Rated 10/10
Led Zeppelin II
The relentlessness of absolute bangers on this is pretty overwhelming, it’s 9 songs and 40 minutes of foundational and archetypal rock music. Their debut is great, but this is clearly a step up both in song and production, it has a much more satisfying, denser, richer and fuller sound.
Whole Lotta Love might be my favourite riff of all time, particularly when it comes back in with Bonham’s drums after the 2nd break down and What Is and What Should Never Be is superb, the tension of the riff and the psychedelic breakdown are great. Bonham and Jones really make The Lemon Song, particularly before and during the closing guitar squall. Thank You is fantastic, a brilliant melding of folkish, pastoral acoustic, organ and psychedelic sing-alongs, with an excellent lead vocal. I think we may have said on previous LZ reviews what a great acoustic player Page is, and he’s excellent on this.
Heartbreaker is of course a classic, and another superb riff, as is Living Loving Woman, a brilliantly catchy bit of snaking rock music. I love Ramble On, maybe my favourite of their acoustic-ish numbers, rich with mystical hobbitry, bass and guitar. Moby Dick may be my only dip, I like the riff and intro, and as great as Bonham is, I’m just not into the extended drum solo part. Bring it On Home ends things on a superb bluesy note with the Willie Dixon intro and outro and a sort of funk inflected rock middle section.
Easy 5.
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Playlist submission: Ramble On