DEF LEPPARD – Mirror Ball Live & More (2011)

DEF LEPPARD, with more than 65 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards (they are one of only 5 rock bands to have two consecutive 10 million plus selling albums in the U.S., the others are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Van Halen.) to their credit, continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music.

Def Leppard remain one of the world’s biggest and most successful live acts.
The band last played the UK and Eire in 2009 – headlining Download festival that year after a hugely successful sold out UK Arena tour in 2008.
2011 will see Def Leppard headline Download Festival for the second time in three years. The band will also play Arena shows in both Dublin and Belfast with legendary special guests Alice Cooper and Thin Lizzy.
Besides, the band is releasing this summer their first-ever official live album, “MIRROR BALL”. The live album was recorded across the world over the course of many of the band’s sold-out dates during 2008 and 2009.

The live recordings are very well done and the mix and post-production have the typical Def Lepp lush and polished sound.
But the good thing is they have preserved the instrument separation, which gives the songs a real live feel. Joe Elliot sounds really good, although he has lost some of his vocal power.
The real winners here are the guitars by Phil Collen & Vivian Campbell, that luckily both are very up in the final mix.
All the classic hits are present with good versions, most of them faithful to the originals with minor changes.
The best, to me, are the awesome take of “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak”, complete with the audience involvement, and surprisingly; the instrumental “Switch 625” where both guitars find room to shine along.

The album includes three new studio songs: “Undefeated” composed by Joe Elliott with the classic Def Lepp style, the excellent “Kings Of The World” by Rick Savage, a big, epic anthem that brings you back to Queen II , and finally “It’s All About Believin` ” penned by Phil Collen, a melodic and catchy melodic rocker.

Better than I expected, “Mirror Ball” is a good live recording, capturing the band’s essence, ‘the’ official live album after +30 years.
Plus, the new songs are good enough to enjoy some new material.

Disc 1
1. Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
2. Rocket
3. Animal
4. C’Mon C’Mon
5. Make Love Like A Man
6. Too Late For Love
7. Foolin’
8. Nine Lives
9. Love Bites
10. Rock On

Disc 2
1. Two Steps Behind
2. Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
3. Switch 625
4. Hysteria
5. Armageddon It
6. Photograph
7. Pour Some Sugar On Me
8. Rock Of Ages
9. Let’s Get Rocked
10. Action
11. Bad Actress
12. Undefeated (new studio track)
13. Kings Of The World (new studio track)
14. It’s All About Believin’ (new studio track)

Joe Elliott (vocals)
Phil Collen (guitars, backing vocals)
Rick “Sav” Savage (bass, backing vocals)
Vivian Campbell (guitars, backing vocals)
Rick Allen (drums)

www.defleppard.com
IF YOU LIKE IT, BUY IT!