80's Guilt #50: Def Leppard "Armageddon It" (1988)

Between this placement and "Love Bites" appearing in our "80's Jams" list, it's safe to say that Led Leppard's Hysteria LP is a solid lock for our favorite 80's albums. With the exception of Hysteria's outstanding production, "Armageddon It" specifically stands out for 3 key elements:

#1 The verse is the part that song will probably turn off casual listeners, although those who know better will recognize this as a straight-up homage to Marc Bolan and T.Rex.

#2 That majestic-as-fuck chorus, complete with what must have been quadruple-tracked 3-part vocal harmonies.

#3 The somehow brilliantly un-awkward juxtaposition between elements #1 and #2. We hear this album as including many sonic parallels to Space Shuttle launches and space exploration; in the case of "Armageddon It," the verse is the countdown to the chorus's launch.