Def Leppard

YEAH!

4/5

Def Leppard’s highly anticipated album has mastered exactly what they set out to do. On “Yeah!” Def Leppard rock out to their musical heroes of the 60’s and 70’s: Badfinger, Roxy Music, David Bowie, Thin Lizzy, Free , Faces. Sweet, The Kinks and Mott the Hoople.

Some of the songs are almost carbon-copies of the originals and some have been “Leppardized.” Each track shows each band members influences. Their abilities are shown here: harmonies and layers of guitar, and a little piano on a couple tracks.

Standout tracks are: The Faces- Stay With Me, Thin Lizzy- Don’t Believe A Word and Mott The Hoople- The Golden Age Of Rock ‘N’ Roll. A darker edge is given to David Essex- Rock On, and Blondie- Hanging on the Telephone

Def Leppard’s “Yeah!” stands as a text book example of "how to do a covers album.” Hopefully cover album failures will soon learn to follow.

+Debbie Gebert
July 5, 2006