LED ZEPPELIN

When I started to write for Prog Archives in early 2004 it was beyond any discussion that Led Zeppelin would be welcomed on this site. And it would have been the world upside down that this album should deserve 4 and 5 star ratings. But the times they are a changing and when I am writing this review, I notice that the average rating is 4.03, an incredible result! So a big hand for Led Zeppelin and I tell you why: it's 1969 and the rock world is on the move with innovative ROCK bands like The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream and The Rolling Stones, experiments are hot. On this strong debut album Led Zeppelin (the name is derived from a quote by Keith Moon) plays not only straight rock and roll hardrock but also experiments with shifting moods, varied instruments and blending genres ... indeed, progressive rock! Led Zeppelin hosted four excellent musicians: the creative powerhouse John Bonham-JP Jones, the inventive master of the riffs and head-and-tail soli Jimmy Page and the distinctive, often emotional vocals by Robert Plant. Their strongest efforts on this album are the very dynamic and compelling Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You, the almost psychedelic Dazed And Confused (featuring Jimmy Page on the violin bow) and the great bluesy atmosphere in How Many More Times. Led Zeppelin played a lot of straight rock and blues on their first LP but for that time also very interesting songs with a progressive touch. And after all those years, it still sounds so powerful and every member delivers such a stunning contribution, four stars because I love this band so much!