Slang, in my humble but accurate opinion, is Def Leppard's masterpiece. It's the album that made me a true fan. Music needs substance for me to appreciate it, and it's testament to Leppard's strong songwriting skills that I was a fan before Slang, because up until then, substance seemed to be something they were deliberately avoiding. Joe called the music "Deep and meaningless".

This album has been called an attempt at "modern music", and it may have been, but that's only half of it. Modern elements, like industrial, R&B, rap, and Indian styles were blended, but the upshot of incorporating so many styles gave the album a quality the band hadn't captured before: variety. Not one of these songs sounds alike, and if it wasn't that this was Leppard's only CD daring enough to try variety, you'd guess they were all from different albums.

Before Slang, you could count the number of Leppard songs actually about something on two fingers (as far as I know, "From the Inside" and "White Lightning", with "Gods of War" coming close). Whether these songs on Slang were genuinely autobiographical, whether they were aimed at encompassing a theme or inadvertently tapped into insights the band had been storing subconsciously, they resonate on so many levels. When the lyrics are really good we get songs like "Truth?", probably the most daring song Leppard has done, musically and lyrically; "All I Want Is Everything", the band's most underrated and exceptional ballad yet (my favorite interpretation of the song is that it's about an AIDS victim); and even the most vacuously worded song on the album, "Breathe a Sigh", is still witty, poigant, and popsmart enough that if it had been released by any band but Leppard, it would have shot straight to number one.

Which brings me to another point. Slang didn't sell phenomenally well because of a stigma built up against glam and arena rock. It's sad that Leppard tucked their tails and returned to chewing their 80s bubblegum wad because with another solid release like this they could have struck down the stigma and established themselves as a band of meaning. The ultimate irony is that the next two albums, Euphoria and X, haven't sold Slang's 3million worldwide *combined*.

If I sound bitter, I am. There aren't many bands out there capable of this level of songwriting. Joe has said they're trying to compete with the Mariah Carey's of the world, and let's be honest, Mariah Carey only wishes she could write a song as popsmart as "Breathe a Sigh". Hell, let's get back to the Metal genre and suggest Metallica could write a song as rock steady and hummable as "Work It Out"; I know, I'm shaking my head too. But the irony is, until Slang, I wouldn't have expected Leppard were capable of it either.

This is a great addition to a Def Leppard collection. A new sound for the British band. Experimentation in the indeustrial sounds suit this band well.. but their die hard fans won't care for it. The bonus CD with the unplugged show is phenominal! A must have for all hard core Def Lep fans!

I am a huge fan of Def Leppard. In contrast to many on here, I can say that I absolutely love every song they've ever recorded, with maybe one or two exceptions (such as "All Night.")

"Slang" truly is, from start to finish, a masterpiece. Although it differs from all other Def Leppard albums, I still think it to be the very best of all.

I was never a fan of grunge or alternative music when it first appeared. I can say that Leppard actually, by "leppardizing" this kind of music on songs like Deliver Me and Gift of Flesh, made me appreciate the genre as a whole, to some extent. But even moreso, made me simply love this album.

I probably have listened to this album a couple thousand times since I bought it back in 1996. I still am impressed as I listen to it now.

Blood Runs Cold is PHENOMENAL, just so emotional and spiritual. Where Does Love Go When It Dies= even better, if that's possible. Pearl of Euphoria= SO INTENSE. AWESOME.

All I Want Is Everything= outstanding song!!!!

Deliver Me= one of the best tracks. Gift of Flesh= rocks, and the best lyrics Collen has written.

Turn to Dust= I LOVE the eastern influences and the lyrics. Great! Truth = nice, different opener, very NIN-ish.

Slang=fun pop tune, but different.

Work It Out= my least favorite on the album, but still a great, great song. I really love the song, and am just appreciating now the great breakdown section in the middle.

FINALLY, BREATHE A SIGH! YOU GUYS ALL TEND TO WANT TO DISS THIS SONG, AND SAY IT DOESN'T FIT IN ON THE ALBUM. I SAY, I DISAGREE! THIS BALLAD IS BEAUTIFUL. THE HARMONIES ARE WONDERFUL. I MET PHIL COLLEN 2 YEARS AGO AND TOLD HIM THAT "BREATHE A SIGH" (HIS COMPOSITION) IS INDEED "THE GREATEST SONG IN THE WORLD!"!!!

I must confess that, in the beginning, I didn't care too much for this CD. It took me a dozen listens (I forced myself to listen to it and learn the lyrics, because I have loved this band so much for so many years). I can say that if you don't like the record, but give it another chance, and even "study" the lyrics... you will be converted! I can say this CD is a treasure, a masterpiece, one of the best albums ever recorded by any artist.

Sure, Slang is a bit of a departure for Def Leppard, and no, it doesn't sound like a "fun" record at all, but who ever said a band should stick to one sound, and only one sound?

By the time Slang was released, Def Leppard was one of the biggest bands in the world. They had weathered personnel changes,

a death in the band, and the horrible accident that took the arm of Rick Allen, thier drummer. But still they were big, and very strong. They still are, but when Slang was released they took a chance and put out an album that was dark, and moody. It may not have sold a zillion copies, but it was, and still is, very, very good! The title song, Work it Out, and All I want is everything are three of my favorite Leppard songs. There is nothing at all wrong with an artist making some changes, and putting out something different. An artist must figure (and rightly so) that even if they don't pick up any new fans, the old ones (the true fans) will give the new work a listen and most likely find something they like in the new stuff. I did. I've enjoyed Slang since its release and think it's one of the band's best. If you're new to Def Leppard (where have you been hiding?) then please listen to something else before Slang. You might be just a bit put off by it. But, if you are a casual fan, and looking to expand your collection, then by all means, give Slang a listen. The difference will grab you. And to all you people who think Def Leppard died with Steve Clarke, wake the hell up!

Ever since I laid my hands on Slang, I knew this would be different than their other albums. The cover and the band logo change more or less tells you 'change is coming'.

The band's sound changed and matured. No more "ohh baby you're so hot" lyrics with the requisite "rock god" guitar hooks. This was a new improved Def Leppard.

The first track sounds like nothing they've ever recorded before - industrial beat, some synth loops, outstanding vocals.

I know this was a very much maligned album, but give it a listen. It grows on you. I think that track order was partly to blame since all the new-style tunes tunes were at the beginning and the more rock-oriented ones at the end of the album. This one rocks and I wish they didn't revert to the 80's with the follow-up.

Other outstanding tracks: "Blood runs cold" very U2, nice guitar, and a vocal-heavy bridge in the middle; "Gift of Flesh" and "Peal of Euphoria", heavy thundering rock at its best.

Leps, if you read this, please go back to this style, and forget the buggle-gum lyrics of Euphoria and the like.