HOUSES OF THE HOLY

"Houses Of The Holy" is the "silly" Zep album. I say "silly", as they obviously wanted to be playful and let themselves loose, having some fun here. The problem is, their fun didn't met with the fun of their fans... You may ask me, I am one of them.

The album, isn't exactly terrible. After four epics, they had the right to get some rest. It simply doesn't match their previous high standards. And there are some reasons for that.

All the power and magic they had built step by step from the psychedelic ashes of the debut, to the heavy sheerness of Led Zeppelin II, to the mystic shades of III, to the perfection of IV, have all evaporated after the first three songs... To be fair, "The Rain Song" is one of their best and Robert Plant's singing is so emotional as John Paul Jones's arrangements compliments him in the best way. "No Quarter" is the other classic, but it reminds me suspiciously an older song from ATOMIC ROOSTER "Death Walks Behind You". However, its live rendition from the soundtrack "The Song Remains The Same" far surpasses it.

There are only two more songs that are very good. "Over The Hills And Far Away", a near classic in which Jimmy Page gives lessons on the guitar, electric and acoustic. I've read somewhere as he confessed the three Zep songs with his favourite solos are "Stairway To Heaven", "Ten Years Gone" and "Achilles Last Stand" and I mostly agree with his vision, but I might add "Over The Hills..." in the same bunch too. The other song I like very much, is "Dancing Days" and is catchy as hell. Could be released as a single, it's very warm and radio friendly in a similar mood with "Misty Mountain Hope" from the previous album.

Other than that four songs, there's not enough meat on the album. "The Song Remains The Same" starts promising, but soon unravels after the first two minutes, going on unfocused for the rest three. It's in this song that arises the second issue I have with the album : Plant's voice. Till "III" and "IV" he owns the most powerful voice in Rock, its range is phenomenal, he has character, he delivers everything he sings. But from this album and on, his voice is deteriorating. I particularly don't like his way of singing in "The Song Remains..." or "The Ocean", the last one. "The Ocean" is supposed to be the only hard rock song on an album that is devoided from Blues and Hard Rock completely... Try to imagine that ! A Zep album nor bluesy or hard ! Because, Plant's voice ruins this last song, and I say this sincerely.

It's the first time we're talking for "fillers" in a Zep album.They tried to broaden their horizons and they took bold steps, for sure. But their attempt in funk on "The Crunge" is doomed. Same goes for the failed reggae "D'yer Mak'er" which is even worse... No real Zeppelin on both !

"Houses Of The Holy" is just an average set of songs by their high standards surrounded by one of the most iconic and beautiful covers in all the 70's. It contains two classic songs, two very good ones, two just good and two real stinkers.