X (Def Leppard album)
X | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 30 July 2002 | |||
Recorded | 2001–2002 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Pop rock[1] | |||
Length | 47:09 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Def Leppard chronology | ||||
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Singles from X | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 60/100[2] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
Rolling Stone | link |
NME | link |
X (pronounced ten) is the eighth studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 30 July 2002 by Island Records in the US and sister label Mercury worldwide. Much like 1996's Slang, it featured another departure from their signature sound by moving into the pop genre. The album charted at No. 11 on The Billboard 200 and No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart.[3] Most of the album was produced by Pete Woodroffe and the band, with remaining tracks produced by either Marti Frederiksen or Per Aldeheim and Andreas Carlsson.
Background[]
This is the first Def Leppard album in which drummer Rick Allen actively took part in song-writing. On all of the band's prior albums, he is only credited with helping co-write three tracks. On this album alone, he co-wrote eleven. The album is also the first from the band to include original songs not to be written by any of the members: "Unbelievable" and "Long, Long Way to Go", the latter of which was released as a single.
The album features the Roman numeral 'X', recognising it as their tenth album release, although the album is in fact only their eighth collection of all-new studio material. The other two albums released by the band prior to the release of X, Retro Active and Vault, were a rerecording of B-sides and rarities and a greatest hits set respectively.
The album peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200, but did not sell to the standards of their previous releases and failed to earn any RIAA certifications. With the exception of an abbreviated version of "Now" being performed as part of an acoustic medley during the Rock of Ages Tour in 2012, nothing from this album was performed live by the band since the conclusion of its supporting tour until their Las Vegas residency in 2019.
For a short time after the album was released, Def Leppard's website Defleppard.com featured a free mp3 download of "Perfect Girl," a bonus track and early version of the track "Gravity".
Track listing[]
All tracks are written by Rick Allen, Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen, Joe Elliott and Rick Savage except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Now" |
| 3:58 |
2. | "Unbelievable" | 3:58 | |
3. | "You're So Beautiful" |
| 3:31 |
4. | "Everyday" |
| 3:08 |
5. | "Long, Long Way to Go" | 4:38 | |
6. | "Four Letter Word" | 3:07 | |
7. | "Torn to Shreds" | 2:56 | |
8. | "Love Don't Lie" | 4:46 | |
9. | "Gravity" |
| 2:33 |
10. | "Cry" | 3:17 | |
11. | "Girl Like You" | 2:49 | |
12. | "Let Me Be the One" | 3:29 | |
13. | "Scar" |
| 4:59 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
14. | "Kiss the Day" | 4:27 | |
15. | "Long, Long Way to Go" (acoustic) |
| 4:43 |
Personnel[]
Def Leppard[]
- Rick Allen – drums
- Vivian Campbell – guitar, vocals
- Phil Collen – guitar, vocals
- Joe Elliott – lead vocals
- Rick "Sav" Savage – bass guitar, vocals
Additional personnel[]
- Eric Carter – keyboards and drum loops on "Now", "You're So Beautiful" and "Everyday"
- Stan Schiller – shredding tele licks on "Gravity"
Production[]
- Producers: Def Leppard, Per Aldeheim, Andreas Carlsson, Pete Woodroffe
- Engineers: Stefan Glaumann, Richard Chycki, Ronan McHugh, Liz Sroka, Pete Woodroffe
- Mixing: Marti Frederiksen, Ronan McHugh, Pete Woodroffe
- Mastering: Tom Coyne
- A&R: Simon Collins, Jeff Fenster
- Production co-ordination: Leslie Langlo, Sue Tropio
- Editing: Brian Paturalski
- Vocal producer: Ronan McHugh
- Drum technician: Jerry Johnson
- String arrangements: David Campbell
- Programming: Ronan McHugh, Pete Woodroffe
- Photography: Clive Arrowsmith
Charts[]
Album[]
Chart (2002) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[4] | 49 |
Canada | 12 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[5] | 33 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[6] | 19 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[7] | 19 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[8] | 15 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] | 9 |
UK Albums (OCC)[10] | 14 |
US Billboard 200[11] | 11 |
Singles[]
Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | "Now" | US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[12] | 26 |
2002 | "Now" | US Billboard Adult Top 40[13] | 40 |
2002 | "Now" | Nielsen SoundScan Canadian Singles Chart[14] | 29 |
2003 | "Four Letter Word" | US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[12] | 30 |
2003 | "Long, Long Way to Go" | UK Singles Charts[15] | 40 |
References[]
- Footnotes
- ^ X - Def Leppard | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 8 April 2021
- ^ "X by Def Leppard". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Def Leppard The Official Charts Company".
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Def Leppard – X". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Def Leppard: X" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Def Leppard – X" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Def Leppard – X". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Def Leppard – X". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Def Leppard – X". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Def Leppard | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Mainstream rock". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Adult Top 40". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Canadian Singles". Billboard. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- ^ "UK Official Charts". Official Charts. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
- Other
- 2002 albums
- Def Leppard albums
- Albums produced by Marti Frederiksen
- Island Records albums
- Mercury Records albums
- Pop rock albums by English artists