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Smile UK Store - Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.98
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Manufacturer: Universal
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0602517626751
Label: Universal
Manufacturer: Universal
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Universal
Release Date: 2008-05-05
Running Time: 44
Studio: Universal
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Editorial Reviews:
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Tenth album from the Sheffield hard rockers, the follow-up to 2006's covers set 'Yeah' and their first album of original material since 2002's 'X'. Named for the backstage area where they wrote most of the material, this is allegedly a return to their hard-rocking roots after the toned-down adult pop sound of 'X', containing no ballads. Produced by the band's long-standing engineer Ronan McHugh, it includes the single 'Nine Lives' which features a guest appearance from country star Tim McGraw.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Good, But No Cigar
Comment: My faith has recently been restored in Def Leppard. After taking no notice of them whatsoever for over 15 years, I was dragged along to their (sold out) gig at the Cardiff CIA with "Whitesnake". The Whitesnake show was dire, but Leppard were surprisingly superb and reminded me why I loved them so much 20-odd years ago. Hence I rushed straight out and bought "Sparkle Lounge", which I've found to be a bit disappointing. That's not to say it's a bad album, it's just a pretty average Leppard record. Both of their last albums, "X" and "Euphoria", were a lot better. "Sparkle Lounge" is on a par with "Slang". Most of the songs are standard hard rock faire, lack soul, and wash straight over you. It does, however, have moments of greatness ("C'Mon C'Mon" & "Only The Good Die Young") and brilliance ("Love"). But the Leppard we all know and love are a lot more slick and melodic than this, even their power ballads are usually a guilty pleasure. I'd never condone sticking to a formula, but Leppard are one band, at their vintage, that should really play to their strengths. All that criticism aside, "Sparkle Lounge" is a worthy addition to anyone's collection, but don't expect "Hysteria". Leppard are a great, British rock institution that deserve the praise they're currently receiving. Although I'm not quite sure why it's been forthcoming on the back of this album. It's beyond me why "Sparkle Lounge" has been so successful when the previous two (original) albums deserved it so much more, perhaps it's simply that the timing is right for them.
Customer Rating:
Summary: HARDER THAN WE ARE USED TO BUT..HMMMMMM
Comment: You know, I like Def Leppard I really do. Since 1980 I followed (and bought) their albums that saw them go mega, especially in the States. But, like many fans after Hysteria it went down hill for me, and whilst I have copies of X, Adrenalise etc it takes a lot for me to enthuse about these great guys like I used to. So, when they launch a new album, and tour with Whitesnake, I wasn't sure what Leppard would jump out at me. The "sexy rock" of the mid 80's or the wild, ravaging hungry hunter that has become their taste lately. Well, "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" distinctly lives in 2008 metal land. Hard, fast guitars, modern hooks these guys are aiming for teenage and mid 20's metal fans. Err... Didn't they do that in 1983, 85, 87....
Ok, so what I am on about here, well the album is just rather bland. it's heavy, yes. It's guitars, it's up to date, it's dull... Sorry, what was that. yes, it's a bit dull. Heavily engineered guitars, limited melody, little individualism and definetley no distinction.
If you yearn for more melody, ballads, acoustic and catchy rock - look elsewhere this album just doesn't do it for me and what seems like quite a few other Leppard fans.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best since Euphoria
Comment: When Hysteria was released it changed my life. It was the album that got me hooked into rock music and I've never looked back. The band's sound and image has influenced all my music preferences since - be it cool or not. `Pyromania', `High `N dry' and `On Through night' soon followed into my collection with each show casing the bands progression. The name John `Mutt' Lange on the production opened me up many other bands (mainly AC/DC, Foreigner , The Boomtown Rats Romeo's Daughter etc.) The follow up albums have never been able to match Hysteria and never could, although I've sure enjoyed each one. Adrenalize was a difficult follow up after selling millions of copies of Hysteria (we are now up to 20 Million now) but more importantly this was after the loss of lead guitarist Steamin' Steve Clark's due to his untimely death, and then the musical movement into `grunge' (which I believe was a term created by the media to create something different: Pearl Jam etc were just Rock bands - if they had been around in the 70's that's what they would have been labelled as -` Rock'). Slang tried to tap into that market but it wasn't what long time Def Leppard fans were looking for and it failed to capture new fans, as mature as the songs were - the album still had a great sound as did the stripped down tour (no `in the round' this time but a return to early days of a stack/wall of Marshalls amplifiers). Euphoria was a return to the classic formula (include the return of John `Mutt' Lange), but never really capture the general public's imagination (or at least in the UK - thanks to no promotion by the bands management). X as catchy as the songs were just didn't rock hard enough and Joe's voice by this point was not what it used to be as he was advised not to sing in a high pitch. Baring all this in mind, this is a solid Def Leppard album. It instantly sounds like Def Leppard - Any criticisms of soundiny just like anyone else are down to others sounding like them. Apart from the song `Love' (which I removed from my iPod - I just don't like it) this is solid Def Leppard which just gets better on every listen. The band on tour right now is on top form and the future looks bright. It's just such a shame they don't get pushed the way other bands from the 80's era do e.g. Bon Jovi , and as always they are completly ignored by the British music press (except Classic Rock).
If you like Def Leppard, give it a few spins and I'm sure you will feel the same way. I should know - I've subjected a few mates to this now!
Customer Rating:
Summary: An awesome colourful return to rock!
Comment: I've been waiting for the Leps to release an album like this for a looooong time and I'm very happy with the result. From the outset 'Go' is an awesome rocking tune of a harder hitting style the Leps should do more. Some other faves include Gotta Let It Go, Hallucinate (wicked chorus), Only the Good Die Young and Come Undone - so basically the whole thing! While the album is all rock there is great variety in the sound with each song having a signature Leps catchy melodic theme.
I'm a realist and know this album won't be for everyone (whoever makes that album will be very rich!!!) but it's a welcome return to their rocking roots and right up my alley!! :-)
Very much worth a listen!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A fine Album
Comment: Take away who this is written by and lets look at the album objectively. To always hold a band's best work against them when reviewing an album is pretty unfair.
By anyone's standards this is solid collection of songs ranging from (for the Lep's) pretty hard rock, through pop rock and onto a VERY Queen influenced ballad (listen to Jealousy from the Jazz album or Take My Breath Away, from a Day At the Races and you'll see what I mean).
Most song pass the girlfriend test (ie: she finds herself humming along without realsing it) with Nine Lives, Tomorrow, C'mon C'mon, scoring highly. Away from the poppy sing along pop rock there are some pretty meaty rock, with Go's spiky grinding riff sounding great. Jo Elliot's 2 songs impress with Bad Actress's chorus and some great guitar histrionics before the slow burning "Come Undone" kicks in with some emotional lyrics stacked up against a pretty impressive wall of sound.
No song for me really fails to leave an impression, with each one having a good melody, a strong hook, interesting sounds or lyrics. Vivian Campbell is really growing into the band with some strong written input, Only the Good Die Young surely single at some point.
A very satisfying from one of Britains most longest serving Rock acts. Well done lads!
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