Slang - Def Leppard (CD 1996)

Shunned and vanquished to the forgotten pages of their relatively large catalog, Def Leppard's Slang is probably their least known and respected album. While good bands can put out bad music - sometimes lots of it - in this case, all this disgust and dislike is very needless.

Slang is Def's experimental album; after a four hiatus from album making, they went back into the album to give their music some more depth - one can hardly argue that Def Leppard is considered an intensely intellectual band. The finished product is Def Leppard's most thought provoking album.

Joe Elliot and company have always written very good ballads, but their rock songs have not exactly been noted for their "deep" lyrics - one can hardly say "Pour Some Sugar on Me" causes ones brain to churn... however it is very fun to sing along to and that's all that matters. For those looking for some more thoughtful lyrics, Slang fits the bill with at least three songs.

Since music is an art, and art is interpretive, I will not attempt to impose my opinions on what the songs mean onto you; however, I will discuss the style of the songs. "All I Want is Everything" is a very good ballad that reminds me of a less polished rendition of "Have You Ever Needed Somebody So Bad;" this song sounds rough because it is meant to - it is a sad song and the music reflects the emotions involved superbly. "Where Does Love Go When it Dies" is an equally emotional song that is a mediocre ballad, but the words are exceptional and took me as a surprise; lines such as "Have you ever stole a prayer to deny your god/Have you ever bought your love and not count the costs" do not come often in most songs being released, especially of those receiving mainstream airplay.

Personally, I feel that "When Blood Runs Cold" is the best song on the album and it is a shame it was not made a single. It is an emotionally intense ballad that is unlike most done by Def Leppard. In the middle of the song there is a segment of the song that is unlike anything I have ever heard the band do. Perhaps I highlight this part too much, as all it is Joe singing lyrics overdubbed onto Joe singing. This song is most likely one of Def Leppard's most intense songs, and definitely is the most intense track on this album. The lyrics are quickly relatable to anyone who has ever suffered through the final stages of a dying relationship. Lines such as "whose life is it anyway?/Because living is the best revenge you can play" while not as poetic as one would like, strike a nerve and are hard to displace.

Def Leppard's ballads seemingly come from the heart, and despite the new sounds, Slang follows that tradition. In fact it is ironic that it seems as though the members of the group tried to open their hearts and minds to their fans while writing these songs only to be punished by poor sales and harsh criticisms.

For those who prefer just to rock out, there are some other very good songs. Both "Slang" - which is played at all of the band's recent concerts - and "Work It Out" have a hard rock edge and easy to remember lyrics that make them great to sing to in the car when you hope no one is looking.

Both Truth? and Deliver Me are two more great songs on this album. The former is hard hitting rock song done in Def Leppard's traditional style. Deliver Me, on the other hand, is a good, mellow rock song - think Boston - which has only one flaw: being too short.

There are a couple forgettable songs - Gift of Flesh being the one that comes to mind first, but, for the most part, this is a greatly - and unjustly - neglected album that contains thirteen tracks that Def Leppard fans should have in their collection. Anyone who appreciates good lyrics should at least borrow the album from a friend or library and listen to "All I Want is Everything,""Blood Runs Cold" and "Where Does Love Go When It Dies." Keep in mind this is an experimental album and does not follow too closely with Def Leppard's established style, but just as the back roads give insight into a city, the experimental albums give fans a peek into the heads of the musicians they enjoy listening to.