Spotlight Review: 'X'
I was prepared for the new Def Leppard CD "X". After all the hype stating there are no rockers on the new effort and all the tunes were really mellow, I was bracing myself for the worst because I'm not a big ballad fan. So if a ballad starts playing, I usually hit the remote button. When I received "X", I placed it in my player, got my remote ready and gave it a once-over, and you know what? Only 3 of the 13 tunes on "X" are slow-tempo or what I'd consider to be ballads. And those three ballads are very likable. Know why? Because the vocal interpretations combined with the double, even triple guitar solos/riffs, the big production harmonies and the synchronous bass/beat section make Def Leppard's ballads rock, that's why. Joe Elliott's distinctive vocals just get better with time - like a vintage wine seasoned to perfection.