Customer Reviews

X

5 star:		(156)
4 star:		(64)
3 star:		(39)
2 star:		(34)
1 star:		(61)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Though I had some misgivings that the band for the first time recorded a couple of songs they did not have a hand in writing, I find this album to be a lot of fun and it sounds current, rather than microwaved 80's self-imitation that plagued Euphoria and Adrenalize. This album is full of catchy songs and may be a little poppy for many longtime fans but the grooves are infectious and you can feel they had fun with this record. Standouts are Now, Unbelievable, Long Long Way to Go (this ballad could be a breakout hit like Aerosmith's Don't Wanna Miss a Thing), Torn to Shreds and Love Don't Lie. With the promotion they are doing and with the quality of this album, this may finally be their comeback. Lep rules. Always have, always will.

I can hardly contain my anger with some of the negative reviews of this album. To all you negative reviewers, let's get something straight: Def Leppard is NOT a HEAVY METAL BAND. Never have been, never will be. Def Leppard is simply a rock band that appeals to the mainstream. Understand this when you listen to their music, especially the new album, "X". What I really don't get is how a number of people complain it doesn't sound like Pyromaina or Hysteria. Well, what do you expect them to sound like in the year 2002? Pyromania or Hysteria?? Do you really expect them to come out with the same ol' stuff? If they did, you'd be complaining "same ol', same ol'". Ever heard of a thing called CREATIVITY? PROGRESSION? GROWTH? MATURITY? ARTISTRY?. The fact that they have modernized their style a bit, doesn't make them "sellouts". The band believes in the music they are making, and as long as you believe in it yourself you are never a sellout. They don't live in a vaccum, they live in the same ever changing world as all of us. I have every Leppard album and "X" is trully a standout! I will always love their older style, AND I love their new direction too. IT'S ALL GOOD. All the songs on "X" are amazing. Songs like "Unbelievable", "You're so beautiful", and "Long long way to go" demand heavy rotation on the air waves. In a fair world, there would be at least 7 hit singles off this record. Unfortunately this probably won't happen because of all the narrow minded, short sighted people who won't give this album a chance. If you are a true fan, you will be hooked on this album for months. If you don't LOVE it, you are not a fan and you should not be submitting a review.

Def Leppard have always had a knack for keeping their sound fresh -- usually no two albums have the same production style, save for the band's two weakest efforts, Adrenalize in 1992 and Euphoria in 1999, each of which tried to capitalize on the popular style of the monumental and brilliant Hysteria from 1987. "X" is a re-energized, creative, poppish-sounding Leppard. The leadoff single, "Now," probably the dullest tune on the entire record, still manages to capture the essence of Leppard's engergetic vibe with a huge chorus and Indian style guitar solo, not unlike the sound on "Turn to Dust" from the underrated Slang album. Joe Elliott claimed "Now" was not the most obvious choice for the first single, and he was correct.

Beyond "Now," however, things on the CD get interesting, starting with the drastically pop sound of the boy band-like "Unbelievable," which will grow on you if you enjoy this band. "You're So Beautiful," "Torn to Shreds," "Girl Like You," "Gravity" and "Scar" have booming, often complex choruses, where the mix of voices almost sound like an instrument unto themselves. Though far from a hard-rock record, "X" does have songs that will stick in your head all day long, due to their catchiness. The usual Leppardized studio effects are present -- layered background vocals and huge guitars -- but the album, despite its radio-ready songs, doesn't quite contain the over-processed sound of "Adrenalize" and "Euphoria," and manages to have an updated feel.

For the harder rock fans, "X" still manages a few gems that won't disappoint. The tough riff from "Four Letter Word" has elements of classic AC/DC (see Back in Black), and Elliott's voice even sounds vaguely like Steven Tyler of Aerosmith (see Toys in the Attic). With its classic-rock sound and melodic chorus, "Four Letter Word" is vintage Leppard. Another great rocker, and probably the most '80s-sounding of all "X's" songs is the awesome "Cry," a much-needed, raunchy guitar tune that sounds as if it were left off "Hysteria" back in the late '80s. Great riff, great bleeding chorus, hopefully a future concert staple.

"X" ends with one of Leppard's finest songs ever written, in a catalog of many classics. In the darker-themed tradition of "Billy's Got a Gun," "White Lightning," "Pearls of Euphoria," "Day After Day" and "Kings of Oblivion," "Scar" will leave fans with the hope that these guys might one day return to what I believe was a profound flair for creating gloomy-sounding yet melodic material, songs that really strike a nerve. Increasingly, despite Def Leppard's talent to write great pop songs, the band's best songwriting capabilities come through in edgier, darker material, stuff that doesn't just mope or rejoice about puppy-dog love for men over 40. "Scar" will appeal to longtime fans who have stuck by the band for many years. Here's hoping that more "scars" in the bands' portfolio continue to find their way in the studio.

This album is a polished and thoroughly enjoyable outing from the best thing (Liz Hurley and Catherine Zeta-Jones aside) to ever come from Britain's entertainment scene. The album *won't* rock your socks off - this is basically a relaxing and smooth release that helps you to mellow out, rather than rock out. Hey - Def Leppard's done plenty of rocking. This album doubles their number of great ballads, while adding a slick twist with relaxing, yet upbeat, pop/rock tunes.
If you're looking to headbang, sorry - you won't find the next 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' here. If you want some Def Leppard just having fun, with catchy melodies (that's melodies, not rockers per se) and a great sound, this is a solid listen. Better than Euphoria, in my opinion - sounds more polished and not quite as broad in musical styles. They have a definite over-arcing melodic, softer side on this disc - and I love it.

It's obvious that the 1980s are over, so the bands that have survived the transition into the 1990s & now the new millenium are few & can be counted on one hand. Bon Jovi is one & they've made a rather successful move into more adult-oriented material, yet still maintain a somewhat youth-oriented fan base. But their British counterpats Def Leppard haven't been so lucky. The same people that like Bon Jovi might consider Leppard to be an artifact of a bygone era. Nevertheless, they insist on pressing on into the future, for better or worse, as albums like their newest one X prove.

While the reviews of X have been mixed at best, ranging from "not bad for guys on the threshold of 40" to "proof that they should be hanging it up", albums like 1996's ill-fated attempt at growing up SLANG are excellent examples of what bands from Def Leppard's time should be doing as they get older: tweak their signature sound a bit & bring themselves into the present day. If their fans don't agree with the band's wishes (as they refused to do with SLANG), then that's their issue. Those who've stuck it out from the beginning can be sure that Leppard can & will stay around & change along with the times, even if they've still got some things to learn.

1999's EUPHORIA was touted as a return to the panoramic sound of their blockbuster classic HYSTERIA (1987) & even had their old producer Mutt Lange helping out a bit. The fans responded by making it the band's biggest seller since 1992's ADRENALIZE (which was a much lesser album, creatively). I guess with Lange busy working on his wife's (Shania Twain) new album, he couldn't work with Leppard, so the band decided to do things themselves (with a little outside help), explaining X's reminiscence of SLANG more than HYSTERIA.

The album's first single "Now" was an excellent choice because it is one of the most HYSTERIA-sounding songs on the album. While Def Leppard's chances of having hits are smaller now, in a perfect world, this might be enough to bring the band back on top of the charts. Even with the absence of the "everything-including-the-kitchen-sink" production, it still sounds larger than life.

The reviews of X saying that Def Leppard is now offically pop are rather inaccurate. I'd say they've headed more towards the modern rock radar & while their age might strike some as the ultimate in trend-hopping, Leppard manages to do it better than most veteran bands. Songs like "Gravity", "Torn To Shreds" & "Everyday" sound like they might be something off the latest 3 Doors Down or Lifehouse album. But when you have guitars as loud as Phil Collen's & Vivian Campbell's & the husky vocals of leader Joe Elliott, you can tell who it's coming from, unlike those seemingly interchangeable bands.

The most obvious attempts at regaining HYSTERIA-era glories include the epic (5 minutes, the longest song on the album) "Scar", the proposed second single "Long, Long Way To Go", "Cry", "Let Me Be The One" & "Love Don't Lie", all of which contain the highly-polished-you-can-see-yourself-in-it melodies & overdubbed-a-million-times-vocal-harmonies. But such returns to glory days are not as shallow as they look because it's apparent that even though Def Leppard wishes to age gracefully, they could still pull off the sound that brought them to superstardom.

As for weak songs, there's a few & they're ones that have Leppard singing about themes that are definitely out of their age range. "Unbelievable" (produced by Swedish maestros Per Aldeheim & Andreas Carlsson, explaining its teen-pop overtones), "Girl Like You" (I'm sure the band has children their age by now) & "You're So Beautiful" (from a band who wrote the stunning "Love Bites", this is really disappointing) are maybe unintentional attempts at putting them back on the charts by catering to the younger audiences, but they don't work either way. The image of Def Leppard dancing to beats like these in a video is hard to fathom (but it would be pretty funny). The less said about "Four Letter Word", the better.

When fans hear about an album by an artist/band that's said to have them "maturing", their reaction is often to ignore it, preferring the sound they used before better. Naturally, Def Leppard has met that kind of response with albums all the way back to SLANG. As a fan, I must admit that the trilogy of PYROMANIA (1983), HYSTERIA & to a lesser extent ADRENALIZE was brilliant & made bombastic guitar riffs & Cinemascope production into top 40 material. But it's still something a band can't do forever & Leppard is smart enough to realize that, even if they're still unsure if it's commercially wise.

X may have Def Leppard in the middle of an identity crisis & wondering which audience they should be concentrating on (the kids or their parents), yet it's still refreshing to see that the band is around at all after more than 2 decades at work. The fact they're still aware of the importance of good hooks & melodies is admirable, now if they can just apply it to material that's appropriate for their age. Until that happens, don't X out Def Leppard just yet.

It's easy to say that this is their best album since hysteria. X is defninitely better than their 1999 release, Euphoria, and most old-school fans will be happy to know this isn't a repeat of Slang. (However, I have appreciated everything they put out since pyromania, and my comments will probably reflect that)

A breakdown of the album is as follows:

Legend:
R: 1-10 (Heaviness rating)
P: 1-10 (Personal song rating)

1. Now - Their first single from the album. Reminiscient of their album pyromania, except modernized. R:8 P:8

2. Unbelievable - An emotional rock ballad with lots of melody. R:5 P:8

2. You're So Beautiful - Much like the material on Hysteria. R:6 P:9

3. Everyday - More 80's-Like Pop Rock. Very catchy. R:6 P:10

4. Long Long Way to Go - The album's softest ballad. Excellent Leppard Melody. R:3 P:10

5. Four Letter Word - Very much like their earlier stuff (eg. Rock of Ages). The verses sound a bit like AC/DC's Back in Black. R:8 P:5

6. Torn To Shreds - Another emotional rock ballad. Very nice. A lot like the song Hysteria. R:6 P:9

6. Love Don't Lie - Quite popish. Sounds a bit like Euphoria. R:6 P:8

7. Gravity - Leppard Rock mixed with a little more pop and industrial. A bit like the song Slang. R:5 P:8

8. Cry - Pure rock, retrospect of their pre-Hysteria stuff. R:8 P:5

9. Girl Like You - A pop rock story. A little like their Euphoria song 21st Century Sha la la Girl. R:7 P:6

10. Let Me Be The One - Another softer ballad with more leppard harmony. R:4 P:7

11. Scar - Another song that sounds like their older stuff, and also a lot like Euphoria's Day after Day. R:7 P:6

12. Kiss The Day - A great way to close the album. Very classic-leppard. R:7 R:5

Def Leppard did an excellent job on this album. X encompasses the sounds from most of their previous albums and serves as a good representation of how def leppard has changed through the years, and still emerge as one of the worlds best rock bands.

Bonjovi releases an album called X - goes to number one, sells millions, everyone loves it. (nothing personal against Bonjovi)

Aerosmith relases an album called X - goes to number one, sells millions, everyone loves it.(nothing presonal against Aerosmith)

Def Leppard release an album called X - does pathetically in the charts, fans cry they've sold out, album sells next to nothing, radio won't play it, and no one wants anything to do with them.

Got this album a month later from its original release date. I checked all the reviews till then and found that a majority of people hated this album. The complaint was that it was too soft and sounded nothing like leppard's other stuff pyromania, hysteria etc. Most hardcore leppard fans feel cheated but you really can't blame them. I was upset when I found how quickly this album fell in the charts. I was hoping it would be a killer album. It's about time the world gave these guys a break. Anyway got X finally and put it on. My firts reaction to NOW was, this isn't leppard. But on listeing to it again, and then the whole album, I found that it was amazing. From start to finish, this album rocks! Yeah this album is not driven by hard edged guitar parts, but at the same time it ain't soft and silly. Its a great blend of modern music mixed in with the traditional Lep sound. When Euphoria came out (their so called comeback album), I hated it; pathetic production and the overall album wasn't good. Even Phil now says that there were mistakes and they could have done a better job. With X it seems like there's a new surge of life in leppard group and it seems that after a long time these guys are having fun again. I feel that this album is merely a spring board for them. Its pointing them in a new direction and I'm sure one day they'll create big hit album, which would be hard like Pyro but it would have that great modern feel to it and it would please old and new fans. Trust me if you like some really enjoyable rock music then get this cd. Just so glad they made this album and not another Euphoria.