12. X (2002) - 5.5/10: Def Leppard's first album of the century was their poppiest, least memorable album to date. To their credit, most of the songs are catchy, with: "Scar," "Torn to Shreds," and "You're So Beautiful" being the best of the bunch, yet a Def Leppard album void of an arena rock anthem just doesn't seem right. Not a bad effort, but definitely my least favorite of the batch.
Top of Their Game: "Scar," "Torn to Shreds," "You're So Beautiful"
What Were They Thinking?: "Cry"
If the Album Were a Headline: "Pop Pop ('Til You Drop)"
11. Euphoria (1999) - 6.0/10: The rock vets tried to bounce back from their 1996 grunge effort, Slang, with this more classically Leppard-sounding record, but with mixed results. "Paper Sun" and "Promises" may be two of the band's best written songs, yet there are more fillers present than one would like. Fun album overall, but definitely not one of their best.
Top of Their Game: "Paper Sun," "Promises," "Day After Day"
What Were They Thinking?: "All Night"
If the Album Were a Headline: "'Euphoria's Excitement and Happiness Not So Intense"
10. Slang (1996) - 6.25/10: Here the Leps attempted to find their place in the '90s grunge scene. At the time, it was mocked by many a fan and was likely responsible for the band's waning popularity until the past decade or so. Twenty-six years later, though, it's become a cult favorite, and likely over-criticized upon its release a quarter of a century ago.
Top of Their Game: "Deliver Me," "Turn to Dust," "Gift of Flesh"
What Were They Thinking?: "Breathe a Sigh"
If the Album Were a Headline: "Def Leppard Posing As Nirvana? Nevermind"
9. Songs From the Sparkle Lounge (2008) - 6.75/10: With their first album in six years (since 2002's X), the band attempted to get back to their roots, much like they did with Euphoria post-Slang, only with more success. "Go" is a classic arena-anthem; "Hallucinate," "Bad Actress," "C'mon C'mon," and "Tomorrow" are hard-hitting rockers; but the real standout is bassist Rick Savage's "Love." I never knew I wanted more Queen in my Def Leppard until this epic track. The climax is one of the best in the band's entire catalog. On the flip-side, can we never again have a collaboration between Def Leppard and Tim McGraw? Thanks.
Top of Their Game: "Love," "Hallucinate," "Go"
What Were They Thinking?: "Nine Lives"
If the Album Were a Headline: "Without Tim McGraw, Def Leppard Is Better Than They Used to Be"
8. Def Leppard (2015) - 7.0/10: Ever since Adrenalize, Def Leppard tried to reestablish their footing in the rock community. They experimented with Slang and X, attempted bounce-back records with Euphoria and Songs From the Sparkle Lounge, yet couldn't seem to garner their popularity of old. This album was the first step in accomplishing that. Joe, Phil, Vivian, and the two Ricks hadn't sounded this fresh and energized in decades. While there are a few choruses which could have used some fine-tuning, the end result was a success. The album is a solid mix of old and new, traditional and experimental, rockin' and lighter-inducing. Certainly not my favorite album by the band, but like Slang was the beginning of the band's waning popularity, their eponymous record was the start of its restoration.
Top of Their Game: "Wings of an Angel," "Forever Young," "Blind Faith"
What Were They Thinking?: N/A
If the Album Were a Headline: "For Def Leppard, Apparently 50 Is the New 20"
7. On Through the Night (1980) - 7.25/10: Here it is - the debut album. Production wise, this was, as is the case for most debut albums, the worst of the lot. Without it, however, the 11 subsequent albums would have never been released, and regardless of the sound quality, there are a bunch of rockin' tunes. Steve Clark rips it up on the likes of "Wasted," "Rock Brigade," and "Rocks Off" in classic Lep riffs. Solid debut album, which showed a glimpse of what we would come to see and expect in future albums.
Top of Their Game: "Overture," "Rock Brigade," "Wasted"
What Were They Thinking?: "Satellite"
If the Album Were a Headline: "On Through the Night Leads to On Through 40+ Years"
6. Adrenalize (1992) - 7.75/10: In hindsight, this may have been the most important album in the Def Leppard canon. Think about it. They were coming off two of the most commercially-successful rock albums in history, in Pyromania and Hysteria; guitar legend Steve Clark had been replaced by Vivian Campbell; and for the first time in a decade, the band didn't seem to have a great sense of direction. Then, as soon as Joe Elliott posed the question, "Do you wanna get rocked?," it felt like nothing had changed. While there are some rockers on this album, like the aforementioned "Let's Get Rocked," along with "Make Love Like a Man," "Personal Property," and "Tear It Down," the real standouts are the ballads: "Tonight," "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)," and "White Lightning" - essentially an ode to the late Clark, in particular. The band may not have reached the heights of their previous albums with Adrenalize, but after all they had gone through, it was a highly impressive feat for them to prove they were still a force to be reckoned with.
Top of Their Game: "White Lightning," "Tonight," "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)"
What Were They Thinking?: N/A
If the Album Were a Headline: "One Thing Is For Certain: Def Leppard Is Ready to Get Rocked"
5. Diamond Star Halos (2022) - 8.0/10: Def Leppard's most recent effort is their best LP in 35 years (Retro Active isn't technically an LP). There isn't a bad song in the 15, with four standouts among them: "Goodbye For Good This Time," "From Here to Eternity," "Take What You Want," and "Open Your Eyes." Forty-two years removed from their debut album, Joe and the boys still continue to experiment by collaborating with country/bluegrass singer Allison Krauss and pianist Mike Garson. Whether one is a fan of the Leps' early work or more modern-day records, there's something for everyone on Diamond Star Halos - set to be the highest charting album in the band's repertoire in 30 years.
Top of Their Game: "Goodbye For Good This Time," "From Here to Eternity," "Take What You Want"
What Were They Thinking?: N/A
If the Album Were a Headline: "60 and Still Kickin'"
4. Retro Active (1993) - 8.5/10: Retro Active may not technically be an LP, but it's so good, it'd be a crime to not include it in this list. The album is composed of 9 B-sides and 2 covers, all of which are solid. Seriously, there is not a weak track among them. The band rolls out acoustic gems "Two Steps Behind" and "Miss You in a Heartbeat," and some of the most underrated rockers in the band's catalog. Listen to "I Wanna Be Your Hero" and you'll soon see what I mean.
Top of Their Game: "Fractured Love," "I Wanna Be Your Hero," "Action"
What Were They Thinking?: N/A
If the Album Were a Headline: "When a Band's B-Sides Are Better Than Most Others' A-Sides"
3. Hysteria (1987) - 9.25/10: The most commercially-successful album in the band's catalog. Side-A is loaded with hit singles: 1. "Women," 2. "Rocket," 3. "Animal," 4. "Love Bites," 5. "Pour Some Sugar On Me," and 6. "Armageddon It." I dare you to find an A-Side with a bigger collection of hits. Having said that, several of the songs have been overplayed to the point where I don't listen to them much anymore. If you feel the same, be sure to check out "Run Riot" and "Excitable" - both very catchy tracks on the back-half.
Top of Their Game: "Women," "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Love Bites"
What Were They Thinking?: "Love and Affection"
If the Album Were a Headline: "Size Does Matter"
2. Pyromania (1983) - 9.75/10: This was the start of Def Leppard becoming a household name. Only Hysteria has sold more copies, and the album includes three of the band's biggest hits: "Photograph," "Rock of Ages," and "Foolin'." The weakest track on the album is "Action! Not Words," and it's still a good, solid tune. It also includes fan favorite "Too Late For Love" and hidden gems "Billy's Got a Gun," "Die Hard For Hunter," and "Comin' Under Fire." A great album from track 1 through track 10 - a classic in the truest sense of the word.
Top of Their Game: "Too Late For Love," "Rock of Ages," "Foolin'"
What Were They Thinking?: N/A
If the Album Were a Headline: "With Pyromania, Def Leppard Is On Fire"
1. High 'N' Dry (1981) - 10.0/10: This is the most rockin' album in Def Leppard's 42+ years. Joe Elliott sounds like a hybrid of his raw self from On Through the Night and the more finely-tuned version in the band's later albums. Steve Clark does the seemingly impossible and improves on the classic riffs from the band's debut. There isn't a weak track among the 10; the songs haven't been overplayed to death on the radio; and the songs provide a perfect hybrid in sounds from the raw tracks on On Through the Night and the more commercially-successful tunes from Pyromania and beyond. As close to a perfect album as Def Leppard has achieved in their 4+ decades of rockin'.
Top of Their Game: "Switch 625," "Another Hit and Run," "Bringin' On the Heartbreak"
What Were They Thinking?: N/A
If the Album Were a Headline: "Def Leppard Reaches High with Their Sophomore Album"
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