Customer Reviews
Led Zeppelin isn't God: Film At Eleven
On one side of the balance it's got Black Dog. Led Zeppelin IV reminds me of a balance scale. It's got Rock and Roll. It's obviously got Stairway to Heaven. And it's got When the Levee Breaks. Of course, this represents all the excellent material that can be found here. And on Early Days. . . more with that later. On the other hand, it's got Battle of Evermore. It's got Misty Mountain Hop. It's got Four Sticks (the second-worst Song Led Zeppelin Ever recorded, for the record). And it's got Goin' to California. In other words, it's an uneven mess--literally every good song has its bad counterpart. Call me insane, say I'm comitting Rock 'n Roll Suicide, flame me, give me all the "not-helpful" votes you want, dub me a blasphemer. . . but I'd skip it and by Early Days, which contains the album's best material in my mind. Then buy I, II and Physical Graffitti, and you'll have maximum Zeppelin.
And to all of the "Zeppelin-is-god" people. . . PLEASE! In spite of all their talents, Led Zeppelin is simply a rock band, nothing more and nothing less. And anybody who believes that Led Zeppelin IV is mankind's greatest achievement has never heard of some slightly more practical things, such as agriculture, the domestication of animals, written/spoken language and electricity.
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The greatness of this album is no myth!
), Led Zeppelin's fourth studio album
At the end of the 1960's and start of the 70's, Led Zeppelin proved themselves to be an utterly groundbreaking band. Led Zeppelin IV (AKA 'Untitled', 'Zoso' or 'Four Symbols') (1971. The band were a worldwide success, with their first three albums selling in their thousands. After the release of their great acoustic album, Led Zeppelin III, the band returned to their recording studio, an old workhouse called Headley Grange, to put together more new material. Originally designated to be a set of 4 EP releases; due to a number of delays, the material the band recorded in early 1971 was put into one album. In Novemeber 1971, the album, with cover not displaying the band's name or album title on the front was released. That said, Led Zeppelin IV has gone on to be Led Zeppelin's biggest selling album and is the greatest selling hard rock album of all time. So why has this strangely untitled album gone on to become an all time hit?
There is something mysterious and magical about Led Zeppelin IV; the packaging and the music on the album itself sees to that and that is part of what has attracted people to get this album over the years. It has that unknown element to it that makes it so special. Jimmy Page himself quoted that he would see if the music really would sell itself without the cover displaying the band's name. He was right to assume that because the music on this album really has sold itself; and it is a deserved thing too. Eventhough this is not my personal favourite Led Zeppelin album ('Houses Of The Holy' claims that honour in my mind') there is no denying that this album displays the band at their technical best and at their most ultimately consistent and refined. There is effortless confidence seeping through rockers like 'Black Dog' and 'Rock And Roll' plus the band also keep up with their acoustic tradition with songs like 'Going To California'. However, it is probably in 'Stairway To Heaven' that the album is ultimately confirmed as the band's most popular; given that this masterpiece of a song is perhaps the most played rock song of all time. All in all, this masterpiece has become a blueprint for many rock acts to follow. Page's riffs and solo performance's are legendary, Bonham's drumming is revolutionary on this album, JP Jones shows his adept ability on the keyboards once more and Plant's vocals capture the mythical lyrics based around this album. The work is barely flawed.
Led Zeppelin's prized masterpiece gets rolling with one of the all-time great openers in 'Black Dog'. The classic calling vocals from Plant echoed by some thunderous riffs from Page are awesome. This song is unbelievably assured . . . and don't forget Page's exit solo; one of his best. Following this is the encore classic, 'Rock n' Roll'. The song's title speaks for itself; Bonham's drumming is furious and the band as a whole create loads of energy in this 3 minute rocker. Next we have a diverse acoustic based gem in 'Battle Of Evermore'. Guest mandolin player Sandy Denny adds an extra dimension to this song and the mysterious, mythical lyrics are great. After this song fades out, we come to the epic itself. 'Stairway To Heaven' is deservedly Led Zeppelin's most acclaimed song. Beautiful lyrics with a great fusion of acoustic and electric guitar sounds are legendary, as is Page's guitar solo. The end of the last verse line of 'To be a rock and not to roll' for me is timeless. What a song!
The second half of the album opens with keyboard backed rocker 'Misty Mountain Hop'. Another song with real attitude, the slightly dissonant melody works brilliantly. Plant's vocals are powerful. Next is 'Four Sticks', for me the albums only slight rough spot, but still a great track non the less. Bonham's drumming is complex and bubbling and Page's rolling riff is good though you feel as though it could have developed into something more by the end of the track. 'Going To California' is perhaps the highlight of the band's acoustic catalogue; an unbelievably relaxing tune with more great lyrics. Finally though, we come to 'When The Levee Breaks'. I don't care whether everyone else disagrees with me, this for me is the best track the band ever made. Bonham's opening drum sequence, full of energy, has become the most sampled drum sequence of all time and it makes a foreboding start to the song. Plant's vocals are assured and the mouthorgan part in the song adds a unique eeriness to the music. Oh and I forgot to mention the riff to the song . . . legendary and thrilling; I never tire of this song.
Led Zeppelin IV is a masterpiece, no questions asked. This is the band at their technical and songwriting peak, and consistency wise, you couldn't ask for more in this album. The fact that this album sold so well eventhough the band's name isn't printed on the album just goes to show how good the music really is. If you are looking to get into Led Zeppelin's music or rock music in general, this album is a perfect place to start; this best selling album will get you hooked! .
Please don't call it "ZOSO"!
After getting the somber, acoustic vibe out of their system on the last album it was all systems go for the Page/Plant tandem, and what a one-two punch this one starts out with. Radio saturation of nearly every track on this record may jade some listeners into underappreciating just what a landmark album "IV" actually was. "Black Dog" practically invented Whitesnake's entire oeuvre with it's demonic boogie riff and Plant's piercing shrieks, sex, violence and all manner of ritualistic hedonism smelted together into a cast iron monolith to perfection. Before "Rock and Roll" was relegated to automobile spots it put forth the notion: "what if crack had been invented back in Jerry Lee Lewis' heyday"? The fact that such an irrepressible hallelujah (you can't tell me this song isn't a spiritual experience) was created out of fairly sober minds (ok, there was the coke) is a tribute of the love for the genre these British lads proffered back in the day.
Proving "III" wasn't a fluke or botched experiment, "The Battle of Evermore" and "Stairway to Heaven" close out side one with ponderous odes to the band's Celtic heritage (the former) and God only knows (the latter). Lyrically "Evermore" is most akin to "The Immigrant Song", a Viking paeon from "III" that also ripped the paint off the walls, whereas "Evermore" is a gentler exploration of ancient British epic tales. On the other hand, scholars will be debating for centuries on the precise meaning of "Stairway" (I'd be satisfied with just narrowing down that "bustle in your hedgerow" business) but what is absolutely incontrovertible is it's significance in rock history, it's eternal place on "all time top 10" lists, and it's banishment from the ambience of guitar shops.
We're back in business on side two, opening with the breezy jam "Misty Mountain Hop", another flowers-in-their-hair anthem to unrestrained pleasure gratification. "Four Sticks" is another solid mid-tempo rocker showcasing Bonham's mastery of the skins while "Going to California" is an acoustic ballad which would also fit right at home on "III". Finally, Zep wrap it up with possibly the finest song on the album - and certainly one of the best of their career - an absolutely brain-mauling trawl through the blues staple "When the Levee Breaks". Plant's vocals bend, shriek, scrape, and soar through seven minutes of guitar sludge, intersticed with resounding harp moans echoing the browbeaten but defiant cries of the narrator. Simply astounding, heart shaking melodrama. Whoever said "always leave 'em wanting more" certainly got through to the boys in Led Zeppelin.
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. You can see a complete list of all Led Zeppelin discography, or go back to the Led Zeppelin tabs
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