Rolling Stone's review for 'Songs from the Sparkle Lounge'

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/20255989/review/20256169/songs_from_the_sparkle_lounge

In the nineties, when producer Robert “Mutt” Lange disappeared into Switzerland with Shania Twain and dump trucks full of cash, he left Def Leppard stranded. Lange produced and co-wrote their best-selling release Hysteria, and the band tries hard to re-create that album’s magic on Songs From the Sparkle Lounge. “Go,” the opener, has the group’s signature layered vocals, crunching guitars and Seventies glam-rock vibe. But when the fivesome team up with Tim McGraw in a desperate country-crossover attempt on “Nine Lives,” the results aren’t pretty. From there, the band’s on cruise control — especially on the politically tinged “Cruise Control” and the Kansas-style power ballad “Love” — with songs that feel like inferior versions of hits two decades past. Def Leppard show signs of life on the headbanging “Bad Actress,” which takes on the Lindsay Lohans of the world, but it’s clear they’re missing their old producer. We await their 2010 Timbaland-aided comeback.

 Not that RS is the end-all be-all of reviews. I generally expect them to trash any rock/metal acts, especially if they’re no longer a huge commercial success. That’s just their way, but… I’ve looked at a few blogs and they’re pretty much saying the same.

I haven’t had the chance to listen to the whole album, but I’ve liked what I listened to. “Go” and “Nine Lives” are really good (although McGraw’s appearance is worthless and pointless). I’ll be picking it up not too long after it comes out, so expect a recap of it then.

At least they aren’t doing the lame boyband & ballad stuff like they did on X and are making an attempt to return to their rock & roll roots.

UPDATE: MY thoughts on the album are here.