Pyromania (1983)
Harmless, catchy pop-metal at its finest when it works. Better than their first two albums combined, but not as good as ‘Hysteria’. The kind of “rebellious” music parents PRAY that their children gravitate towards.
(“Photograph”, “Foolin'”)
Grade: B
Hysteria (1987)
I loved 80’s pop-metal when it temporarily ruled the world, aided in no small part by the appeal and (dare I say) influence of this band. I turned my nose up at most of that kind of music when Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” debuted on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, and promptly kicked pop-metal’s collective a$$. So with that being said, only the strong survived from the pack of pop-metalists. This band survived the initial onslaught by virtue of this album and was one of the last of the dinosaurs to give up the ghost. A nice accomplishment. The songs are long, but for the first side and the title cut, that’s the way you want them. Impeccably crafted pop-metal product. Will it age well? So far, yes…but who can say?
(“Women”, “Rocket”, “Love Bites”)
Grade: B+
2010: Response to Def Leppard lyrics: “…what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent yelping were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this Earth is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.” But it SOUNDS good.
Grade: A-
11/18/16: Not really fair to insult this band’s lyrics when there’s a lot of other (mostly) meaningless pop sh1t I like that isn’t as good to listen to. The long songs are great when they’re good, but when they’re mediocre they’re tedious. Hence:
Grade: A-