LED ZEPPELIN IV

After the, in some way, bad reactions of Led Zeppelin III, the fans where expecting a harder sound, something more rocker than the previous one, which is more acoustic. So, after a time of expectations, the fourth untitled album was released, on 1971. Some prefer to call it, "Led Zeppelin IV", "Zoso", "Runes", etc, but the true 'title' is not words, it's composed by four symbols, that I really don't know what they mean ... Well, this is the album that took Led Zeppelin ot the top of Rock n' Roll and established them as on of the most important bands on Rock history. Also, it was their best selling album, reaching the 4th position on the most selling albums in history. Musically, it's Zeppelin at it best, here we've got THE total classic "Stairway To Heaven", "Rock n' Roll", "Black Dog", "Going To California" and others that made Zeppelin go to their peak of popularity. In other words, an essential album that anyone that likes music should have, a total classic. Every member on the band was more that inspired, specially Page, Bonzo and John Paul Jones did a clean and impeccable work, as Plant too! So, let's go to the music:

What a way to start an album! I can hear a spacey effect, and then Plant's rocking vocals enter: "Hey, hey mama said the way you move, gon' make you sweat, gon' make you groove.", followed by one of the coolest and mos recognisable riffs in music history, creation of Mr. John Paul Jones. On the song we've got several stops, with roking vocals - incredible riff, and some 'oh yeah!' moments that rock it all around, and I go crazy everytime I listen to this song! A powerful beginning to this album and a classic.

So, do you like some more Rock n' Roll? Oh, yes, I hear a wild Bonzo's groove, and that it explodes into one of the most rocker moments in history, yeah, yeah, the song is "Rock n' Roll"!! Well, another genius riff with roking vocals, drum, bass, well, all is rocking! Is any more Rock n' Roll song than "Rock n' Roll" ? No, definitely not.

To calm down a bit, we've "The Battle Of Evermore", an acoustic piece, with softer vocals, mandolin and a more folky feeling. This song does direct references to Tolkien's works, and gives a more epic feeling, having some fresh and great moments.

"Stairway To Heaven" ... THE HYMN OF ROCK? Well, for me it is. It's such an amazing piece of music, and one of the most known, maybe the most known rock song, that clearly represents what Rock is! Without a doubt! A superb and beautiful moment in Rock history! The intro is the most recognisable and memorable melody in Rock music. It's a genius, inventive, beautiful melody, Page's work, that I think almost all guitarists in the world (try to) play. The masterpiece starts quietfully, with acoustic guitars and a nice flute played by John Paul Jones. Then it goes louder and louder when the drums enter, and one of the finest moments comes with the superb guitar solo which directly takes me to another world! It goes getting heavier when the song finally gets an orgasmic climax, amazing. The hymn of Rock.

"Misty Mountain Hop" starts with another great riff, this time played by John's electric piano, then the guitar and drums join. Here we've again direct references to Tolkien's works. Another great rocking moment, a song that always gives a smile into my face. :)

"Four Sticks" is maybe a bit repetitive, all one riff repeated a lot of times with a cool drum groove. The weakest point on the album but still an enjoyable rocker.

The hippie acoustic "Going To California" goes then. It has funny lyrics, at least to me, "Spent my days with a woman unkind, smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.", and it's another beautiful and very melodic song.

The last song is "When The Leeve Breaks", which starts with crunchy Bonzo's drums, and a cool bass line, which is repeated almost all the song, with the guitar that are in the back almost all the track. There's also a kind of psychedelic harmonica section, well, almost all the song is psychedelic. An excellent ending.

Overall, this is one of my personal favorite albums, and one of the most important in Rock history, not to be missed by anyone who likes music. A total masterpiece!

Rating: 5/5

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