The last fifteen years or so in the career of Def Leppard has seen, at least in terms of album sales, something of a fall from grace from those heady days of the multi-platinum success of Pyromania, Hysteria and Adrenalize. The rot set in, as far as raw numbers go, with  the criminally underrated Slang album, an album that was so far removed from the signature Leppard sound that it appeared to alienate a good proportion of the band's massive fan base. Ever since then the quintet have tried in one way or another to revive their flagging fortunes but unfortunately in the main the law of ever diminishing returns was applied without grace or favour. So what will the snappily entitled Songs From The Sparkle Lounge do for the Sheffield boys in 2008.

Well actually quite a lot thank you very much. If you discount covers album Yeah! the last two studio efforts from Leppard, Euphoria and X were both pretty much albums that appeared to be planned down to the last semi-quaver and as such came across as being formulaic and staid, trying to capture everything that was good about Leppard in the past and in many ways failing to do so. this time around it appears as if the band have approached the song writing with a "f**k it* attitude, "we'll write what we want and see what comes out". The result of this is an album that is far more relaxed, fun and enjoyable than anything in recent times. Sure it's not as "consistent" as previous efforts as a single body of work, instead you get songs that cover the whole of Leppard's numerous style from the Slang-esque opening track Go to the prime time 80's MTV fodder of lead single Nine Lives. Oh and forget the much lauded appearance from country star Tim McGraw, his four bars are pretty meaningless compared to the huge chorus and massed guitars from Messers Collen & Campbell.

The other thing noticeable about SFTSL is the way Leppard are wearing their influences firmly on their collective sleeves. C'Mon C'Mon mixes '70's glam with a touch of their own Rocket to make for a three minute romp and then there's Love. Possibly Leppard's most ambitious track to date Love is an homage to Queen. Everything the royal quartet attempted circa the Night At The Opera - Jazz period Leppard throw in here. There's the big power chord to start things off, the simple acoustic verse and the multi-part harmony vocals on the chorus, oh and a very Brian May-esque guitar solo for good measure. Think Jealousy from Jazz mixed with Sheer Heart Attack's Lilly Of The Valley and that's what Leppard have managed to produce. Glorious.

Elsewhere Only The Good Die Young is a fitting tribute to Steve Clarke with slight Beatles overtones to it and Bad Actress is possibly the heaviest thing the band have recorded since the High & Dry album, it's almost punkish in it's simplicity and attitude, and it's that attitude that truly defines SFTSL. Whether the album will turn around Leppard's fortunes in terms of album sales is another matter but aside from that it is, without doubt their best album is fifteen years.

Steve Cummings