Record Reviews

Def Leppard

Album: “Def Leppard”

Grade: B

With a diverse set of songs that range from potential arena anthems to driving rock ballads, it seems pretty obvious that Def Leppard wasn’t taking any chances on their eponymously titled new album.

And who could blame them. It’s hard for a band to recapture that sound of a particular era, and even harder for fans to accept something out of character from the band. So they did the next best thing: capture the spirit of their earlier work, while maintaining a strong sense of freshness on their first album of new songs since 2008.

That’s kind of special coming from a band that made their bones in the late 1980s with catchy hard rock tunes. Resting on the laurels of the mega-selling albums “Pyromania” and “Hysteria” from decades ago, the band has enjoyed a long career of live performances that continue to thrill its fan base.

But frontman Joe Elliott has always proclaimed “the band will never be a nostalgia act,” so it’s not a surprise he put so much time and effort into this album. He wouldn’t play any of its tracks on the band’s last tour because he felt the new songs deserve their own showcase.

Standout tracks include the bouncy “Man Enough,” the guitar-rich “Sea of Love” and “Dangerous,” which sounds like something left off “Pyromania.” While it’s not for everyone, the die-hard fans will appreciate this effort, as well as Elliott’s word that Def Leppard will never become its own tribute band.

—John Carucci, Associated Press

Trey Anastasio

Album: “Paper Wheels”

Grade: B—

When Phish frontman Trey Anastasio settles into a groove, his latest solo record “Paper Wheels” shines.

Anastasio, on his first solo record in three years and 10th of his career, produces a tune, aptly titled “The Song,” that is not only the best track on “Paper Wheels” but also serves as a mission statement for the 51-year-old rocker.

“And the hands on the clock keep ticking, just rolling along,” he sings. “In the end, all that’s left is the song.”

Moments like those help make up for weak spots, like backing vocals relying too much on la-la-la-la-ing and ah-ah-ah-ah-ing that mar other tracks like “Never” and “Flying Machines.”

—Scott Bauer, Associated Press

Joanna Newsom

Album: “Divers”

Grade: B+

In our age of acronyms, emoticons and disappearing messages, “Divers,” Joanna Newsom’s first album since 2010, is an ancient codex providing an opportunity for submersion deep into its folds or to just float safely on its surface. Both can be equally rewarding experiences.

Occasionally reining back her usual preference for length – of a lyric, a song or a whole album – “Divers” could occupy just 52 minutes of your time. But Newsom builds songs like cathedrals of sound, layers of voices, instruments and words reaching you from every direction. Take the express tour or settle in the nave and stay for hours.

—Pablo Gorondi, Associated Press