Yeah! : Def Leppard : Review : Rolling Stone

Def Leppard have a huge chip on their shoulder about being lumped in with the U.K. and U.S. hair-metal bands of the Eighties. To set the record straight, they've recorded this album of covers of songs by their real heroes: people like David Bowie, T.Rex and the Kinks, as well as lesser-known Seventies rockers such as Sweet and John Kongos. Happily, Yeah! is their most convincing album in fourteen years, which proves their point. Standout tracks include a straightforward cover of David Essex's "Rock On" and an amped-up take on the Faces' "Stay With Me," in which Phil Collen seems to conjure Rod Stewart. The only real misstep is a flat rendition of Blondie's "Hanging on the Telephone" (coincidentally the only American group on the album). None of the arrangements veer far from the originals, but they don't need to -- it's good enough to just hear the band having fun and to see where all the Hysteria came from.

ANDY GREENE

(Posted: Jun 12, 2006)

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Review 1 of 5

5of 5 Stars

Coinciding with their US tour with the legendary band Journey, Def Leppard released "YEAH!" in 2006. YEAH! has been referred to as a "covers" collection, suggesting it is all covers of other bands' old material and perhaps symptomatic of a lack of originality on Def Leppard's part. Giving it a listen, though, will cure all but the most cynical of any such misconceptions. YEAH! is a tribute to the Leps' most powerful musical influences, but it is pure Def Leppard.

The basic track listing includes:

1. "20th Century Boy" (T-Rex)
2. "Rock On" (David Essex)
3. "Hanging on the Telephone" (The Nerves / Blondie)
4. "Waterloo Sunset" (The Kinks)
5. "Hell Raiser" (Sweet)
6. "10538 Overture" (ELO - Electric Light Orchestra)
7. "Street Life" (Roxy Music)
8. "Drive-In Saturday" (David Bowie)
9. "Golden Age of Rock n Roll" (Mott the Hoople)
10. "Little Bit of Love" (Free)
11. "No Matter What" (Badfinger)
12. "He's Gonna Step On You Again" (John Kongos)
13. "Don't Believe a Word" (Thin Lizzy)
14. "Stay With Me" (Faces)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Depending on where the CD was purchased, it may come with an extra songs as follows:

* BEST BUY - 2 extra tracks: "No Matter What (Live)" and "Winter Song"
* iTUNES - 1 extra track: "How Does It Feel" [only applies when you buy the whole album]
* TARGET - 2 extra tracks: "Action (Live)" and "When I'm Dead And Gone"
* WALMART - bonus EP with 5 extra songs: "American Girl", "Search and Destroy", "Space Oddity", "Dear Friends", and "Heartbeat"
* A Japanese version has 2 extra tracks: "Search and Destroy" and "American Girl"

Before you bid, be sure to ask which version of the release you are buying if it is not clearly stated in the auction listing.

The "liner notes" themselves are an hommage to classic 70's album art, and the disc has been styled to resemble a vinyl album. Cool and interesting little "inside jokes" for those who recognize the influence; just great pictures for those who don't. Either way, the entire collection was clearly given tremendous thought and consideration in every aspect of it's production from the song selections (the band deliberately chose to go with the "less obvious" songs to Leppardize, i.e., choosing "Don't Believe a Word" over the obvious "The Boys Are Back In Town" from Lizzy) to the packaging art.

To be frank - though I am a big fan of the band - I wasn't sure about this release. Not sure at all. The band has been maturing musically over the years, and I have to confess, I was a little worried this would be a fizzling last hurrah for the boys from Britain. Then I saw the "Rock On" video and <perk> WOW! This isn't your grandma's collection of old standards! This stuff ROCKS!!

Def Leppard has proven once again that they are so much more than tight musicians - they will go down in history right along with the greats of their caliber and resiliency: AC/DC, Aerosmith, and the Rolling Stones. Rock on, Lep fans! The boys have still got it, and YEAH! is the proof.

Can't WAIT to hear what they release in 2007!!

Nov 3, 2006 04:27:43

Review 2 of 5

5of 5 Stars

This is the best tribute album i have ever heard. Instead of picking just 1 song to cover and doing an album of new material they took their favorite songs, narrowed it down to 12 and released it. From the hard rock sounds of "rock on" to the pop oriented sound "golden age of rock and roll" Def leppard has done it again

Sep 12, 2006 14:59:08

Review 3 of 5

5of 5 Stars

Let's see Andy Greene? Who the fuck is he and who gives a shit if they covered their home boys. Def Leppard did an exceptional job, just because Mr. Greene doesn't know who Sweet is doesn't mean Lep has to suffer. This is an excellent showcase of great british rock and extremely well played and executed. My hats off to Def Leppard, MOST EXCELLENT COVERS. Did anyone every question why Aerosmith only did american blues artists. OK, Mr Greene get your head out of your ass and just have someone staple your lips to DeF Leppards ass.

Jun 26, 2006 09:18:56

Review 4 of 5

3of 5 Stars

DEF LEPPARD:
YEAH! (Island)
Now here's the summer covers record we've all been waiting on. Is there a better way to resuscitate a dead corpse career (aging metal band on it's last legs) than with a clever stomp through some expertly chosen yesteryear hits? Only if they're of the glam variety. And best of all, this Leppard changes it's spots: not content to just 'eavy me'ul those chart toppers, but instead vamping the numbers in their original style. You heard right, Def Leppard glamming it up on T. Rex's "20th Century Boy", getting all psychedelic on "Rock On", slipping nicely into bubblegum punk mode for "Hanging On a Telephone Line", and slipping nicely into their Kinks boots for "Waterloo Sunset". It's gob-smacking is what it is. Who knew Def Leppard could play above their big hair reputations? Plus they have that one armed drummer, which is always cool. (Sekerka)

Jun 13, 2006 12:43:50

Review 5 of 5

5of 5 Stars

Without a doubt, the best album to be released this year by any artist. The ablum rocks and sounds cool. Def Leppard is one of the few artists in music that care about their fans and give them only their best. Not and album with one good song and the rest "fillers". "Yeah" rocks from beginning to end and proves that Def Leppard is still the best rock group in the world.

Jun 1, 2006 06:43:38

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