Good band, weak compilation

Vault (1995.) Def Leppard's first hits compilation.



From their formation in the mid-late seventies to the modern day, Def Leppard has been one of the most consistent rock bands out there. From their days as part of the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) to their days as a classic hard rock band in the eighties to their modern days as a pop-rock band, they rarely fail to please. It took them long enough, but at long last we have a Def Leppard greatest hits compilation. How does it measure up? Read on for my review of Vault.



PROS:

-If you're a very casual fan, and the big hits are all you're looking for, this might be enough for you. You get hits like Pour Some Sugar On Me, Bringin' On The Heartbreak, Rock Of Ages, Photograph, and many more.

-There are many underrated tracks here as well.

-There is a new recording.

-Two rare edited versions of tracks can be found here.

-Import versions of the compilation features a bonus disc of live hits.

-Since this came out in 1995, there are no tracks for the horrible Slang and X albums.



CONS:

-The cover of the compilation lies. There are NO TRACKS FROM 1980 on here! That means no tracks from the band's first (and in my opinion best) album, On Through The Night.

-WAY TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON HYSTERIA. HALF OF THE ALBUM IS ON HERE!

-A few hits are missing - Hello America, Too Late For Love, and Women.

-Too many of the band's underrated masterpieces are missing - Sorrow Is A Woman, It Could Be You, Ride Into The Sun (Version One), Rocks Off, Overture, Lady Strange, High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night), Gods Of War, Comin' Under Fire, Billy's Got A Gun, and many others.

-This needed to be a two-disc compilation. Perhaps one disc of hits and one disc of underrated tracks would have been a good idea.

-No tracks from the 1999 Euphoria album since this came out in 1995.

-No lyrics included.

-Two Steps Behind and Miss You In A Heartbeat are the inferior acoustic versions, not the superior electric versions.

-Too many ballads.

-The two-disc Super Vault isn't a whole lot better, but it IS better.



OVERALL:

If you're seeking an introduction to Def Leppard, BUY THE PYROMANIA AND HYSTERIA ALBUMS - DO NOT BUY THIS. Hits compilations are often a scattershot mix of mediocre tracks that do nothing more than give you a small sample of the band's talent - and Def Leppard is no exception. Get their albums instead - I can't stress that enough.