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Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti CD (album) cover

PHYSICAL GRAFFITI

Led Zeppelin

 

Prog Related

4.05 | 1001 ratings

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1800iareyay
Prog Reviewer
5 stars Many people will point to Led Zeppelin's fourth album as the group's masterpiece. However, this less-celebrated double album is LZ's magnum opus.

Often considered the last great LZ album (which is not true, every hard rock fan should own all of their studio albums), Physical Graffiti is a sprawling double album consisting of new songs and outtakes from old recording sessions. However, it doesn't come off as a "mining the vaults" compilation. No, the songs sound as if they were all written for this album, despite it not being a concept piece.

As chopper said, the types of songs are divided by LP sides. 1 and 2 are the booze fuelled rockers, side three has the signature Zeppelin beauties (tracks resembling "Thank You" from II, but even better), and side four has the made for radio pop songs. Standout tracks:

"Custard Pie", "Sick Again", and "The Rover" could have easily been on Led Zeppelin I and II

"Kashmir" is a signature Zeppelin tune no less recognized than Stairway or Whole Lotta Love. This eight minute voyage has more overdubs than a Queen song, complete with an immortal riff and a hypnotic progression.

"In My Time of Dying" is a crunchy blues epic that takes the blues of the debut and masters it. Furious guitar work and crushing drums about in this 11 minute opus.

It's not often that a double album contains no filler. Every track on this album should have been a classic (one certainly was), but the absence of the song Stairway to Heaven means that most casual observers will pass up this album. I hesitate to award a prog related album five stars since they're not masterpieces of prog. However, Physical Graffiti is a masterpiece of rock music as a whole. I cannot recommend this album enough.

Grade: A

1800iareyay | 5/5 |

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