There’s an interview out there on the internet from some years ago in which Def Leppard Joe Elliott states that bands doing covers albums have lost their creative juices. You just have to love the irony of a statement like that coming back to bite a band in the ass like that. As has been clear for years now, that has long since happened to Def Leppard.
Their continual downward spiral from greatness through mediocrity to downright awful seems complete with the release of Yeah! After several listens, it is apparent that the band that made such killer albums as High & Dry and Pyromania no longer exists. In its place is a shell band with a bad singer that would never have gotten big if they had come out with anything they have released after 1988.
Yeah! is crap, plain and simple. Elliott, for his part, proves yet again that his voice is shot from years of touring. He’s lifeless as Hell, and for the first time, he’s just completely abandoned the idea of shifting outside of his speaking voice at all. Gone is all the attitude and all the energy, replaced by dull, standard presentation of a bunch of cover songs.
As for the band, well… there isn’t much to say. These are fairly standard covers of songs that are not overly musical in the first place. Songs like Blondie’s “Hanging On The Telephone” or T Rex’s “20th Century Boy” are very standard, simple songs where the Leps really didn’t have to do a whole lot to spit them out. The only credit worthwhile of giving this band this time out is that, as always, their vocal harmonies are beyond reproach.
The amazing thing about Yeah! is how tepid and stale this actually comes off. It’s so simplistic that you have to wonder if there was ever any thought other than “cash grab” when this band was spitting this out. Sure, it’s understandable to reach out and pay tribute to your favorite bands. Wouldn’t it be more admirable for Def Leppard to skip this though, and concentrate on putting out a good album for the first time in 20 years?
RATING – 2/10 – The only one saying “yeah” to this piece of garbage is the Def Leppard accounting team. Dull, uninspired and smelling of a cash grab, Yeah! fails to make anyone think this band is back in any way, shape or form. R.I.P. Def Leppard!
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Guppusmaximus
Yes...It's true, Def Leppard will never come out with anything like Pyromania because Elliot can't belt out tunes anymore and Mr. Campbell hasn't done any real guitar work since his days in DIO. Looking at them now, you'd be hard pressed to see their involvement with the NWOBHM.
It's a shame....
2 - Rhonda Elizabeth
As a whole, music critics generally tend to annoy me and you, Mr. Akin, unfortunately prove to be no exception.
While it is fine to state a personal opinion - in your case it would most likely be "I don't care for the YEAH! CD" - it isn't fine to speak with a voice of authority or as if stating fact when reviewing a piece of music.
You aren't. You are merely stating your opinion.
Music is and always will be subjective. Your opinion and/or dislike of YEAH! is nothing more than your opinion and is worth no more than the paper it is written upon.
It isn't factual. It isn't definitive. It isn't authoritative. It's an opinion - nothing more - and it would serve you well to state it as such.
Good critics make that distinction - they let the reading audience know that while they dislike something and why they dislike it, they also make it clear that it is an opinion and not one always held by others.
From reading your review of YEAH!, I'm left with the impression that you believe yourself to be an authority.
How sad it must be to be so deluded.
I'm enjoying YEAH! It is a compliation of songs I remember from my youth that have been given a "Leppard" spin.
I'm finding that most enjoyable. In general and one this newest CD, I find Def Leppard's music enjoyable and I find Joe Elliott's voice enjoyable.
In my humble opinion - and it is humble because I have the good sense not to have delusions of grandeur -- it is an album worth spending my hard-earned money on.
Rhonda Elizabeth
3 - Tom
Well, Chris, I just published my review of this here on Blogcritics so be sure and check it out - it's about as polar opposite of yours as possible. In fact, I can't see how it's possible that if you like Def Leppard at all that you'd not find a big grin plastered on your face throughout this disc - these bands are what made Def Leppard sound like they did. This is a seriously fun album.
As for "cash grab," they would have made a lot more money putting out an album of new songs than a disc full of covers, since most of the money goes right back to the rightful song owners - not Def Leppard.
4 - Lepplady
With this review, we see a perfect example of the addage: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, write crappy reviews."
--- Lepplady
5 - Chris Akin
As far as whether I've ever been a Def Leppard fan...yeah, I have. Right up until the decided that they were a pop band. Vivian Campbell makes me sick with his rhetoric about hating metal, and Joe Elliott is the biggest hypocr*te on the planet. All that being said though, if this record had any musical merits, I'd be positive. Instead, it's a half-hearted effort that was seemingly thrown out there simply because they have nothing pending right now and needed to fill the cash flow gap as they go through yet another of their never-ending gaps between albums.
I always love when people take the stance that I must be wrong in my reviews because my opinion doesn't match theirs. I write crappy reviews...thanks "Lepplady". I'm sure with a name like "Lepplady", you can be objective since your not an uber-fan that sucks up to this band at every turn. Whatever. Anyone that listens to this release up to any of their great releases (and by that, I mean pre-1986) will find this to be the utter trash it is.
Bottom line - they've lost their creative juices long ago. Don't take my word for it - trust the words of your hero Joe Elliott. In this article a few years ago, he slammed bands for doing covers albums for losing their creative juices. Apparently that loss has come home. Lame all the way around.
6 - Catcrimsongirl
I'm confused Chris. Where is says add your comments. It clearly states that Personal Attacks are not allowed. But your entire review on this cd is nothing but your personal attack against this band. How is it your allowed to break these rules? But we are not allowed to tell you what we think of you or your review.
7 - Chris Akin
As far as "royalties" go, you are wrong there as well Tom. Bands pay a fee to do a cover song, something like eight hundred dollars per song. From there, the only royalty that is paid is the songwriting mechanicals, which is nominal at best. Def Leppard makes a boatload of money from this if they sell 50,000 copies - a big if considering that they didn't even debut in the top 50 in their home country with this junk.
8 - Monica Greb
Yeah! This album is very enjoyable! The Leppard's introduce us to the music that turned them into who they are. The songs are performed with the quality that one expects from the band. This album also bridges to a new generation to be turned on to a kind of music that they probably would never have heard.
Joe Elliott's voice has gotten better over the years. From a young, aggressive voice from Hi n' Dry to Pyromania, to a smoother, sexier tonal quality that can't be duplicated by others that are performing. Every singer/band has "their sound".
After just seeing them in a recent performance, this has proven that they have gotten better over the years. Def Leppard's "sound" has improved and matured as they grow.
This album may not be for all, but it is fun, upbeat and is most certainly worthy of Def Leppard.
9 - Lepplady
Yeah, Chris. I am an Uber fan. As such, I know that Def Leppard have never claimed to solve world issues with their work. Def Leppard plays to have fun, and that's exactly what this album delivers.
If "Yeah!" is not your cup of tea, that's fine. It's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. But until you crank out 68 million albums worldwide, I hardly think you're in a position to judge so harshly a band that has.
Considering your heated response to my remarks, I clearly hit a nerve. But please do observe your own rules and refrain from personal attacks.
If you can't even do that, then you're nothing more than the pot calling the kettle black when it comes to objectivity.
10 - Dan
I can't speak to this particular album 'cause I haven't heard it yet, but I generally love to hear good bands do covers. I got to see them two years ago, and was impressed with their energy. They opened the show with a cover; "Action". Hopefully, it's on the new CD. It was about as precisely dynamic as you could imagine, without going overboard. I don't see many live shows anymore, so my opinion could be slightly skewed.
Anyhow, I'm into a bit of a Leppard revival these days and have tickets to a June performance. This time though, I'm to be up front, 7 rows from stage. They're paired with Journey as well, so I'm really looking forward to it.
11 - Dave
Chris all i can say is if you're review and taste in music was as good as Def Leppard you'd be having a lot less people slamming you!
I think you're review sucks and is very one sided, one thing that i can't help to think is how old are you? do you remember the 70's or 80's music scene? If not I'd suggest studing up and know where this music comes from and give props where they deserve it because Def Leppard is definitely one band that deserves it.
12 - Rhonda Elizabeth
Bottom line - they've lost their creative juices long ago. Don't take my word for it - trust the words of your hero Joe Elliott. In this article a few years ago, he slammed bands for doing covers albums for losing their creative juices. Apparently that loss has come home. Lame all the way around.
If we all based our "judgements" of music based on the pithy utterings of musicians, no music would have ever passed muster.
I buy music for the quality of the joy it provides - not to glean wisdom from it's creator(s).
Def Leppard always, without exception, provides quality, joyous rock and roll for the dollar spent.
YEAH! is no exception.
http://www.slangwithme.net/rolive-cresendo.html
I'm serious when it comes to money. When you want my money, you have to provide exceptional quality or "I ain't buying."
Def Leppard provides that quality.
What more can you ask?
13 - Guppusmaximus
Don't feel bad Chris... These people are the reason why the metal scene in the US sux major a$$. These are the same people who line up for the new Poison shows.*Smirk*... These are the people who call Glam Rock "Hair Metal" and think that Pantera is extreme metal. They are stuck in the 80's and are so hopeless that they hold on, wishing and hoping that VH1's Bands Reunited was still runnin so that lame acts like Extreme could put out another washed up,POS album!!
Dave - I remember the 80's perfectly. You should try listening to a new Maiden album if you want to give any of the 80's bands credit. Hell, even JP's new one isn't half bad...
As for this release...LOL, what a joke!
14 - Becky
YEAH! Kicks butt! I've been enjoying it since it came out. Your review sucks and it is your own personal opinion.
15 - Rhonda Elizabeth
These people are the reason why the metal scene in the US sux major a$$.
If metal sux, as you put it, it has nothing to do with the people listening and everything to do with the people who create the product.
You can't blame the audience for the product - that's inane.
I don't remember Def Leppard ever claiming to be metal. I've always heard them call their music rock and roll.
It isn't the band's fault that others label them with classifications that do not apply.
The writer of this review used poor judgement in presenting his opinion in a definitive stance thereby seemingly making his thoughts on the topic (YEAH!) authoritative.
There's no issue with him disliking the product. He has that right.
But, those of us who do like Def Leppard's new album are just as right to like YEAH!
Foolish comments regarding metal music that have no basis in fact do not add to the discussion.
16 - Scrib
Hm. I've been a DL fan since 1980, but lo! they do occasionally put out something I don't like. I didn't like X. I thought it was an hours worth of insipid twaddle. And I don't really like Yeah!, though mainly because it's not music I liked in the 70's, and it's still not music I like. I'm the same age as the band, but obviously we weren't listening to the same music when we were teenagers. Other than that I can't say anything really negative about it. It's good, if you like the songs, which for the most part I don't. I don't agree that Lep lost their creative juices. They did this for the fun of it, not as a replacement for a release of their own. They've always done covers, and their fans have always gotten a kick out of it. Why not do it? Yeah, Joe's words come back to haunt him. It wouldn't be the first time ;) I do kind of agree though, that he's lost a certain vocal energy. We noticed it right away, that he's just kind of their, and not as emotional or energetic or heartfelt as he has been in the past. Big deal. He's not 25 anymore and neither is his voice. It's fine.
I think that review was way harsh and definitely more along the lines of personal attack than genuine critique.
And for the record, while I'm a fan, I'm not such a suckup that I won't say I don't like something. I hated X, and I don't like Yeah!. I will still buy their next release because so far I still like a lot more of their music than not.
17 - Kerrie
Chris I hate to brake it to you but your wrong wrong wrong. YEAH does rock and by the way Def Leppard can still fill out stadiums so as usual a reviewer gets it wrong. I think a certain reviewer is mmmmm how I put it is JEALOUS that Def Leppard aren't just gorgeous also talented but your review if printed out be only good for to blow my nose on or wipe my arse with.
18 - Guppusmaximus
It's almost evident,to me, that all the people on BC who use the word "subjective" about music are ignorant.Music can show technical proficiency of an instrument so one's perception is neither the beginning nor the end of it. Also, I find, that people who use that word seem to think they are of higher intelligence. That "Subjective" ends the argument about someone having more insight on what makes an Album good or bad. I feel musicians will always have the upper hand in that discussion,which, for you Rhonda.. Your ignorance shines.
If we talk about Popular music nowadays, the audience has a huge effect on what makes it on the radio and what doesn't. So, if you are a pop band and you aren't making money on your end product then you will more than likely change that product to make the cash! Greatest Hits and Cover Albums are a sure fire way to see a paycheck and with Def Leppard's history after Hysteria, I can see as clear as day why they decided to put this material out.
"Foolish comments regarding metal music that have no basis in fact do not add to the discussion..."
Just because you reiterate that thought twice in your comment still doesn't give it any weight.
Def Leppard became popular through the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Along with other acts like Toad the Wet Sprocket, Iron Maiden,etc..
So the classification of Heavy Metal can apply if you want to show that Def Leppard has had a "watered down" approach to making music since the 80's.
19 - Penny
That review was completely off.
While agree that this album does not sound like the 100% "full wall of sound, in-your-face" Leps, I think it is not supposed to. And I love their new soft melodic harmonies. "Waterloo Sunset" is sugar sweet. But they do get a bit raunchy with "Golden Age of Rock 'n Roll", and I also love their rendition of "Rock On".
and this is for Tom above ... "Action" is not on the track list. However if you buy your CD from Target Stores you will receive it as a bonus track, played live from their 2005 Tour.
Penny Johnson
20 - ChristineLepgirl
I've been a fan since I was 7 years old and never once has this band ever failed its fans. Its true fans, the ones that spend the money on their music because its music that makes you feel, dance , live and laugh. Music isn't about the critics, its about the fans. And that's who they make it for. Clearly your not a fan, so it wasn't made for you. For us, true fans its an album I went out of my way to get because they have never sounded better. Joe's voice is clear, sultry and divine. The band never played harder or better or sang better to songs they didn't write. Critics shouldn't write about music unless they know what true music is, and clearly you don't.
21 - mistydreamer06
I would just like to say that I have been a Def Leppard Fan for a good 20 years. I think that this album is a great tribute to this era in music. I have never been disappointed with anything that Def Leppard have put out. Bands go through a lot and this one has gone through hell and is still HERE!! I still love to hear them play and is that not what it is all about? Music that makes you happy? I might not agree with you Chris, but that is your right to express what you think. I just don't think the same way as you. I love Pete Willis and everything he brought to this band. As I also know that nothing will ever bring back Steve Clark. I am glad though that Vivian Campbell is in this band. Would it matter to some though cause no one will ever beable to take Steve's place. I also think that Joe did an AMAZING job with all the different song's they covered. Phil was GREAT on Stay With Me & Sav was just as GREAT on Dear Friends. That is a band, bringing everyone together to add all their parts. That is what makes a true musician. I Love this album,and just because someone else does not is not going to make me like it any less. I can't wait for this tour cause this band is the best live. LEPPARD LOVE TO YOU ALL!!!!
22 - Hazel
I think that Def Leppard's YEAH! Album Kicks Ass ..Besides look at the band Quiet Riot They Started there Career with a covertune at least Def Leppard Waited 26 years ...Rush Came out with a Covertune Album in 2004 which kicked ass ...Van Halen did Covertunes and they went over well too...Def Leppard just wanted people to know what bands they listened to & the songs they love just by showing that they can make a cover album that rocks...so whoever gave this review can bite me because Def Leppard's YEAH! Album Rocks!.
23 - Guppusmaximus
Sounds like we have the Def Leppard groupies chiming in...You can't compare Def Leppard to RUSH or Van Halen! Yeah, Van Halen did some covers but they didn't have a 10+ year dry period before releasing another kick ass album. RUSH can do whatever the hell they want to because they have created killer music for 30 years.
Def Leppard had High'N'Dry,Pyromania and maybe Hysteria.
Van Halen had VHI,VHII,Diver Down,Women & Children First,1984,5150.
RUSH... Forget about it, too many to name off and the fact that Moving Pictures cleans the floor with any of the above mentioned albums!
Give Us A Break....
24 - Danielle Neuschaefer
I love the YEAH cd - it rocks and it shows that the band can pay tribute to those who influnced them to where they are today. I don't think they ever lost their sound, etc., they can only sound and look better than ever.
25 - rckchk83
No matter what anyone says about Def Leppard in general, or the new album, I will always be a fan. Joe still has an amazing voice, and in my Opinion, I don't honestly think these guys will ever age. And with the comment of a statement Joe had made years ago in an interview, people can change their opinions and minds with time..while Joe was feeling one way, now he has obviously went in a different direction. Also, I think he has a point, for some bands that is the case, that they're just done and out of ideas and what not, but not with Def Leppard. This is a way for us to see who inspired them to do what they do and a way also for them to pay respect back to these bands. And with that said, the songs they selected are awesome, the sound is great and if anything they, like a fine wine, have only gotten better with age.