My overall first impression of the whole “Diamond Star Halos” album by Def Leppard is that it’s a fascinating mix of classic Def Leppard sounds from their various phases of evolution mixed with some of the great sounds of the bands who influences them.
The part of me who grew up listening to the radio intensely from around 1974 to 1988 is well served by this album. There are some rockers, some ballads, and plenty of songs in between.
I don’t love it all. I never love all of any album. Sometimes I like all of an album. I’m not sure if I like all of this album. I love parts of it and like much of the rest of it, but there may be one or two songs out of fifteen that just don’t do much for me. That’s not a bad ratio. If you took out those songs entirely that would still leave thirteen songs I like for sure, enough for a whole album.
I’m excited about hearing some of the new songs live this summer. How many bands who have been around for 45 years or so are still putting out songs I can still say that about? Not many. Heck, how many bands have even been together that long uninterrupted, let alone being together that long and still putting out new music? Again, not many.
I’m pleased. Am I over the moon? Not at the moment. But I’m also sleep deprived and not in the best mood to be reviewing a new album. I’m honestly intrigued by a good number of the songs and am looking forward to listening to them repeatedly and discovering all their parts and layers.
I’m happy they put out an interesting album with some truly good new songs and that shows some angles we haven’t quite seen before from them and expands on one’s they’ve visited before.
They haven’t run out of ideas. To me, that’s impressive. I can see why they feel good about this album. They’re not trying to figure out their place as things change around them. They’re making music they enjoy and it shows.
Queen, Elton John, Badfinger, Bowie, early Def Leppard, Hysteria Def Leppard, more Queen, Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter, Abbey Road Beatles, all present so far in this album.
“Lifeless” is a bit too 80s lite metal ballad for me. It’s pretty, but my initial impression is that it’s kind of Boeing.
“Unbreakable,” however, is far more interesting. A minute in and it keeps going in unexpected directions. There are many things going on in this song and they probably shouldn’t work as well together as they do.
“From Here to Eternity” hello “She’s So Heavy” and Queen and then something else entirely. Then more Queen. Sav has written an intriguing one here. A great album closer.
Yep. Allison Krauss sounds great singing with Joe Elliott.
It’s always weird listening to an album one has been anticipating for months. It’s never what’s expected, but that’s neither good nor bad. With the first listen I just discover what it’s really like. I can’t really absorb it enough initially to have coherent thoughts about it. Just patchy reactions.
I’m looking forward to getting to know this album better.
I can already hear what they’ve been talking about as far as sounding more like Queen. And was that a ukulele solo I just heard?
I’m only 2/3 through it, and there includes the first three songs I’ve already become nicely acquainted with.So far those have been the most “rock” songs.
There is some beautiful guitar playing. Joe’s voice sounds great. The harmonies sound great. They’ve used some unusual sounds here and there.
Those looking for an all-rockers album like “High ‘n’ Dry” or “Pyromania” are going to be disappointed, but they’ve been disappointed since “Hysteria” in 1987. Those who’ve paid attention to the later albums and the wider range of songs the band has tackled as they’ve evolved will find much of the sound familiar, yet updated.
