LED ZEPPELIN IV

First of all, I am a huge Led Zeppelin fan. I own every recording they've released as well as the two live DVDs. For a long time I was disappointed when so many people would say that IV was their best album. I just knew that there is so much more to Led Zeppelin than Stairway to Heaven, and it bugged me that that was all people knew of them. For that reason, I kind of shied away from listening to IV too much. I do recognize, though, that it is an incredible album. My favorites are actually the more obscure tracks like Four Sticks and Battle of Evermore. Stairway to Heaven is of course their piece de resistance, and I do love the song and its live renditions. Going to California is an absolutely gorgeous track that is right up there with That's the Way as their best acoustic work. As much as I adore John Paul Jones, I despise Black Dog. Perhaps I despise it more now because of the fact that it is always on in Guitar Center whenever I walk in there. Jimmy Page did not do a great job on keeping in time with the riff on this studio version, and I just find the whole song really annoying. Seeing Rock and Roll live made me absolutely love this song. Before I thought it was good, but just nothing spectacular. It really packs so much energy, and showcases Bonham's marvelous talent. I really like Misty Mountain Hop a lot as well; it's just got such a sleazy keyboard riff. When the Levee Breaks is another amazing song that showcases the power that Bonham had to make even the simplest of drum beats fantastic. The song just carries an air of impending doom that creates such great tension. Anyway, while I prefer to recommend other albums for people to listen to when starting out on Led Zeppelin, I do not doubt the magnificence of Led Zeppelin IV.