Led Zeppelin - II

I am reviewing the Led Zeppelin II album today because it’s an incredible album and music listeners coming up may wish to experience some Led Zeppelin and be unaware, as I was, of which albums to buy. So, here is my review of a classic rock and roll album.

I wish to propose something that may enrage some of you, especially the rock purists and Beatles fans, of which I am one. I believe that Led Zeppelin created the first album that contains the modern and enduring form of rock and roll that we enjoy today, when they recorded their second album. There, I said it. It’s a hard thing for me to admit being the enormous Beatles fan that I am. By stating this I in no way wish to diminish the contribution of The Beatles, Elvis, Buddy Holly, or anyone else that may have been a part of rock and roll up to this time. Certainly Elvis and Buddy Holly helped to form rock and roll and The Beatles are among the best song writers and music creators in all of rockdom. I think Cream came very close but they were still essentially a blues trio with amazing rock aspirations.

Led Zeppelin II comes out and blows your mind wide open with the first powerful riff from Jimmy Page on the song “Whole Lotta Love.” Rock and roll has always had it’s roots in the blues and Led Zeppelin did not try to hide that. In fact they didn’t stray to far all even on this album which included such songs as The Lemon Song, a loose cover of Robert Johnson the famous bluesman and Bring It On Home another nod to traditional blues that includes blues riffs and harmonica before it explodes into some of the sweetest blues rock guitar riffs that the world has ever heard.

There are some songs that have to be played just before or after another song. What that those two or three song series were set up that way by the musicians or by radio DJ’s I’m not sure. Some examples are Queen’s “We Will Rock You” which has to be followed by “We Are the Champions.” Slightly Lesser known is INXS with “Need You Tonight” and “Mediate.” You can’t here the first song without wanting/needing to hear the next song. Led Zeppelin started it all with the three song series of “Heartbreaker”, “Living Loving Maid”, and “Ramble On.” “Heartbreaker” swings the hammer hard with the incredible guitar riffs and the baseline that is so heavy it makes your knees weak. About two-thirds of the way through, the song breaks and Page comes through with a quick guitar solo until it resolves then the rest of the band joins jamming until the song breaks again and they come back with a sound so big it knocks you back in your chair wondering what just hit you. “Living Loving Maid” is Jimmy Page’s least favorite song so it was not played very often in concert. Though not a particularly stellar song it was a fairly well done slightly popish song by Led Zeppelin standards. “Ramble On” has to be one of the best all around rock songs ever recorded. As many times as I have listened to this song I still get my rock on if I hear it come on the car radio. Anyone vaguely familiar with the J.R.R. Tolkien “Lord of The Ring” series will recognize the various references in this song. Robert Plant was a huge fan of the books and as such references sections in “Ramble On” as well as other songs they’ve recorded.

“Moby Dick” is a purely instrumental song that seems to be there to showcase John Bonham’s amazing drumming. It features bass and guitar parts though the song is wrapped around the drum beats including an extended drum solo. John Bonham and Ginger Baker, of Cream, really revolutionized rock and roll drumming with the changeup in beats and time signatures as well as the interesting fills that they are both famous for. Rock drumming exists in it’s current form because of these two drummers.

Every listen is a new experience. The first few listens give you simply enjoyable rock music. On subsequent listens you’ll begin to hear the textures of the various instruments including Plant’s voice. I am amazed every time I listen to this album.

This album gets an easy A grade.

If you like Rock and Roll, you’ll love this album.