I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a
critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain
reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian,
but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed
classic albums.
*****
Producer: Jimmy Page
Musicians: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John
Bonham
Songs or music: Whole Lotta Love, What Is And What Should
Never Be, The Lemon Song, Thank You, Heartbreaker, Living Loving Maid (She’s
Just A Woman), Ramble On, Moby Dick, Bring It On Home
By Matthew Anthony Allair
After the launch of Zeppelin’s debut, they have created a
lot of excitement, and especially during the North American summer tour where
they have connected more than in Europe. I am not surprised, this new band just
excites the average record buyer, and the new album might just solidify it
more. The Jeff Beck Group’s second album, “Beck-Ola” went in a different vibe,
and there is less comparison between the two acts now. The new album takes the
best elements from Zeppelin’s debut, and improves on it, and it makes for one
exciting listen. Failure offers a million explanations, but success rarely
needs explaining.
After a stutter, the album opens with the swagger of “Whole
Lotta Love”, a fairly simple track as a song, but it makes for a great record,
and a psychedelic middle section of percussion, sounds and shrieks, before
building into a crescendo. “What Is And What Never Should Be” starts off with a
laid back fusion jazz nod of a groove, before heading into overdrive with the
choruses. “The Lemon Song” plays with every standard blue cliché, yet keeps it
fresh. Let’s address the complaints I have seen that the band borrows from a
lot of blues sources and doesn’t credit them, perhaps valid, but then again,
the band seems to want to reshape what the blues actually means. Let’s also
address the other issue, the repetitive nature of some songs from the last
album, it looks to me that the method is to place the listener into a certain
state, good or for bad, it’s up for the reader to decide. The next track, the
lovely “Thank You” opens with some nice organ and layered guitars, and one of
the most heart felt vocals from Plant.
Side two opens with the sonic fire of “Heartbreaker”, and a
pretty dazzling middle showcase section. “Living Loving Maid” seems to be the
heavy pop number on the record, and probably the lightest track. The acoustic
“Ramble On” has some spry percussion, before jumping into another heavy chorus.
The drum show case “Moby Dick” opens with a nice grove before Bonham can dazzle
with his light and share style of drumming, this track might even rival Cream’s
“Toad”, which for some might seem unthinkable. Plants Harmonica is back for the
slow blues groove of “Bring It On Home” that morphs into the raunchy groove
that will leave you exhilarated. Great playing and vocals throughout. Bonham’s drumming is outstanding overall, for
example John swings like mad on “Whole Lotta Love”, you can tell when a drummer
has a jazz influence, or influenced by players like Clyde Stubblefield, such
players can often lift up a rock arrangement
This band is quickly shaping up to be what might be the
defining sound of the next decade, no wonder why certain music critics and
industry peers are shook up. Ignore the bad notices you read, this has
surpassed the promise of the first record. Incidentally, the track listing on
the audio cassette is slightly different. This is as great of an album as you
will ever get – all hail the new sound, Man.
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