Adrenalize - Def Leppard (CD 1992)

Of all of the Def Leppard studio albums, this one has been by far the most maligned, even more so than "Slang." Even though "Slang" was not commercially succesful and this album was, most applauded Leppard for attempting to update their sound. On the other hand, most people see this album as a waste, as a "Hysteria II." Well, you know what, they are right, it is Hysteria II, and I really couldn't care less. I didn't see anyone complaining when Def Leppard returned to their old sound with "Euphoria." The fact is, with a lot of bands, their sound does need updating every so often (REM, The Stones, etc.)or else they do not sound fresh. Def Leppard is not this way. Even though they are one of my favorite bands, I would be perfectly content with a whole slew of albums that sounded like "Pyromania," "High N' Dry," and "Hysteria." They are what I call an ear candy band. If you want great artistic statements and elaborate musical compositions, go listen to Radiohead, for God's sake. If you want a good, four-minute pop metal sing along rife with layered vocals and hooks out the wazoo, Def Leppard is your band.

That being said, let us go over this much maligned album, track by track.

Let's Get Rocked-What a great song to start the album with! This song absolutely explodes in your face with loud guitars, big drums and vocals, and a big, sing-along chorus. It's a harbinger of things to come. Hearing the song live is even better-a great fist-pumping song. Not only that, the song is hilarious-what kid hasn't felt like they didn't want to clean their room or take out the trash?

Heaven Is-A good song, yet probably the weakest track on the album. It's a pretty standard pop metal song about a hottie that Joe's dating, but it doesn't hit quite as hard or sound quite as dramatic or big as their other songs. Nonetheless, it is a quite listenable song, despite the fact that it can't decide whether to be a ballad or rock song.

Make Love Like A Man-Hooks, hooks, hooks! This song has so many hooks you would have sworn it was found in a fishing store! (Okay, that was cheesy, I know.) Seriously, even though the lyrical content is not exactly the deepest in the world, the music and vocals are delivered with attitude and conviction, and it is catchy as hell!

Tonight-I love the harmonized vocals to this song, both at the very start and during the chorus. Hearing the vocals at the beginning followed by a very well-crafted acoustic arpeggio riff still gives me chills. This is one of three really good ballads on the album-the mix of the acoustic and electric towards the end of the song is also perfect.

White Lightning-This is the best, most powerful track on the album, and one of the top five Leppard songs ever. They typically do not do political or serious music, but this song about their fallen bandmate, Steve Clark, who died of a drug overdose during the making of this album, works perfectly. It doesn't seem contrived, and the big, dramatic sound fits the mood of the song perfectly, because it is no small thing when you lose a friend of fifteen years to drugs. Awesome and powerful.

Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)-This is a song that does not really stick out a whole lot, especially when placed next to "White Lightning." Yet, it is a good, middle-of-the-road rock pseudo-ballad, with good lyrics (There's an empty chair at the table, there's an empty look in your eyes...)that paint very effective word pictures. This is a good song made in the mold of the title track from "Hysteria."

Personal Property-After a dramatic rock song and a couple of ballads, Def Leppard gets back into the uptempo, hook-filled rock, and cranks it up a notch. This is just a fun song to listen to overall. The only negative thing I will say is that in the middle of the song, when Joe is trying to sound threatening to guys trying to steal his girl, he actually sounds kind of like a wimp. Other than that one little section, though, this song is a fun rock and roll romp.

Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad-This song was destined to become the mega-hit it eventually became on Top 40 radio. It has Top 40 lyrics (...you must be some kind of drug..., ...but in the morning you'll be gone..., etc.), the requisite hooks (including a particularly memorable main riff), and a big, sing-along chorus. Even if you do not like this song, it is so catchy you will find yourself singing along to it. It is an excellent, textbook Top 40 rock ballad.

I Wanna Touch U-This is the guilty pleasure of the album for me. There is just something about the way the guitar sounds with the harmonized vocals in this song that gets me shouting along to every word of this song, no matter how wonderfully cheesy the lyrics are (I wanna touch u, till we're stuck like glue...). This is one song that I wish that Def Leppard would play live, and they have not in the three times I've seen them.

Tear It Down-This is the most kicka*s song on the album. The opening riff just growls at the listener, and the song explodes from there on out and does not let up for one single second. Not only that, this song is ripe with searing solos that you just do not hear in most rock music today. Not only that, it ends with authority, much like "Rock Of Ages!" This is the perfect end to the album, to bookend the beginning of the album, which was another loud ear candy song.

Again, like I said before, this is Hysteria II. I am in agreement there. With a band like Def Leppard, though, there is no need to measure their worth as a band by their so-called artistic "progress." This band makes great ear candy, and this much-maligned album is a testament to that.