PRESENCE

The most raw, rough Zeppeli album, which contains none acoustic tracks (the other releases contains each one an acoustic track, just like Bron-Yr-Aur or Ramble On for example). Recorded in (West) Germany with Robert Plant in a wheelchair after a violent car accident (both legs broken, his wife was more seriously hurt - but not to death, happily - and hospitalized in England), Presence is a very moody Zeppelin album, a dark one, a sad one.

A disillusioned one.

Tea For One is a kind of follow- up/suite to Since I've Been Loving You, blue in tone. For Your Life speaks about drug addiction. Achilles Last Stand is probably Led Zep's second best song after Stairway To Heaven, and is the most innovative and strange of all, with hard-to-understand lyrics. Royal Orleans is the one and only track to be kind of funny, good but minor (and short) song. Nobody's Fault But Mine is one of the two songs I don't really like on the album, but I agree it's a very good one, very bluesy, this song could have been released on the first or second albums. The other track I don't like is Candy Store Rock, maybe one of Zeppelin's worse ever. Simply awful. And there is Hots On For Nowhere, interesting but maybe too long song, nice, efficient, not a masterpiece, but nice anyway. Not a highlight at all.

In its globality, Presence is one of the most powerful and interesting Zeppelin albums. One of my faves. Jimmy Page's favorite Zeppelin album. Mostly underrated (see the rates here). I would like to give it 5 stars, but I prefer to give it 4. Because of these two songs I don't like, and because it probably NOT deserve 5 stars, in fact. It's not a masterpiece, it's a very good and underrated album.