Def Leppard : Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

I think this is the 14th studio album from Def Leppard and to be honest I wasn't expecting too much after the disappointment of "X", "Euphoria" and "Slang". Don't get me wrong those albums all have some great tracks, but as a whole I wasn't too impressed. "Retroactive" and "Yeah" showed more promise and their live show with Cheap Trick and SAHB at Hammersmith last time round was superb.

To coin a cliché, Songs from the Sparkle Lounge is a return to form. Infinitely better than the albums mentioned above and possibly their most eclectic album to date. It almost sounds like a covers album of songs you've never heard before (if that makes any sense). You have songs on here that sound like Glam Rock, Queen, High-and-Dry era Def Leppard - all sorts and it works really well. Personally as a fan of Country and Southern Rock I like the first single (Nine Lives) with Tim McGraw but you wonder how that came about - are they "Doing a Jovi" and trying to get airplay on radio stations and CMTV in the States that wouldn't normally play them? So what if they are, good for you lads.

Tracks are :

1. Go

2. Nine Lives - (with Tim McGraw)

3. C'mon C'mon

4. Love

5. Tomorrow

6. Cruise Control

7. Hallucinate

8. Only The Good Die Young

9. Bad Actress

10. Come Undone

11. Gotta Let It Go

12. Love

All in all a roaring return for Leppard (see what I did there?) - 8/10

NR