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Music : High'n'Dry
1 2
Rating: 
- I Suppose A Rock's Out Of The Question?
Not on this album. Def leppard's second album is a rock master class which they would sadly never repeat after following a far more poppy direction with following albums (however to be fair `Pyromania' and `Hysteria' are excellent albums in their own right).
On this album Def Leppard wear their influences on their sleeves, one can hear shades of many classic 70's rock bands such as Thin Lizzy, UFO, Scorpions and of course AC/DC, who as other reviewers have pointed out are of particular influence to the early Leppard sound. Def Leppard have even stolen AC/DC's producer Mutt Lange for this album. However I would have to say this is not the `AC/DC tribute album' others have accused it of being as `High `N' Dry' is more polished sounding than any of AC/DC's classic output (from the debut to `Back in Black' just in case you were wondering) and is more reliant on guitar harmonies giving a less raw sound than AC/DC.
It is a greatly debated topic as to whether Def Leppard is actually a metal band. Well in my opinion no, but they do technically fall into the NWOBHM movement as did many non-metal bands (for instance Progressive rock bands have been labelled NWOBHM simply by emerging in late 70's and early 80's Britain). However this debate is irrelevant when considering that the music here is of such high quality and any metal fan who appreciates the aforementioned classic rock bands should find something to enjoy.
Song wise this album is pretty much flawless, non of these songs are weak and most of them are excellent. My particular favourites include `Let it Go' in which Steve Clark and Pete Willis prove themselves as an excellent guitar duo providing some wonderful riffs and solos that always have me playing air guitar thankfully this remains in the Def Leppard set list to this day. The albums title track is another classic, a paean to drinking on a Saturday night driven along by some strange but effective riffs from Steve Clark, who lets face it Boys and Girls was always the cool one out of Def Leppard. `You Got Me Runnin' is a straightforward rocker that won't appeal to the Opeth fans out their and proves (as most of this album does) that simple ideas are best. `Lady Strange' is more melodic than the previous numbers and is easily one of the catchiest songs here, and to be fair they're all damned catchy.
This album's `hit' is `Bringing on the Heartbreak' and although a good song and the most commercial on the album its actually one of the weaker songs on `High `N' Dry' which is perhaps an indication of the quality on display here. `On Through the Night' is the weakest song here, it's not bad but its surrounded by better songs with better hooks and as such feels inferior.
As previously mentioned Mutt Lange produce's this album and gives it that classic 70's guitar crunch, it's actually a fair better production than his work on AC/DC's `For those about to rock..' album and definitely more raw than any of Leppard's later material. Performance wise as previously mentioned Steve Clark and Pete Willis do an excellent job on guitars with great rock riffs (although hardly groundbreaking, but if you want Opeth I suggest you look elsewhere). Ironically, this was Pete Willis' last album with the group as he was fired for alcoholism which would later claim Steve Clark's life. Joe Elliot proves him self as a great rock vocalist on this album with a unique raspy yet melodic voice. The rhythm section of the Rick Savage and Rick Allen don't do much of interest but that's the point, this is a rock `n' roll album I don't want slap bass solos thank you very much. So the two Rick's are doing their job perfectly.
I can't recommend this highly enough it's just an all round excellent rock album, easily the finest Def Leppard album I've heard. I suppose it's a NWOBHM classic in league with `Welcome to Hell', and I bet no ones ever said that before.
Rating: - Leppard at their Best
This Album was the one before the BIG TIME!. I can remember when I was 14 and my mate showed me this Album that he'd just bought and saying they were from sheffield and when we played it were blown away and so proud!.
It shows the true talent of the lads espeacilly when you consider how old they were. I think this is best Leppard Album as it it's songs are as good as the Hysteria /Pyromania era but more raw with more balls and Punch which Leppard slowly moved away from when the became the stadium band a few years later. Gems on this Album are Mirror-Mirror, Hit and Run and Bringing on the Heartbreak.
This is a great starting point for any potential Leppard Fan and also anyone who has only sampled the Hysteria + years. They should buy this and see why this band made it and stayed there.
Still A great Band Live But can't help feeling they've sold out in recent years.. But then again don't they all..and we're still so Proud!.
Superb Album.
Rating:
- Raw!
Well before the heady days and American influenced Pyromania and Hysteria etc, with the help of their 6th member, Def Leppard produced this classic lump of vinyl ( old money ) a great example of rock/metal at that time. The sound is tremendous, harsh, raw guitars combined with the trademark Mutt Lange drum sound and Joes 'throat' Plenty of singalong anthems. Well recommended for rock fans although those who are looking for the 'soft rock' Leppard of later years best avoid this. Finally, those who are old enough to remember the time that this came out should check out how young the band looked ( especially Pete Willis ) at this time. Corking!!
Rating: - Great stuff !!
This album pre dates the Phil Collen era of Leppard. But don`t let that put you off. This is Leppard at there most rocky. It`s a great album full of good songs that you`ll be singing for weeks after. It was infact this album that broke Leppard in the States as the band played support slots to more established names, Stand out tracks..... The opener "Let it go" has one of the best riffs you`ll ever hear " Hit & Run " "Switch 625" " on through the night" " Bringing on the heart break" to be honest there isn`t a bad track on the album trust me go buy it now you won`t be disapointed !
Rating:
- Steady Progress
A solid album building on the promise in their debut album "On Through The Night" of a year earlier. This time Robert "Mutt" Lange is on board and the difference is noticeable in the production as the trademark harmonies come across and the songs are far more addictive! Compared with AC/DC in these early days, you can hear that in the opening track "Let it Go" but the foundations for what was to come are here as tracks such as "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" and "High N Dry" demonstrate.
- I Suppose A Rock's Out Of The Question? Not on this album. Def leppard's second album is a rock master class which they would sadly never repeat after following a far more poppy direction with following albums (however to be fair `Pyromania' and `Hysteria' are excellent albums in their own right).
On this album Def Leppard wear their influences on their sleeves, one can hear shades of many classic 70's rock bands such as Thin Lizzy, UFO, Scorpions and of course AC/DC, who as other reviewers have pointed out are of particular influence to the early Leppard sound. Def Leppard have even stolen AC/DC's producer Mutt Lange for this album. However I would have to say this is not the `AC/DC tribute album' others have accused it of being as `High `N' Dry' is more polished sounding than any of AC/DC's classic output (from the debut to `Back in Black' just in case you were wondering) and is more reliant on guitar harmonies giving a less raw sound than AC/DC.
It is a greatly debated topic as to whether Def Leppard is actually a metal band. Well in my opinion no, but they do technically fall into the NWOBHM movement as did many non-metal bands (for instance Progressive rock bands have been labelled NWOBHM simply by emerging in late 70's and early 80's Britain). However this debate is irrelevant when considering that the music here is of such high quality and any metal fan who appreciates the aforementioned classic rock bands should find something to enjoy.
Song wise this album is pretty much flawless, non of these songs are weak and most of them are excellent. My particular favourites include `Let it Go' in which Steve Clark and Pete Willis prove themselves as an excellent guitar duo providing some wonderful riffs and solos that always have me playing air guitar thankfully this remains in the Def Leppard set list to this day. The albums title track is another classic, a paean to drinking on a Saturday night driven along by some strange but effective riffs from Steve Clark, who lets face it Boys and Girls was always the cool one out of Def Leppard. `You Got Me Runnin' is a straightforward rocker that won't appeal to the Opeth fans out their and proves (as most of this album does) that simple ideas are best. `Lady Strange' is more melodic than the previous numbers and is easily one of the catchiest songs here, and to be fair they're all damned catchy.
This album's `hit' is `Bringing on the Heartbreak' and although a good song and the most commercial on the album its actually one of the weaker songs on `High `N' Dry' which is perhaps an indication of the quality on display here. `On Through the Night' is the weakest song here, it's not bad but its surrounded by better songs with better hooks and as such feels inferior.
As previously mentioned Mutt Lange produce's this album and gives it that classic 70's guitar crunch, it's actually a fair better production than his work on AC/DC's `For those about to rock..' album and definitely more raw than any of Leppard's later material. Performance wise as previously mentioned Steve Clark and Pete Willis do an excellent job on guitars with great rock riffs (although hardly groundbreaking, but if you want Opeth I suggest you look elsewhere). Ironically, this was Pete Willis' last album with the group as he was fired for alcoholism which would later claim Steve Clark's life. Joe Elliot proves him self as a great rock vocalist on this album with a unique raspy yet melodic voice. The rhythm section of the Rick Savage and Rick Allen don't do much of interest but that's the point, this is a rock `n' roll album I don't want slap bass solos thank you very much. So the two Rick's are doing their job perfectly.
I can't recommend this highly enough it's just an all round excellent rock album, easily the finest Def Leppard album I've heard. I suppose it's a NWOBHM classic in league with `Welcome to Hell', and I bet no ones ever said that before.
Rating:
- Leppard at their BestThis Album was the one before the BIG TIME!. I can remember when I was 14 and my mate showed me this Album that he'd just bought and saying they were from sheffield and when we played it were blown away and so proud!.
It shows the true talent of the lads espeacilly when you consider how old they were. I think this is best Leppard Album as it it's songs are as good as the Hysteria /Pyromania era but more raw with more balls and Punch which Leppard slowly moved away from when the became the stadium band a few years later. Gems on this Album are Mirror-Mirror, Hit and Run and Bringing on the Heartbreak.
This is a great starting point for any potential Leppard Fan and also anyone who has only sampled the Hysteria + years. They should buy this and see why this band made it and stayed there.
Still A great Band Live But can't help feeling they've sold out in recent years.. But then again don't they all..and we're still so Proud!.
Superb Album.
Rating:
- Raw!Well before the heady days and American influenced Pyromania and Hysteria etc, with the help of their 6th member, Def Leppard produced this classic lump of vinyl ( old money ) a great example of rock/metal at that time. The sound is tremendous, harsh, raw guitars combined with the trademark Mutt Lange drum sound and Joes 'throat' Plenty of singalong anthems. Well recommended for rock fans although those who are looking for the 'soft rock' Leppard of later years best avoid this. Finally, those who are old enough to remember the time that this came out should check out how young the band looked ( especially Pete Willis ) at this time. Corking!!
Rating:
- Great stuff !!This album pre dates the Phil Collen era of Leppard. But don`t let that put you off. This is Leppard at there most rocky. It`s a great album full of good songs that you`ll be singing for weeks after. It was infact this album that broke Leppard in the States as the band played support slots to more established names, Stand out tracks..... The opener "Let it go" has one of the best riffs you`ll ever hear " Hit & Run " "Switch 625" " on through the night" " Bringing on the heart break" to be honest there isn`t a bad track on the album trust me go buy it now you won`t be disapointed !
Rating:
- Steady ProgressA solid album building on the promise in their debut album "On Through The Night" of a year earlier. This time Robert "Mutt" Lange is on board and the difference is noticeable in the production as the trademark harmonies come across and the songs are far more addictive! Compared with AC/DC in these early days, you can hear that in the opening track "Let it Go" but the foundations for what was to come are here as tracks such as "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" and "High N Dry" demonstrate.