PHYSICAL GRAFFITI

Physical Graffiti is the band's first attempt at a double album and is consequently probably their most diverse. You have the straightforward blues-stained rockers in 'Custard Pie, 'The Rover,' 'The Wanton Song' and 'Sick Again.' The rock is combined with a more Western country feel in songs like 'Boogie With Stu' and Black Country Woman,' neither of which really appeal to my taste.

The more prog tunes are 'In My Time of Dying,' 'In the Light' and Kashmir. Unfortunately, these songs suffer from excessive length, and in the case of the popular 'Kashmir,' overly repetitious themes.

The real treats (for me at least) can be found in the groovy 'Trampled Underfoot,' the uncharacteristically sweet and slow 'Down By the Seaside,' reflective and powerful 'Ten Years Gone,' and of course the great rocking 'Houses of the Holy.'

Overall, this is one of their more adventurous and varied albums, but ultimately contains a lot of filler, and like most double albums, suffers from excessive length. Still there are plenty of good moments to be had on Physical Graffiti.

6/10