LED ZEPPELIN IV

Led Zeppelin...gods of rock to millions of acne scarred teens everywhere. Everyone knows the music, the albums, the rumours of black magic, and of musical thievery ahhahaha. The inclusion of Led Zeppelin here at ProgArchives has been controversial to say the least. Some think they are a full on prog band. Others, think they are related to prog in that they were influenced by prog. The question had been debated, and kicked around for years, before the man who signs the paychecks said he wanted them included. The debate is over, but the question remains, what exactly did Led Zeppelin bring to prog.. or what did they take from prog. In a perfect world, discussions would rage and minds would be challenged. This is not a perfect world, thus we are left with silly polls and meaningless threads. After posting this review, I will open a thread to see if there is any stomach for a full out discussion on the 'prog' Zeppelin.

I personally don't review prog related groups, with one noteable exception. Today though I was tooting' along at work, digging on the radio when Stairway to Heaven came on. About 10 minutes later, after my ears had stopping ringing, I thought about this album, Led Zeppelin IV. I made up my mind to break my promise never to review half-ass, fanboy driven PR addtions and this group in particular. I fam far from a Zeppelin fan, but I have to admit though... the music itself.. stripped of all the BS, the fanboys, and all the idolization.. is simply first class music. A prog album it is not..but there are two prog gems on the album for me that I would simply consider GREAT prog songs in their own right.

The Battle of Evermore has been, is, and forever will be the Zeppelin song that really gets me. My favorite from them by a country mile.. the song has a beauty that I love in music that Zeppelin really wasn't in to for the most part. A great example of the folk side of Zeppelin which was in my opinion far and away the most interesting aspect of the group. John Paul Jones' mandolin is so damn haunting, the song has such marvelous harmonies with Sandy Denny joining in. A song that after years and years of hearing retains a magic, a freshness, that most of Zeppelins more overplayed material simply doesn't.

Speaking of overplayed, that brings us to simply one of the great songs of rock history. Stairway to Heaven. Thankfully insulated in my world of real prog, and far away from the evils of teenage stoners and formated rock stations here in the states I hadn't heard this song in ages before this morning. The song.. much like Evermore has a majesty, a beauty that again I find lacking in their music. Going for the throat and selling lost of albums was important to them and that they did. When they did become the 'artists' that they sure as hell were capable of ... they create art. Thus we have the Mona Lisa of sorts of rock. Stairway to Heaven. I have NEVER.. ever heard a 12 string guitar that can bring a tear.. or tears if you are having a not so good day hahah like when Page's 12 string chimes in. Amazing stuff.. there is so much emotion packed into that. The lyrics are ...lets face it.. prog to a T. No idea what the hell Plant is singing. .and I don't care. That's prog for me.. the music and vocal combination is what floats my prog boat. This song has it in spades. Again.. the music has been picked over like a carcass on the side of the road so I won't go there. This though.. is a prog song... and one that, unlike many prog songs, .. will grab your heart and your soul.. along with your mind.

The rest of the album.. great stuff.. not prog.. thus.. who cares hahaha. It's one of the greastest albums of rock. That says enough about the quality of it. There isn't a bad song on it. Anyway.. this is the first album in my limited reviewing experience to get 3 ratings. They are as follows.. personally I rate it a 4 star album.. great stuff of course.. but I'd take LZ2. For generally ranking the album.. hahaha.. millions are not wrong in this case.... 5 stars and one of those albums that if you don't have it.. you simply aren't a fan of rock music. Finally for those like me who come here to discuss and listen to prog... thus the ranking for this site... 3 stars... Zeppelin had little to no impact on prog and this great music was a reaction to the prog world around them.. not the other way around. 3 stars.. one for each of the two songs. .and third for being a great example of how much impact prog had back in those glory days.

Michael (micky)