High 'N' Dry [SHM-CD] [Limited Release] [Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP)]

Def Leppard's "High 'n' Dry" is considered a raw, intense hard rock classic that laid the foundation for their later mega-sound and achieved MTV success with "Bringin' On the Heartbreak"—an honest, powerful record brimming with youthful anger and authentic rock 'n' roll spirit. It stands in contrast to glossy productions like "Hysteria," yet showcases their roots and is praised by critics for its pure hard rock power. Key aspects of the reviews: Sound: Robust, less polished sound than later works, with plenty of guitar power and energy. Style: Pure hard rock, melodic metal with a raw edge and intense riffing. Significance: A pioneering album that paved the way for their breakthrough, it captures the band in their youthful phase before the arrival of their big glam rock sound. ``` Highlights: Songs like "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (which became an MTV hit), "No, No, No," and "Another Hit and Run" are frequently highlighted. In summary: "High 'n' Dry" is considered an essential album for fans who want to understand the origins of Def Leppard's sound. It's less mainstream than "Pyromania" or "Hysteria," but all the more powerful and authentic in its pure hard rock sound.

This is one of my favorite Def Leppard albums, and I'm so happy that it's been re-issued on the SHM-CD mini-LP format, since I missed out on the first release a few years back. I also appreciate how this reissue contains the original Japanese obi strip from the vinyl release. The sound quality is fantastic and features the lates remaster. SHM-CD is a favorite format of mine for rock music, I think the clarity that SHM provides is a perfect fit for rock music, especially classic albums like this.