the tempo with some more traditional Leppard rock n roll moments, but maybe isn't quite as strong.

The songs on X grow on you and bring you back for more. This is a far more matured Def Leppard. It's a mainly uptempo and free flowing album, but it's not an album driven by hard edged guitar.

The largely pop/melodic rock approach of the album and high quality of several commercial tracks suggests that X could see the Leps back in favor with radio programmers worldwide. There is at least 5 or 6 tracks that could comfortably fit on any radio format playlist.

Track by Track:
Now - A very moody track that runs from an acoustic/high-tech/modern pop intro to a heavier modern rock chorus and then progressively heavier verses. The first single off the album.

Unbelievable - Similar to "It's Only Love" from Euphoria.

You're So Beautiful - The first sign of a "Def Leppard 2002" sound. The first "sing-along" song of the album, with a killer hook.

Everyday - A consistently mid-tempo and evenly balanced song. The song builds towards the chorus but doesn't go over the top.

Long, Long Way To Go - I'll be surprised if this song doesn't do for Def Leppard what "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" did for Aerosmith. This is a killer song...breathtaking. One of the band's best ever ballads that demands repeated listens. A monster if radio gets hold of it.

Four Letter Word - Sounds like it could have been written during the Adrenalize sessions (Heaven Is, Make Love Like a Man). A party-rocker that gets better with repeated listens.

Torn To Shreds - Easily one of my favorites on this album. Has a bit of a Hysteria/Slang feel to it. Catchy as hell and one of the more musically interesting tracks from the album. Could be a hit single for rock radio.

Love Don't Lie - Not bad, but following the last track a little flat. Probably the weakest track of the album.

Gravity - Similar to the title track from Slang and "All Night" from Euphoria. The song is the most high-tech pop of the whole album.

Cry - is the most openly alternative rocker of the album. The chorus is different to say the least. Very in your face and aggressive. Sounds very close to a number of the heavier tracks from the last Aerosmith album Just Push Play.

Girl Like You - I agree with the review that relates this song to "21st Century Sha La La Girl" from Euphria. Lots of layers.

Let Me Be The One - A weaker ballad not as radio friendly as Long Long Way to Go.

Scar - This is a very cool track. Probably the stand-out track for classic Leppard fans. Very similar to the bonus track "I Am Your Child" from Euphoria. Gets better every listen and could easily be a rock radio single.