Fretplay.com Led Zeppelin CD reviews Led Zeppelin guitar tabs Led Zeppelin CD reviews Led Zeppelin tabs Led Zeppelin II


Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II Audio CD

A fair review of the Led Zeppelin "Led Zeppelin II" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Led Zeppelin reviews here, or go back to the Led Zeppelin tabs.

Led Zeppelin Band: Led Zeppelin
Title: Led Zeppelin II
Rating:
Release Date: 1994-06-21
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Whole Lotta Love 2: What Is and What Should Never Be 3: Lemon Song 4: Thank You 5: Heartbreaker 6: Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) 7: Ramble On 8: Moby Dick 9: Bring It on Home

Mystifying Musical Brilliance
If this is true, it leaves me dumbfounded. I've always read and heard that Led Zeppelin was often undersold throughout their 10-11 year reign by music critics. From the first riveting note to the last, this album / cd is still as jaw-dropping and ferociouly exquisite as the day it was released. Forget Guns 'n Roses and ANY other band that claims to have picked up where Led Zep left off. My friends, it all begins and ends right here. .


Mop my brow, hot mama!
Apparently Amazon requires 75 words, and it has to be "pertinent" to the item reviewed. I've tried five times to write this review so that it'll be published, and here I'll try again. All I wanted to say was this, so I'll put it in caps so it'll stand out: THE SWEATIEST ROCK ALBUM EVER. There. See, sometimes one can make an encapsulating statement that most everyone will understand. Sometimes less is more. People know this item and people know what rock music is, and they will get it. On the TV series CHEERS, someone asked a literate professor what the sweatiest movie ever made was. Without hesitation, the guy said, "Cool Hand Luke. " See what I mean, Amazoids?
.


LZ TWO
It focused more upon the rock aspect, although the blues element was still there. Their second record really captured, what the band was all about, and where they were headed musically, more profoundly than their first record.


Pivotal album in the evolution of Heavy Rock.
Both played an immense impact on Rock and Roll while advancing already set standards from earlier and contemporary acts such as The Yardbirds,Cream, Jimmi Hendrix Experience and Ten Years After. Hard to believe that this and the self-titled were released within one year of another. Zeppelin further placed the guitar riff as pivotal to a rock song and chose to be louder and heavier which was puncuated by the seperation of the bass and drum sound which added heavier bottom weight to these classics.

In many ways however, this is not a superior album than it's predecessor. It's practically an extension, not a bad thing, but the band would create and better and more complex work starting with there next album and than on.

Zeppelin is often cited as being "Heavy Metal" but in fact they only really flirted with the sound, never quite escaping from the blues and far too folksy and accoustic happy than contemporaries Deep Purple and Black Sabbath who really cemented the heavy sound. Yet, much is to be owed towards this seminal release.

"Led Zeppellin 2" features many of the band's signature cuts beginning with one of there most beloved tracks in the form of "Whole Lotta Love". Unquestionably a classic, the song has unfortunately been overplayed much too often and it's importance lies mianly in it's chugging iconic riff. "Heartbreaker" is simple heavy blues and appears rather dated but it's importance is unquestionable. "Living Loving Maid" is often paired with this track and is not a personal favorite of guitarist Jimmy Page. It's an enjoyable enough toe tapper that seems to be the direct ancestor to the later and superior, "Rock and Roll" off of there classic fourth album.

"Ramble On" endures as a excellent example of proto-Metal with a classic riff and a structure that would influence many bands to follow, what with it's soft, melodic intro and excellent rock to finish mid section. The lyrics also showcase the band's fascination with fantasy and that will play a definitive influence on later Power acts and certainly contemporary Uriah Heep who practically specialized in that field.

"Moby Dick" is a bit ponderous but satisfying due to the enormous drum talent of John Bonham whose skills are perhaps best represented by this mighty instrumental. It goes on overlong but it's difficult not to be impressed by such a masterly performance.

The remainder of the album is drenched in the blues dragged through heaviness. Several are classics including that ode to great Blues man Robert Johnson, "The Lemon Song" whith it's wonderfully provacative lyrics. "Bring it on Home" and "What Is and What Should Never Be" are very bluesy. "Bring it on Home" evokes even something of a honkytonk style in it's first half before surrendering to heaviness.

"Thank You" is practically a preview of the band's third album as it is almost entirely accoustic. It is also one of the album's most satisfying and emotional works and ranks among this band's best songs.

There is much dated about this album but it's importance is notable and a listen is absolutely essential to anyone who remotely considers him/herself a rocker or Metalhead. Certainly the riffs of Page and the vocal stylings of Robert Plant will continue to influence many would bes and it is difficult to think how many will enjoy the longevity of this band and this milestone release made some forty years ago.


Big Fan of the Old Zep
I have loved the old Zeppelin since the '70s. No real surprises here. The segue between Moby Dick and Bring it on Home with the drum solo is absolutely tantric.


You can see a complete list of all Led Zeppelin discography, or go back to the Led Zeppelin tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]