Def Leppard delivers catchy tunes on X
This sounds like faint praise, but it's not: The great thing about older English rock stars like Def Leppard is that they don't muddy up the waters with higher aspirations. Def Leppard has had its creative ups and downs - the last couple of discs, Euphoria and Slang, haven't been the best - but they just keep on keeping on, happy to do what they do well. And no matter what it is you do, if you're halfway decent and you keep at it, you're going to do a good job.
Def Leppard has done a good job on X, its tenth record. Although the band's roots and sound lie in metal, the disc is true pop in that, while it plays, it sounds really catchy - but once it stops spinning, any lingering traces of what you've heard evaporate. The first spin is the best; every song sounds inspired. By spin No. 2, reality sets in and filler cuts such as "Unbelievable" and "Long Long Way to Go" become more apparent.