HOUSES OF THE HOLY

Led Zeppelin's influence on rock music since the 1970s cannot be denied and that certainly includes progressive rock, even if they themselves were more of a blues or heavy rock group. I remember that they also cited folk artists and singer songwriters as influences, so it is not surprising that they produced an album like "Houses of the Holy", which pays homage to their many interests. You are bound to find a few items to your taste here, but, by the same token, you are unlikely to find it all agreeable, unless you are extremely eclectic and forgiving of more than a few missteps.

Sure, it's hard to find fault with "Rain Song" and its morose mellotronic meanderings. Likewise "Over the Hills and Far Away" is an ingenious blend of pastoral folk and hard rock, "D'yer Ma'ker" a delightfully kitsch call to arms for the burgeoning reggae movement, and "No Quarter" perhaps the most progressive song of their career, a daring piece that must have shocked their by then legion of fans. In fact the overall genre spanning approach taken on this album is itself highly progressive. However, forays into funk ("The Crunge"), old rock n roll ("Dancing Days"), and falsetto imitations of Yes ("Song Remains the same") are just as weak, making this album a mixed bag on the quality plane.

I feel that 3 stars is the logical rating for this, one of the Led Zep albums of greater interest to the prog community, even if many do worship at its feet.