Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
Robert Plant- Vocals, Harmonica
Jimmy Page- Electric and Acoustic Guitar
John Paul Jones- Bass Guitar, Keyboard
John Bonham- Percussion
This album was released in 1975 on Swan Song
Led Zeppelin was one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time, if not the greatest (an arguable subject). Their unique brand of bluesy rock pioneered the music scene and continues to be imitated today. They started out in 1968. Jimmy Page, a sought after session guitarist and a member of the Yardbirds, decided to form a band called "The New Yardbirds". He found an amazing young blues singer named Robert Plant, then added John Henry Bonham on drums and John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards. The name Led Zeppelin was coined by a member of the Who, (as in "You'll go over like a Lead Zeppelin). What followed was one of the greatest musical careers in history.
First of all, there are two discs. Disc 1 is hard rocker, and Disc 2 is a mix of different styles. Some consider this the last great Zeppelin album.
Disc 1
1: Custard Pie (4:14)- This song has a simple, catchy main riff. We hear a sweet bass riff that kind of weaves its way around the guitar riff. We get a pretty nice solo by Page at about the 1:30 mark. This is a pretty simple, straight forward rocker that will have you bobbing your head. 4/5
2: The Rover (5:37)- This song opens with a little drum beat, then a little distorted guitar by Jimmy turns into the main riff, which is a hard, dark riff. Jimmy uses some pretty nice distortion and feedback to good effect on this track. Robert does some amazingly high singing (as usual) on this track. This is pretty much another straight forward rocker. 4/5
3: In My Time Of Dying (11:06)- This song opens with a bad @ss, sweet riff by Jimmy with a slide. If I'm not wrong, this is their longest studio track. This is probably one of my personal favorite songs of all time, and it is one of the ultimate stoner songs. This is an epic, melancholy song that is a standout on the album. 5/5
4: Houses Of The Holy (4:02)- This is an upbeat, hard rocker. The main riff is a metallic, stomping riff. The lyrics are pretty catchy, I was singing this one for weeks when i first heard this. Probably the "happiest" song on the entire album. Overall, yet again a pretty straight forward rocker. 4/5
5: Trampled Underfoot (5:36)- This is kind of a different song then the other ones on disc 1. It is a keyboard driven song, but Jimmy has some nice solos kind of weaving around the main riff. For some reason, I just don't like this song as much as the others. It kind of just drones on and on in my opinion. Not bad, though.
6: Kashmir (8:28)- Ahh, one of Zeppelin's most popular songs. This really is a great song, it has a great, simple guitar riff that has a little bit of mysterious, desert-type flavor to it. This is better than Stairway in some people's opinions, and I really do think it is. Sometimes I skip this one though, simply because it was MASSIVELY overplayed on the radio. An epic masterpiece. 5/5
Ok, on to Disc 2
1: In The Light (8:47)- This song is a good way to kick off the second disc. It takes a while to pick up, but once it does, it rocks hard. It starts with some nice keyboard sounds from Jones, then Robert starts some singing, then the guitar and drums kick it all off. The song changes a little with some great guitar and keyboard at about the halfway point. An epic rocker.
4/5
2: Bron-Yr-Aur (2:06)- This is just a short instrumental song. Jimmy plays some soulful acoustic guitar and thats pretty much all it is. Some people would call it "filler", and I can understand that. Nothing special, just some nice guitar work. 3/5
3: Down By The Seaside (5:16)- This song is very different from anything else on the album. The closest thing it is I guess would be Country-Rock. It has some nice distorted twangy guitar, and some great, soulful singing. This is a very catchy song, it will get stuck in your head. Kind of a dreamy, floaty song. I love this song simply because it adds some variety to the album.
5/5
4: Ten Years Gone: (6:33)- This song has a great, floaty guitar riff to start it out. It kind of floats its way along, then it explodes into a distorted rocker, then goes back to that beautiful, floaty riff. The vocals are like the guitar: floaty and dreamy. This is an excellent song to fall asleep to. It has a beautiful solo that perfectly fits the song. Overall, a very nice, soft rocker.
4/5
5: Night Flight- (3:37)- This is pretty much another straight forward rocker. I really don't like this song. It's just generic, and not very well written in my opinion. 2/5
6: The Wanton Song- (4:09)- This song is very similar to Trampled Underfoot, yet a little less keyboard driven. It changes a little at times to a little of that Ten Years Gone kind of floaty guitar and then goes back to the foot stomping rock feel. Not a standout, just a good song.
4/5
7: Boogie With Stu- (3:53)- This song has some very distant style vocals and drums. The song has kind of an Elvis feel to it. It has some nice acoustic guitar work and piano work. I like this song, because, much like Seaside, it adds some variety to the album.
4/5
8: Black Country Woman- (4:32)- This song starts out with some speaking from the band, then the singing and acoustic guitar starts. When the drums kick in, this song takes on kind of a Bron-Yr-Aur stomp feel, as it has a simple, stomping drum beat and some nice acoustic work. As always, Robert sings wonderfully. I really like the "get up and dance" feel of the song.
4/5
9: Sick Again (4:43)- Ahhh, the album closer. Guess what? It's a straight forward rocker!!! These just don't get old when Zeppelin does them. This has kind of a "bar" feel to it, as well as a furious, stomp feel to it. I like this song, but it wasn't the best way to close the album.
4/5
Overall, this was one of Zeppelin's standout albums, but then again most of them were, weren't they? I really like this album because it was my first Zeppelin. It has a lot of great songs, but not a huge deal of variety. This isn't the best album to start out with, as it drones on at times, but definetly a classic. Pick it up if you are an experienced Zeppelin listener. Well worth your hard earned dough.
4/5
