Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II CD (album) cover

LED ZEPPELIN II

Led Zeppelin

 

Prog Related

3.99 | 1041 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Gustavo Froes
4 stars I'm a huge fan of Led Zeppelin,and I'm proud to say it.You hear in polls and such that Zep is one of the most influential and important bands in the history of Rock n' Roll,but some people just don't get it.And I perfectly understand.It's not a tremendoulsy complex type of music,but the pomposity of their compositions and insistent riffing may be to demanding for some(all culminating in the 10 minute piece. Trampled Underfoot,regarded by many as one of Hard Rock's ultimate classics,and still hated by others).Also,Robert Plant's vocal style,although energetic and unique,is simply not for everybody.

Some songs written throughout their carrer,however,tend to a straight type of loud,blues based rock,and therefore seem to be more acsessible(not by any means progressive),and it's no wonder that many of those became anthems soon enough.I have no hesitation at all in saying that Zeppelin II is their album which best groups these catchy heavy tunes in a single recording.

The album's repertoire consists almost exclusevely in a remarkable mixture of R&B and english pop rock,in the shape of 9 songs which hardly hold any relation to each other.It's really just a collection of great numbers,most of which should please anyone willing to be fond of classic rock.If Led Zeppelin is included in this site,it's certainly not because of these first two or three albums.

And,as happened in all of those early albums,these record holds a collection of classics.Whole Lotta Love,Heartbreaker and Ramble On,at least,are part of basic rock music vocabulary.The former presents an iconic guitar riff,and I'll give a nice shot by saying that references to this song in modern music are virtually endless.As for the latter,it's the kind of song that will live forever.It simply doesn't seems to get older or dated,no matter how many new musical tendencies appear.Banal lyrics and catchy easy listening lines,but still magic.It reminds me that a masterpiece doesn't necessarily has to be a 20 minute epic with countless movements.

Moby Dick(a surprisingly exciting drum solo with an anthologic intro),What is and What Should Never Be,Thank You and Bring It On Home(a furious loud blues number)are simply delightfull tunes.That's the most important quality of this album:it is absolutely spontaneous,something the band would abandon later on.Is just easy to listen to.And still,what a groovy and cool 41 minutes.Isn't this rock n' roll definition?

The only number which sounds dated is Living Loving Made(though I personnaly like it,mainly for the guitar riff).It's not a bad song,just seems to old-fashioned.The Lemon Song is probably the weakest track,but apart from those two,everything else is just fanstastic rock n' roll.

I can't really mention a compliment to a single musician,as I wouldn't thereby being fair to the others.The four of them give a true lesson of how a hard rock album should be made.People regard Led Zeppelin II as being incredibly heavy(for 1969 standards,of course).Ignore them.It's the ideal album to hear in,say, a car trip.Constrasted with fresh-sounding straight rockers and tender moments.

I won't give it five stars,as it is surely not 'a mastepiece of progreesive music'(I rather reserve the maximum rating for albums whic indeed fit in this genre) ,but a well-earned four stars.

Gustavo Froes | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this LED ZEPPELIN review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.