Published on Mar 28, 1998
Admit it. There was a point in your life where you liked Def
Leppard. Somehow they made sense, some way they got you to listen,
to buy and to like. And you loved it. I’ll confess to it. But then
again, it was the ’80s.
Well, for those of us that are not afraid to admit it–or are
and somehow will steal a copy from your music store–there is
Vault. A greatest hits compilation from a band that
dominated the pretty-boy, long-hair, glam-rock era of the 80s
(where Bon Jovi, Poison, Winger and others made their home). They
weren’t evil like Iron Maiden or Metallica–they were nice. They
were the kind of band you took your girlfriend out to see (hoping
that the ballads gave you an edge later that night) and weren’t
ashamed if your best friends caught you listening to them.
Like most stuff from the 80s–barring some few examples–there
was great stuff and then there was bad stuff. This is equally
represented here in
Vault. For one, there are too many ballads in here. I don’t
mind “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak,” “Love Bites,” “Hysteria,”
“Photograph” and “Two Steps Behind”–I really don’t. But why add
“Miss You In A Heartbeat” and “Have You Ever Needed Someone So
Bad?” (Excuse me, writer’s cramp from all the long titles). Hell,
the only new song is a ballad–“When Love And Hate Collide” and it
sounds exactly like the last two. Add “Foolin'”–which I have
always thought had the worst kind of chorus ever–and that’s half
of the album. Ouch. Pass the Pepto–too many sweets.
As for the rockers, I have fewer complaints. I never understood
what the point of “Rocket” was. Were they trying to make a rock
song or just a song where they could fit as many musical references
as possible? “Armaggeddon It” still sounds okay if a bit
outdated.
Now, don’t think I hate this album. “Pour Some Sugar On Me”
still sounds vibrant and, as Conan O’Brien has shown, as long as
there is a strip bar out there, this song will live on. “Let’s Get
Rocked” does rock in a mindless, hormonally-filled, teenage sort of
way–meaning they did everything right, because you’re not supposed
to care what it says, just how loud it says it. “Rock Of Ages” is
still good–but you will get flashbacks. “Animal” sounds good until
the very last part and then it sounds even better.
Here’s hoping he day will come when rock bands are allowed to
have fun. When that day comes, I’ll hope they do so with something
like “Pour Some Sugar…” If nothing else, to get Marilyn Manson
and Fiona Apple to strip to it.