REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: led zeppelin (Page 1 of 2)

LED ZEPPELIN – Presence

This is a Wally World (Walmart) exclusive release of the Led Zeppelin’s ’76 album, complete with a repo tour laminate of the period. I’m assuming they are using the most up to date remaster as it sounds super clear and also empty at the same time as the sound is very sparse.

I’m not the biggest Zeppelin fan as they never seemed to flick my switch, but I remember buying this on release day and feeling quite underwhelmed after playing it. From what you read online, this seems to be most people’s least favourite Zeppelin album.

Achilles Last Stand is regarded by many as the album’s stand out tune, and it feels a bit like Zeppelin go Prog to me. However, in my opinion Nobody’s Fault But Mine is the best tune on the record, as it feels like them being themselves. A cool riff and a bit of eastern promise added to the intro, plus that Bonzo and JPJ groove is timeless. It’s cool that they go back to the blues on the close out tune Tea For One, as that’s where it all started.

I’m not sure when this will get played again, but it was cool to listen to it after all this time.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LED ZEPPELIN – Coda

This is basically a bits and pieces album of leftover tracks throughout their career, and was released two years after they disbanded. It consists of eight tracks and two covers, the first of which, We’re Gonna Groove by Ben E King, is superb and this is what they did best – taking an old standard and making it their own. Poor Tom is killer just to hear that floor tom groove by Bonham, and you realize what a great drummer he was. I Can’t Quit You Baby is a tad sloppy, but Plant’s vocals are on the money. Walter’s Walk is all about the groove and the backbeat. Ozone Baby is a very average tune, and I can see how it was a leftover. Darlene is a good tune with a great groove, and is the only full band composition on this release. Bongo’s Montreux is a drum solo?! I think another track would have been more worth it here than a drum solo. The album closes out with Wearing And Tearing, and it’s a fun little fast blues groove and riff. It’s an ok album but nothing special.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

LED ZEPPELIN – Houses Of The Holy

I’m more of a Sabbath and Purple fan than a Zeppelin disciple, as they were a lot easier for my brain to take as the riffs were a lot simpler and easier to digest. I do appreciate the influence the band have had on popular music and today. There are a raft of bands trying to be the new Zeppelin: Greta Van Fleet and Rival Sons to name two.

This album seems to be the forgotten album in the band’s catalogue as it often gets overlooked for their more popular releases. Other than The Crunge, with that huge Bonham groove, there are not a lot of heavy moments on this album. It’s a very laid back record, and they play around with differing styles like D’yer Mak’er bringing the reggae that just doesn’t work for me.

It’s the first three tracks that make this album shine: The Song Remains The Same, the beautiful Rain Song, and my favourite on the album, Over The Hills And Far Away where Plants voice is just wonderful. I can see why he doesn’t want to do this anymore as there is no way he could now give the performance these songs need.

Will there ever be bands like Zeppelin, Sabbath, and Purple again? I would say no, as the musical climate shifts so quickly and no band has the chance to grow and evolve anymore. Not their best, but still a solid album.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

LED ZEPPELIN – Physical Graffiti

This is the sixth album from the band, and I think I mentioned when I reviewed Led Zep 2, that they are not my favourite band in the world. I only really like two of their albums and this is the second. I actually bought this on its first week of release as the hype surrounding it was off the charts, and this was way before social media. I remember feeling slightly underwhelmed after playing it through for the first time.

Side 2 is probably the best side of Zeppelin music out there with tracks like Houses Of The Holy, Trampled Under Foot, and Kashmir, it doesn’t get better than that in Zeppelin heaven. In My Time Of Dying is really cool as they sort of go back to their roots and visit the blues. The Wanton Song does it for me also with the simple riff and that big drum sound that only Bonzo could get. It’s all a bit too rambling if I’m honest, and I think this could have been a stellar single album, but what do I know right?

8/10 from The Grooveman.

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