With Leppard, the complaint goes beyond the ballads - production that rounds off all the rough edges, empty radio-friendly lyrics*, little desire to surprise or excite. They are sanitized by pretty much any measure and targeted squarely at commercial radio.
They're just too, too formulaic. It's not a matter of whether they have ballads or pretty songs, just that every bit of personality they have is watered way down for comercial reasons**.
To deliver a universal sentiment in an accessible way is no bad thing, but they don't have the ability to do it in a unique or interesting way. At least since Hysteria***. Is it the band that really impresses you or is it Mutt Lange - do they sound
that different to Bryan Adams or Shania Twain?
When Def Leppard or Poison do make an emotional connection do they touch something that is unique to you, help you really make sense of rebellion/loneliness/whatever or is it just bland statements about partying/my baby/rock 'n roll? You see Def Leppard live and even
they don't seem to enjoy their shows.
Neither of them bad bands, but I don't see how you could really love them, believe and them and be inspired by them in 2009. Poison particularly haven't even added anything new to their own back catalogue in god knows how long, let alone anything of worth.
It's fun to live in 1987 every now and then, but it just boggles how they can still have such appeal.
Cheap Trick for their fans though are just one of
those bands. You would know anyone who shared the interest to just be supercool.
There's a thread for them somewhere, will look at youtube and see what's worth posting here.
* Been covered elsewhere around here
** The Flame being the only Trick single where that happened, pretty much in the slipstream of Mid 80's Def Leppard and Jovi, and a creative lowpoint from the band.
Even comparing ballads like for like, their own Voices is in a different league. It pulls the heart. Real feelings, mostly sadness (good thing in a love song), and a ****ing awesome coda.
*** Love Bites IS awesome.