CODA

Coda is a compilation of studio outtakes (with two live tracks) from our beloved rock giants, but an album that shouldn't be compared to anything else in their discography.

While it's wonderful to have what I feel is clearly their penultimate version of 'I Can't Quit You Baby' (and how satisfying it would have been to have a live album from this early period) due to its punch and rawness, the rest of the tracks are of a lesser quality.

So it might be best to avoid this album if you're new to or undecided about Led Zeppelin. That said, if you are a Led Zeppelin fan, pick it up one day. It does have a few moments - 'Poor Tom' has a nice shuffle from Bonzo and 'Darlene' with it's rocking piano should have gone on In Through the Out Door. 'We're Gonna Groove' is great too, and while 'Walter's Walk' is muddy and 'Ozone Baby' a little too cutesy for me, and 'Bonzo's Montreux' is not something you have to hear dozens of times, the weakest track for me is 'Wearing and Tearing.' Not that it isn't tight, but for what it was supposedly written to be (during ITTOD) - a track to prove that Zeppelin could still match the energy of the punk movement - it falls quite short. The song seems a little tired, and clocking in at over 5 minutes, it doesn't seem to have that 'right now' feel of much punk.

So perhaps 2.5 is a better rating than, because I think about half the album is entirely listenable, and for the Zeppeling fan, worth having - especially if you get the bonus edition, which adds 'Hey, Hey What Can I Do?'.