That sounds like an odd thing to say about the band that made pop and rock almost synonymous in the 80's. Well, this is the first Def Lep album of the 1990's and the first one with the one-armed drummer. The quality is definitely there as it is in every album these boys make. But "Adrenalize" tries too hard to please. Perhaps the Leps were afraid of passing away into hair-metal obscurity along with so many of their peers.
So what of this album? It's good. "Let's Get Rocked" is the predictably catchy opener with a sense of humor. I know I couldn't get enough of the song when it first came out. Do I want to sit back and listen to it now? Heck no. It's the kind of song that eventually becomes irritating after a while. "Heaven Is" another insanely catchy tune that you get sick of after a while. "Make Love (Like a Man)" is my least favorite track on this album and perhaps my least favorite Def Lep track. I just don't like it or find it that funny. "Tonight" is a very typical power ballad that doesn't quite soar into the stratosphere. "White Lighting" is a bit of a throwback to "Pyromania" days. A good old fashioned rock song. "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)" takes us back to some schmaltzy FM territory. It's a decent song but it sounds like something Brian Adams would record! "Personal Property" is another throwback to "Pyromania" a song that actually rocks. "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" is yet another pretty FM ballad that was played to oversaturation back in the day. In retrospect, it's a pretty average song. "I Wanna Touch You" is more bland pop-rock but the imminently catchy "Tear It Down" is a pretty good closer.
In conclusion, "Adrenalize" is probably not the best Def Lep album. "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" were their creative zenith and this is sort of a nadir. I haven't ever listened to "Slang" or "X" all the way through so I am not going to call it the worst Def Lep album. But if you like catchy, commercial songs, you'll enjoy this album.
That sounds like an odd thing to say about the band that made pop and rock almost synonymous in the 80's. Well, this is the first Def Lep album of the 1990's and the first one with the one-armed drummer. The quality is definitely there as it is in every album these boys make. But "Adrenalize" tries too hard to please. Perhaps the Leps were afraid of passing away into hair-metal obscurity along with so many of their peers. So what of this album? It's good. "Let's Get Rocked" is the predictably catchy opener with a sense of humor. I know I couldn't get enough of the song when it first came out. Do I want to sit back and listen to it now? Heck no. It's the kind of song that eventually becomes irritating after a while. "Heaven Is" another insanely catchy tune that you get sick of after a while. "Make Love (Like a Man)" is my least favorite track on this album and perhaps my least favorite Def Lep track. I just don't like it or find it that funny. "Tonight" is a very typical power ballad that doesn't quite soar into the stratosphere. "White Lighting" is a bit of a throwback to "Pyromania" days. A good old fashioned rock song. "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)" takes us back to some schmaltzy FM territory. It's a decent song but it sounds like something Brian Adams would record! "Personal Property" is another throwback to "Pyromania" a song that actually rocks. "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" is yet another pretty FM ballad that was played to oversaturation back in the day. In retrospect, it's a pretty average song. "I Wanna Touch You" is more bland pop-rock but the imminently catchy "Tear It Down" is a pretty good closer. In conclusion, "Adrenalize" is probably not the best Def Lep album. "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" were their creative zenith and this is sort of a nadir. I haven't ever listened to "Slang" or "X" all the way through so I am not going to call it the worst Def Lep album. But if you like catchy, commercial songs, you'll enjoy this album.