Grand Design: Idolizer

It isn't too big a stretch of the imagination to conclude that the "idolized" in the second Grand Design album title Idolizer, are the enduring Def Leppard. Not only is this album influenced by the Sheffield rockers, it is completely based on their Mutt Lange produced Hysteria album. To be fair to GD vocalist and song-writer Pelle Saether, he didn't shy away from his band's reliance on The Lep's approach for album number one (2009's Time Elevation) and in his words regarding this second effort, "We knew we had found a formula to make an 80's rock record work in the 21st century – so why change it?".

So staying completely true to that quote Idolizer continues to ape Hysteria at almost every turn, with huge synthesized backing vocals, electronically enhanced sounding drums and layers upon layers of guitars. The end results, while predictable are also completely believable and in all honesty Def Leppard themselves haven't sounded so Leppard-like since 1992's Adrenalize album. Saether really does have the stinging guitar attack, huge production (which as a renowned producer he handles himself) and gang harmonies down to perfection, making upbeat rockers like "OughtoGraugh" or "Rock Back To The 80's" (a title which says much about this release) and slow delicate numbers such as "Stealin' My Love" – which is probably more Pyromania than Hysteria – equally effective. Really there's not much more to say, Saether is a fine vocalist and the album is packed with cracking rock songs that are obviously aimed at sounding twenty years old and current at the same time, something that your taste in music will decide how successfully that intention has been achieved.

To some this form of homage may verge way too far into copy-cat territory, however for those who wish that Joe Elliott and the boys would recreate their heyday, Idolizer may well be as close as you'll ever get.

Track Listing
1. Get On With The Action
2. Change Me Up
3. OughtoGraugh
4. Your Love's A Runaway
5. Stealin' My Love
6. Let's Rawk The Night
7. Addiction For Love
8. Idolize Me
9. Rock Back To The 80's
10. You're Gonna Dig It

Added: October 28th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Grand Design MySpace
Hits: 2982
Language: english

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