Nine Lives?

Def Leppard is set to release Songs from the Sparkle Lounge in two days (April 29). The album is already leaked on the Internet, but I've been very good and not sampled any of the illicit tracks. I have, however, spent some quality time digesting the first single "Nine Lives." In case you are not familiar, the song features country star Tim McGraw.

I don't like it. I am trying to like it, but I swear the country twang ruins it for me. If I wanted to hear country music I'd go to Nashville. If I was in Nashville, I'd hunt down Alison Krauss and Union Station and not Tim McGraw. No disrespect to him, but his songs are not my cup of tea. Back to the Leps.

You should know by now I love Def Leppard. They are one my favorite bands of all time. I've always thought my life would be irrevocably different if Hysteria was never released. I keep listening to "Nine Lives" and counting references to other songs, especially Aerosmith tunes. Is the title a reference to Aerosmith? Maybe I am just nuts, or let my Aerosmith obsession cloud my judgment.

Reinvention isn't necessarily new to DL. After all, they started out much heavier and changed their sound to fit the times. Still, there's a reason nearly every person I know owns either Pyromania or Hysteria: the albums plain rock. So, I stuck with the Leps through the death of Steve Clark, the lean years when Grunge was king...and come Tuesday, I'll be with them in the Sparkle Lounge.

Is it too much to ask for another song as good as "Animal?" Sigh.

Judge for yourself. I already know quite a lot of you are digging "Nine Lives." Here's the video:

Comments

[Rhodeislandrock @ Heavy Metal Addiction]

Rick Allen's brother or something is McGraw's tour mgr. so there's the connection. I also wouldn't be surprised if DL saw what Bon Jovi has done and copied it a bit.....modern country is supposedly now what Hard Rock was back in the '80s. Not sure about that because I don't listen to it but I can tell you that modern country is extremely popular. Doesn't surprise me that Def Lep or Bon Jovi want to tap that market.

I'm a Def Lep fan so I will buy the album Tuesday. I've bought every Def Lep album since HYSTERIA on the day of release so SPARKLE LOUNGE will be no exception. I know the album is streaming online and I think that's a good marketing tool but I haven't listened or watched the video on YouTube. I want to buy it, put it in my stereo, and listen.

I've been a Def Lep guy since HIGH 'N DRY and I prefer the 1st three records. That said, I enjoy every album up to YEAH!, the covers record that I found unnecessary and boring. EUPHORIA and X are masterpieces and I hope that the band at least kept some of the direction of the X album.

Looks like another controversial release, as if the new Asia album wasn't enough!

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/

[missy]

Frankly, I'm getting tired of these 'old' rockers experimenting with my money and failing. It's really dissapointing! Musical exploration is great, but mixing an 80s hair metal band with a country star? Isn't that like meshing football with baseball? Water polo with horse racing? Maybe it's my bias against country music because I grew up in the midwest, but I listen to metal for a *reason*. Mostly because it isn't that crap I was subjected to for my first 24 years on this planet!

I'm also dissapointed that bands that have been around for 20, 30, more years are putting out music that doesn't appeal to fans who have been listening to their music for decades. This also goes for their poor performances after touring for so long. The Police, Warrant, Cinderella (in 2006)...if your voice's time has come and gone, get off the stage!

Did anyone else download the live Def Leppard tracks for Guitar Hero? Pretty not good. On one song, they even changed the key and slowed it down so Joe Elliot could sing it...and he hardly did that. I saw them in 2000, and it was good, but 8 years later, and after listening to those two tracks, I wouldn't pay to see them again.

The band that sticks out in my mind that puts all of these other 'oldies' to pure shame: Rush. These guys have been making music before I was *born*, and they still give their fans everything they have. Their albums are *still* just as good (if not more refined) than that first album in 74'. And seeing them live is one of those cherished things I will never forget. And so, childishly, I have to ask, "How come the rest can't do that?".

I think I would rather remember my favorite 80s bands the way they were. If they pick up a few new fans to replace me, great! Fine! Times change...this is a good thing! But I think I'll go grab my cane and go sit in the corner and reminisce about how their music grabbed me back then, how it changed the way I listened to music (for the better), and die happy.

Okay, end of rant.

[Hollpass]

Stepping out on a limb here... I like it... Don't shoot me - but Tim McGraw is eyecandy for those that enjoy that flavor and brings Def Leppard to a whole new audience - marketing magic......

[Matt]

I have to admit that I wasn't as bothered by Tim McGraw as I thought I would be, even though I'm an avid opponent of anything Country.

They are trying something fresh, and I hope that it gives them the success they are looking for on the charts!

[Vicky]

Def Lep will be on Dancing With the Stars tomorrow night.

ugh. A new low.

[Vicky]

anyone watch it tonight? All lip synched. I'm seriously going to ask Joe if I ever get to meet him again...what the FUCK were you thinking?!?!?!

[lepfan]

Pls forgive me for not checking your page for a few days Allyson! I've heard Nine Lives, seen the vid, blah, blah. I was really disappointed in the whole thing. It's kind of hard to explain, because I realize there will never be any albums like Hysteria, Pyromania, or Adrenalize, but I still applaud their efforts to produce new music. I love the Leps, but some of their new stuff is just not doing it for me. I really can't hear or see the "Lep factor" in Nine Lives. Usually that's not hard to spot.

[Kenny Ozz]

The lip-sinc job on dancing with the stars was an utter embarrasment. Def Leppard are DONE...

[Matt]

Come on - don't be so hard on these guys! Joe's nearing 50 and he can't sing like he's 27 anymore so that's just going to take some getting used to.

Would you rather have them broken up or something? They're one of the few bands that has actually stayed together and they are out there to please their loyal fans - what more do you want??

[Vicky]

I'd rather them NOT do stupid ass shows like Dancing With The Stars!

[True Lep Fan]

Well Vicky, how the fuck do you want the band to promote their new fucking music? First you fucking judge their whole fucking album by one song that features a few fucking lines by Tim fucking McGraw. Then you fucking chastise them for going on a highly rated television show (sure it sucks, but people watch the god damn thing.) Some fucking fan you are.

For those who take the god damn time, the album is their best work since Slang. Great rock songs. Great pop songs. A fucking superb ballad that is just brilliant. But hey, Tim McGraw is on one fucking song.... waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

[Matt]

While the colorful language might not have been necessary, True Lep Fan makes a good point.

They are out there promoting their new album. Can we stop complaining already?!

[Vicky]

I'm not even responding to "True Lep Fan".

[True Lep Fan]

That's because I'm fucking right.