Def Leppard: Rock Of Ages The Definitive Collection

Artist: Def Leppard
Title: Rock Of Ages The Definitive Collection
Genre: Melodic Rock
Label: Universal Music Group

Def Leppard sounds as good to me today as they did when they released High n’ Dry. They had a long and enormously successful career and remain active today.

Rock Of Ages The Definitive Collection is without a doubt the best tribute to the legendary Def Leppard. The 2-disc set covers the monsters of melodic rock and arguably the progenitors of the genre, in a succinct and convincing fashion. Thirty-five tracks encompass this rockin’ set.

"Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Photograph" have to be the career defining Def Leppard moments. They of course had many more songs that were great but those two in particular are the ones that will always be associated with melodic rock. Their imprint, forever etched in time, is crystallized and given more credence with this wonderful set. A superb acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind" is offered as well as the Historia video edit of "Pour Some Sugar On Me," which is a souped up remixed version. Do not fret hardcore fans; it still kicks some major ass after all these years, remixed or not. "Rocket" gets the same treatment from a Visualize video edit.

Hard rock and metal became instantly accessible once Def Leppard reached the masses and started receiving some heavy rotation on radio stations. They became huge rather quickly and pretty much owned the 80s in regards to hard rock. The hair bands came and went while this band dug their heels in deeper with each successive release. The fact that they are on the road touring again is proof positive that there remains a strong fan base that is still hungry for their music. Most certainly new fans 20 years removed from the band’s humble beginnings will come onboard this rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut. There is no reason why that would not happen, they made some memorable music that had a tremendous impact and it still does today. One listen to this career spanning set will set the record straight and cast away a doubt in a heartbeat.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

June 16, 2005

Rating-10/10

Disc: 1

01. Pour Some Sugar On Me (HISTORIA video edit)
02. Photograph
03. Love Bites
04. Let's Get Rocked
05. Two Steps Behind (acoustic version)
06. Animal
07. Heaven Is
08. Foolin'
09. Rocket (VISUALIZE video edit)
10. When Love & Hate Collide
11. Armageddon It
12. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad?
13. Rock Of Ages
14. Hysteria
15. Miss You In A Heartbeat
16. Bringin' On The Heartbreak
17. Switch 625

Disc: 2

01. Rock Rock (Till You Drop)
02. Let It Go
03. High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night)
04. Too Late For Love
05. No Matter What
06. Promises
07. Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)
08. Women
09. Another Hit And Run
10. Slang
11. Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)
12. Rock Brigade
13. Now
14. Paper Sun
15. Work It Out
16. Die Hard The Hunter
17. Wasted
18. Billy's Got A Gun

Def Leppard Website
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