Def Leppard's 'Let's Go' Is Just Awesome

The upcoming self-titled album by Def Leppard will hit stores October 30. Yesterday, the band premiered "Let's Go" on Rolling Stone via SoundCloud. Someone was kind enough to share the song on YouTube and I was able to embed below.

The song is so good... I freaking love the classic guitar riff! I was nervous when I hit play on the track for the first time... and then I ended up listening to the song about six times in a row. (Please note the sound is richer on the Rolling Stone link versus the YouTube).

The thing I love about Def Leppard is that you basically know exactly what you're going to get from them. They produce brilliant melodic rock and they aren't ashamed of it either, thank you very much. I immediately pre-ordered the album on Amazon.

Comments

[Badland]

Should be called Lets Suck! Terrible terrible terrible. Can a band get in trouble for copying theirselves lol its pour some sugar on me added in with cover band guitarist. Doesnt surprise me tho they havent put out anything good in bout 30 years.

[Ace Steele]

Awesome? NO. Good? Maybe. Just OK? Yeah... That's where it sits for me, "just OK".

There's a LOT to like from the Def Leppard camp, they've had excellent rockers (Rock Brigade & Let It Go), Great sing-along anthems ("Photograph" & "Pour Some Sugar"). & some of the most beautiful ballads, ever ( X's "Let Me Be The One" & Sparkle Lounge's criminally ignored "Love") but this is just.... "meh"... I'm seeing 'em in L.A. next weekend, so we'll see if they pull out this new tune.

I will say one more thing about the Leps... I will absolutely buy their next & every record for one reason. When Rick Allen lost his arm, they didn't abandon him, or just instantly go looking for a new drummer. They stuck by him & let him prove to himself that he could still play drums. They understand the often ignored concept that a band is a brotherhood. They did the right thing, & in my own small way, I will reward them for it.

That being said, I will now go back to listening to the best record of 2014... "The Further Adventures of Joe Elliot's Down N' Outz"... :)

[Chris Krukewitt]

Not for me ... sounds like an outtake of a filler song that didnt make an album long ago.

I show my age but I still want to hear High n Dry era with just a smattering of their pop hooks

[dalern63]

New Def Leppard track "Let's Go" To me, the riff sounds like a cross between Pour Some Sugar and Kingdom Come's "Get It On"

[Bob]

Rag on these guys all you want for basically copying themselves, but one thing they aren't is stupid. Anybody who is still interested in Def Leppard doesn't want to hear them trying to break new ground. What these people want is to be temporarily transported back to the 80s, and this song certainly serves that purpose very well. Take a big bombastic riff like "Pour some Sugar on Me", change it slightly, add a melody that accounts for Joe Elliot's understandably diminished vocal range, add in lots of trademark harmonies and wham!...Mission accomplished. Let's face it folks, music is a business, and a song like this will keep most of their customers satisfied.

As for the song itself, I found it enjoyable. I could see myself out on my patio, drinking a cold one while listening to it.

[Bob]

And, after I posted my comment, then I read the Rolling Stone article. Joe Elliot basically says the same thing I did. He is very candid and open about what they are doing. I encourage you to read the article before dumping all over these guys, and the new song.

[Metalboy!]

Yeah, but guys... Even when they were "sticking to the formula" back in the day, they still managed to mix it up.

This is such a parody of themselves it puts me to sleep.

At least back then, though it all still sounded a little samey (as the Brits like to say), they still managed to break new ground within those limitations. Here, they're their own worst enemies, recycling stuff they've already recycled, extracting one ginormous collective global yawn.

As far as Ace's fave band, the success the Down n' Outz (London Quireboys sans Spike) are having with Elliot is well deserved as you couldn't meet (AND party with) a nicer bunch of guys, save for Spike, who suffers from a serious Napolean complex, especially around the ladies.

[oper8n]

Sounds very late 80's or early 90's DL, back when I was young, had hair, and not much responsibility. Doesn't sound as hard as their earlier stuff, which is fine. I will buy it, put it on the DL and 80's Hair Bands playlists, and enjoy it frequently when operating with my crew. Again, not much new coming out from the few bands that are relatively intact, so please support them with a purchase if you are able.
Have a great day.

[Dj]

I think it sounds like an outtake from Hysteria. I mean that in the most positive way possible. Personally I never liked anything they released after Hysteria, but if the album is more like this, I would definitely buy it. The song sounds great to me, I do not think Def Leppard has to break new ground to have new great music, releasing something like this is perfect for a band like them. I know it will never top High N Dry and Pyromania (My personal favorites) but I know it will be contending for album of they year for me. Bring on more!!!!

[Glamrockerarchke]

I really liked this song, I'm a big fan of these guys and def will be getting the CD when it comes out.

[Metalboy!]

Puleez, Glam Rocer Archie! As much as I love these guys' old stuff, this is a Xerox of a Xerox of a Xerox, and not in s good way like AC/DC Motörhead (God Bless Him) or Ramones (God Bless Them!), etc., etc.!!!

[glamrockerarchie]

ill give you that metalboy they def copied the old sound but a good song is a good song and i for one hate when bands change there sound too much to fit in, ie. warrant - belly to belly, dokken- shadowlife, skid row-thickskin n subhuman race, etc. fans want to hear the bands stay with there sound and put out good songs, the casual fan isnt gonna buy it regardless and diehards want true sound.

[Metalboy!]

Hey, I'm with ya... I'm not saying they should change their sound. I just wish they had better riffs.

[Him]

Saw them two nights ago at their Bone Bash stop in Mountain View. A solid performance in so many ways. They are fairly adept at adjusting the songs to compensate for how Elliot's voice now sounds. Only occasionally did they go overboard with those adjustments, in a couple of cases it felt like he was talking the lyrics; in a couple of others, he saved up for an approximation of his old wail and left dead spots as a result. In other instances, Elliot sounded much better than I expected without them having to seemingly noodle with the songs. And he is still the consummate front-man, upstaging Mr. Oily Chest (the lights seemed to bounce off his gleaming torso), and not in a way that was appealing to those around me. A lady to my left said, to no one in particular: "Ewww, that's not right." I concur.

I don't begrudge Campbell his long standing place in Lep (and cont. to hope he beats the crap out of his cancer). But we all know where those riffs came from . . . "The Riffmaster," in Elliot's words, Steve Clark.

I will hand it to them: they paid full tribute to all stages of the band (well, not so much Willis) in the lovely photos on the screens behind them. And when the announcement of the new album was made, the crowd noise dropped, as if anticipating a "new" song like "Let's Go." Not missing a beat, they got back to the hits. They aren't going to pull an Iron Maiden and do a set-list of only new stuff.

Speaking of which, I could do without hearing "Let's Get the Rock Outta' Here" live ever again. I'd much prefer if they dug a bit more into the goody bag. "Gods of War" would be a solid replacement, as would more songs off their first three albums. But those are quibbles.

The place was packed from Tesla (who I did not watch), through Styx, and onto Lep. Surprisingly packed to my mind. It was as large a crowd as was at Shoreline a few nights previous when the Foo Fighters played with Gary Clark Jr. (think Buddy Guy mixed with the White Stripes). Another solid show. Just not my cup of musical mescal. And probably the best attended of the previous three Bone Bashes.

A night of nostalgia in the Bay Area. Nice way to cap off the month of Sept.

[Metalboy!]

Great news, HIM!... Just as packed as Foo Fighters!...

"Rock of Ages, still rollin'!..."

[Him]

True enough, Metalboy! I was surprised and delighted.

And the more I think about it (esp. in the context of some of their other contemporaries), I am happy to put up with the dead spots and vocals misses if the alternative is the band trying to sound like they did back in the day by playing the music in the background to cover up how they sound today. I guess it is a metal "smell test" of sorts. And one that a lot of bands should heed when making calculations on when to hang it up and when to hit the road.