LED ZEPPELIN II

Led Zeppelin

Prog Related

3.99 | 1047 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

russellk
Prog Reviewer

Fuzz-heavy blues standards that ultimately leave me as the listener unsatisfied.

This album has little of the raw spontenaity of their first. Moreover, it perpetuates the musical theft of the first: the band had to settle with Wille Dixon and Howlin' Wolf after acknowledging they had 'lifted' significant intellectual property from these blues pioneers. Sorry, but this sticks in my craw. I've watched bands like DREAM THEATER being accused of plagiarism when they do no more than 'sound like' other bands. LED ZEPPELIN'S crime was the greater - they stole from others and claimed the resultant original sound as their own.

That said, this album does contain some brilliant moments. 'Heartbreaker's guitar solo is a classic, and 'Ramble On' is a blueprint for the folk-fantasy territory LED ZEPPELIN was about to explore. 'The Lemon Song' is a nice package of saucy blues. However, I've always been unimpressed by 'Whole Lotta Love', from the smutty lyrics to the brazen licks and the curious 'freak-out' mid section. The single best thing about this album is the first sign that the rest of the band are about to flex their muscles: PLANT, BONHAM and JONES are coming out from PAGE'S thin shadow.

As for progressive conent, there is little of the progressive sensibility here that would infuse and eventually overwhelm the band. Those steeped in progressive rock will be underwhelmed by what's happeing on this album. LED ZEPPELIN II and it's older brother are antecedents for hard rock, not progressive rock. In my view, this is an album that should be listened to by afficianados of modern music, but need not be approached by a progressive rock fan.

russellk | 2/5 | 2007-8-22

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).

Share this LED ZEPPELIN review

Social review comments () BETA

Review related links

Send comments to russellk
Report this review (#134131)
Buy LED ZEPPELIN music online with PA partners
Show all LED ZEPPELIN MP3/Stream
Go to LED ZEPPELIN page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
Go to Led Zeppelin II page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
Search the Forum for LED ZEPPELIN related discussions