Reviews (page 3 of 15)
Such a landmark record in rock
"The Battle of Evermore", "Stairway to Heaven", "Black Dog", "Misty Mountain Hop", "When the Levee Breaks" : amazing album
Very good album. Don’t listen to much rock let alone older music but this was such a great album, one of my tops now.
Canciones favoritas: *Stairway to Heaven (DIOS, QUE CANCIÓN!!!!!! Me encantan todas las “etapas” que tiene, va construyéndose cada vez mas épica) Adoro la portada del album. Solo me gusto stairway to heaven, pero si reconozco que es un álbum muy chevere.
Musically so amazing: the epic riffs, the thunderous drumming, the willingness to go baroque and for broke. I mean, it's great. But the lyrics so often suck--please stop with the Nordic LOTR medievalisms--that I want to just turn the record off. Still, 'When the Levee Breaks' is one of the greatest rock songs ever.
A master class in rock. Listening all the way through even allowed me to hear “Stairway to Heaven” with fresh ears.
Another desert island album
I have not really listened to Led Zeppelin before but this has convinced me to delve into their discography! The only song I didn't like was Black Dog, but I love the rest.
A classic.
Packed with classic bangers. Really enjoyed it.
just spectacular. the density of rock and roll classics is crazy. crazy opener, crazy closer, not really any misses. such a cornerstone of the genre. favorite song is Stairway to Heaven, overwrought and epic, overplayed but still can't be beat
Rating: 9/10 So now the fourth untitled Led Zeppelin album, the third of them out of the four I’ve gotten on the journey, THIS is the one that is pretty much a whole lot of classic hard rock excellence. If there’s one weak track I can name, it’s Four Sticks maybe, then there’s a sprinkling of songs that are pretty damn good and also some serious all timers. Stairway to Heaven one of the best rock songs of all time obviously. Starts and ends so amazingly with two of the other top tracks of the album as well. Love Rock and Roll and the acoustic folk switch up Going to California. A good improvement to me on previous albums that were already pretty good, and could certainly be considered a ‘masterpiece’
Fun and mostly engaging album that's pretty enjoyable, but otherwise I don't have too much to say about it. Stairway is nice but I like Going to California -> When the Levee Breaks a lot 7.1/10
Even not being a fan I must admit - containing an anthem like "Stairway to Heaven" and a bunch of other hits ("Black Dog", "Rock and Roll", "Going to California", "When the Levee Breaks") - this is a pretty strong album!
Doesn’t get a lot better than this. This album. Is really just a part of the DNA of rock music at this point, its influence is everywhere.
It’s good, but not great.
- Four sticks more like a bundle of sticks HHAAAAAAA - The instrumentals are so calm at start-- build up and very technical - Ngl ill say its a tuff
ive seen this album everywhere, however I cannot say I understand the hype, I get its zeppelin and you absolutely cant go wrong with it. Hands down its a no skip album, however its like not as unique as I want it to be and the melody's aren't catchy enough. Idk that's just me tho!
A little generic at times but very good outros and softer pieces
Stairway to heaven is on this album and if you are aware of classic rock in the past 40 years, you have likely heard this one multiple times! One of my favorite Zep songs (Going to California) is on this album even though someone told me “it’s a chick song” once 😂 Great hits and overall an amazing album, however if you want to learn more about Led Zep, look into their history with blues music and their “own” songs. Happy listening all!
It’s so gas man finally some good food
Another dad classic. I love the drums in this so much. More songs need good drums. Give me drums we want drums!
My dad was going to be VERY disappointed if I didn't give this one a 5 stars. That being said I would have done it anyways, I really like how the album feels cohesive while also having songs that sound unique from one another. Also after a string of 3 star rock albums for me this one definitely stood apart from the pack.
pretty awesome classic and having a lot of variety.
Just because it has The Song on it, it was fun to listen to. The other tracks don't seem to be particularly remarkable from a contemporary perspective.
stairway to heaven is beautiful but other than that, thats it. not my type of rock
Meu favorito
There are Led Zeppelin songs that I enjoy more on other albums, but this album, in my opinion, is the most consistent and solid album that Led Zeppelin ever released. While it drags on songs like "The Battle of Evermore", "Four Sticks", "Going to California" and "When the Levee Breaks" goes on for far too long, it still has 5.75 certified all time bangers.
Some of the finest rock and roll ever crafted
This is an absolute masterpiece.
Led bebblibnn
This is a solid album. While listening I felt it was raw, heavy, and sometimes surprisingly sad and melancholic, mixed with strong rhythmic drive and beautiful melodic moments. It has that classic Zep power but also shows a more emotional and atmospheric side. The band sounds massive and confident throughout. The riffs hit hard, the grooves are tight, and there are some truly epic, larger-than-life moments. At times it feels a little exaggerated and over-the-top (which is very Led Zeppelin), but it still works well. Overall, Led Zeppelin IV delivers exactly what you want from them — powerful rock with dynamics, melody, and attitude. Not my absolute favorite of theirs, but definitely a strong and essential record.
Okay so! I have to admit it’s been a while since I’ve heard “Stairway to Heaven” in full. But this whole album was a pleasant surprise. Notable moments: Rock and Roll: surprisingly fun instead of grating (I have a…thing…with certain types of guitar licks) The Battle of Evermore: PERFECTION. The mandolin is stunning. Misty Mountain Hop: inject this in my veins please Robert Plant’s voice is so versatile and the rasp scratches an itch in my brain.
No notes
At last, my last LZ album on this list, IV. Again, another great album, easily a 5. Stairway is the track most people know and love - as do I -, but Battle and Four Sticks are my standouts here, maybe because they are also included in No Quarter.
Definitely interesting and fun. “Stairway to Heaven” was good as it started off slow and chill then built up to a more rocklike style. I added “Immigrant Song” to my rock playlist.
There's not much to say that hasn't been said. It's one of the greats.
This album is just great. I was not always a big fan of Led Zeppelin, but so many of these songs have endured the years. A big piece of why this is a 5-star album is that I can hear the sound of later bands in these songs, particularly Spoon. Rock would not be the same today without this album.
I really enjoyed this one
A legendary status that I've listened to several times already. Let's take it song by song. Black Dog: a messy and stilted romp with an iconic riff. I actually don't like this one that much, lyrics, melody, or tone wise. It also pales heavily next to some of the other songs on this album. The solo is one of Page's worst. All in all, still a good song. 3/5. Rock and Roll: a messy and raucous romp with another iconic riff. The riff here, a play on more traditional blues sixth/seventh progressions, is brilliant. Drums and vocals join the guitars in being at the top of their game. One of Page's better solos on the album, and the first 5/5 song on IV. The Battle of Evermore. Haunting mandolin progression with a gentler but larger than life vocal performance from Plant. I rarely return to this album for just this song, but it's a great one. I do feel it lingers a little too long. 4/5. Stairway to Heaven: I've already disclosed my allegiance to the guitar, and I'll tell you right now: this is a contentious song in the community. It is a "forbidden song" in Guitar Centers across the nation thanks to its popularity. The minute you hear an arpeggiated a- chord, the whole store, normally cacophonous, quiets down in faux outrage. The reason it's so common is because it's an incredible song. It's a near masterpiece. The guitar, the lyrics, the drum, the arrangement are all spot on. The solo is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorite examples of a judiciously placed hotlick. 5/5. Misty Mountain Hop. The riff on this, that walking four note bit, is great. It being doubled with the vocals is not. In fact, nearly all of the vocals in this song are not fun. Other parts of the song rescue it from falling beneath a 3/5. Four Sticks: another great riff, but honestly a little forgettable. Decent but nothing special. 3/5. Going to California, a beautiful song that breaks up the blues rock. Heartbroken and less grinny singing from Plant. Not the most original of songs but well-executed and a welcome diversion from the heavier fare that crowds the album. 4/5. When the Levee Breaks offers an excellent round off to the album. Part of me wonders if Stairway should've been the cap to the album — but there is no denying that Levee provides a satisfying conclusion. It's a little more pensive, the riffs less driving and more of a puzzle. 4/5. On the whole, a cohesive album with enough variation to keep it interesting, completely deserving of its beloved status. Definitely an album everyone should check out before they check out.
So glad to revisit this band and iconic album!
Sorry, Zeppelin fans. I just don’t get the appeal. Lots of boring, endless repeating riffs here, most of which aren’t very good. I’m told Misty Mountain Hop is the worst song on here but most of the album sounds just like it to me. The only song that broke the mold and that I found actually interesting was When the Levee Breaks. I have no idea how Stairway to Heaven became the breakout hit when Levee is right there doing all the same stuff but better and with lyrics that have actual weight instead of just vague spiritual gesturing
My favorite Led Zeppelin album. Zero skips, kicking off with Black Dog with that odd meter and just carrying through the end. A masterclass in songwriting, you have the nice almost pop sounds from Misty Mountain Hop to the staggering Stairway to Heaven with one of the most iconic guitar solos ever written. Superb.
This is the softer and more commercial side to Led Zeppelin, I can see it being on a must-listen list because it's an easy default for the general public, Stairway to Heaven aside. The production is really solid, the use of stereo is beautiful. That being said, it's not MY favorite LedZep effort, I think other artists mastered the solid-but-soft rock side, that honestly they're pulling off pretty well here. 1971? So chill and rugged at the same time, what flow. I still prefer these dirty proggy riffs with screechy vocals for harder energy tracks, but there's a lot of classics here anyway. A fun record to own, but not a must. 4.1/5
*1971. *It's tough to be too critical of this - Black Dog, Rock & Roll, Stairway to Heaven, Going to California, When the Levee Breaks... Like c'mon. * like LZ, but a little goes a long way for me, so 42 mins is perfect. *It's maybe not a personal fave, but it's still 5 stars all day long. I actually listened all the way through a few times. RATING - 8/10
These guys are pedophiles
i like each song separately and the whole album in general but it is not a masterpiece for me. two of the classics, black dog and stairway to heaven are here, i also love them but they are not my favorite led zeppelin songs.
Fav Songs The Battle of Evermore - cacophonous in a way I kinda enjoy Strairway to Heaven - a classic Going to California - similar to Stairway to Heaven Overall average, it was fine.
1 star for Levee, 1 star for California, 2 stars for Stairway to Heaven, 1 star for everything else.
Sometimes the mass consensus (groupthink) is spot-on: pound for pound, I believe this IS the best Zeppelin record.
4.7/5 great album just overplayed
Pues quitanfo "Rock and Roll" me guardo todas las demás. No solo el clásico si no todo el disco como un anticipo de todo lo que vino después. Un clásico y un 5 estrellas de libro.
A certifiable classic. That first side in particular as all killer and no filler. Right out of the gate you gotta love “black dog” and “rock and roll”, plus “stairway to heaven” to close things out. Perfect mix of fast bops and slow jams. Side 2 starts hot “misty mountain hop” before taking a bit of a dip then the bluesy “when the levee breaks” to close it out. Dig it!
One does not simply rock into Mordor
Legendary album, and somehow I'd really only ever heard about half of it. Black Dog and Stairway to Heaven are the obvious radio hits that appear everywhere. And I know When the Levee Breaks is super popular, but I don't think I had ever heard it or it's relentlessness before. It's probably my favorite that's new to me here, but I also liked Misty Mountain Hop and Going to California. This album has a surprising amount of diversity in its sound. It's good, very good, and deserves it's place in rock mythology.
Did the rip off the blues masters? Yes. Were they titanic assholes back in the day? Yes. Is this maybe the greatest amalgam of British folks, American blues, and guitar rock ever created. Quite possibly yes. An amazing album by one of the greatest bands of all time. Literally every song a banger.
Unfortunately, I am not a Zeppelin fan.
5 Another easy 5, black dog and when the levee breaks are amazing, not to mention stairway to heaven
One of the greatest albums of all time, front to back bangers (even the LOTR songs). Still the shoulders of giants that others stand on to this day.
Now THATS what I’m talking about! You notice riffs or production techniques that inspire other bands - drum into taken by Verdena, repetitive tapped piano key taken by QOTSA. Great album.
Was decent. Don't think anything really stood out but was still a good listen
It’s funny I went into this with sort of a bad attitude, like I remember thinking this album is overrated. And that is incorrect, this album is rightfully obsessed over. The only issue for me still is that I don’t love the album cover, I find it underwhelming. But it’s literally a no skip masterpiece. Even the weakest song (the battle of evermore) is still solid and much better than most bands “best songs”. It’s crazy how great this album and 1, and 3 are! I didn’t intend to give all the keeping albums I’ve gotten so far 5s but they genuinely earned and deserve them. Not to mention they are the foundation for most of the music I still listen to to this day. Genuinely a valid nominee for greatest band of all time. This is probably their greatest album ever, but I personally still like 3 the most.
Going to be very original here and give it 5 stars because I mean come on, it really is that good. There's a fair argument to say they're the best band of all time. This isn't even my favourite album of theirs.
Great to see this one come up on the list, because I hadn’t listened to it in the last, oh, five days? And that’s too long without. It’s overplayed for a reason. Because it fucking rules.
Nice and well made album. I’m familiar with Stairway to heaven since my early years and I believe it is a masterpiece, though other songs from the album are just fine. Going to California is catchy.
I was introduced to Led Zeppelin through this album, about 30 years ago. It's always been my favourite album of theirs.
If it keeps on rainin', the levee's going to break...
A monolith of hard rock, perhaps the tightest record ever produced. Folk elements are also grand.
Led zeppelin always good again not something I would listen on purpose but if it came on I would listen
::checks notes from high school::
Black Dog - Got to know this song because of fandom and Sirius Black specifically, always a banger when it comes on in my playlist! Rock and Roll - Listening to this songs I just feel like doing the twist in a 50s American diner or something cliche like that, it's a nice tune and I'm pretty sure I'd heard it before somewhere as well The Battle of Evermore - This song just gives me all the D&D bard vibes, something that wouldn't be out of place in a renfair for sure Stairway to Heaven - A banger, a classic, 10/10, want to give this album 5 stars for this song alone, I am supremely biased towards it, the car sing-a-longs with my parents were never complete without it Misty Mountain Hop - This really just feels like a song about getting high in a park with strangers and I'm happy for them I guess, I would shimmy along to this at a club after a couple of drinks Four Sticks - Possibly the weakest song in this album for me, it's not bad, just a bit forgettable Going to California - The deeper voice and calmer vibe threw me off after the last song, it was a nice wind down before the finale When the Levee Breaks - Boy am I glad that American Pie taught me what a levee was so I was ready to tackle this song! And if the previous song was about California we are now in Chicago and honestly even though I've never been to either I hear the vibes match. Overall I liked this song, felt like something I'd listen to in the back of a live music bar while enjoying a drink (can you tell by now I know literally nothing about music genres and just go off vibes and relate things to either fandoms or my personal experience?)
Black Dog - I've never heard this before, but it was very familiar... because the long-running Reeves & Mortimer quiz show Shooting Stars uses bits from this when introducing the scoremaster. Strange to have heard something hundreds of times over the years while having no idea where it originated from! Rock and Roll - Just a nice simple rock and roll song; fine to listen to but leaves no lasting impression, even mere minutes after listening to it. The Battle of Evermore - and so, the filk part of the record begins. This could have been quite epic, but they chose to go very simple and stripped back with the arrangement - which I guess is period appropriate, but I'd be interested to hear what this would be like with a couple of wailing electric guitars added in. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zep's magnum opus, and indeed one of the greatest tracks ever recorded. Can't really say anything about it that's not been said before, so will just highly recommend Jeroen Offerman's recording of it (search YouTube for Stairway at St Paul's"), where he sings the whole thing backwards and reverses the video to turn it back the right way round. Misty Mountain Hop - musically really interesting - I like the "chanting" bit where each note is the same length and the notes don't quite fit into the chords. Four Sticks - argh, they've got a bit prog here for the last of the filky section, the rhythm is all strange and truncated; if the previous song was a song a hobbit would compose, this is a song an orc would compose. Going to California - very pretty. When the Levee Breaks - wailing and wahing all over the place, very nice.
Zeppelin was never my thing. And the more of their albums I get on this list really makes me question the state of music when they were making these albums. They are very consistent but they all can’t be considered the best of all time can they. None of their albums stands above the others to me. It’s fine music but nothing more. And why is stairway so amazing to so many people?
Led Zeppelin is without a doubt one of the greatest rock bands to ever exist - they've been in my personal top 5 favorite band lists since I was probably 12 years old. This, however, is Zeppelin at their worst. The album starts with two of the worst songs in their catalog and is followed by an LOTR folk song pastiche (all things considered, still a pretty good song). Stairway to Heaven is fine, but at this point has become almost a parody of an "epic" song. Misty Mountain Hop and Four Sticks are amazing, but Robert Plant offers some of his shrillest vocals, so points off there. Going to California is a return to form, featuring one of his best vocal performances, and When the Levee Breaks is all things cool about Led Zeppelin.
Now this is where Led Zeppelin really starts in on the Tolkien Rock stage of their existence. It's one of my favorites of theirs but what I really do love is this note from Discogs regarding the title. "The fourth Led Zeppelin album released on November 8, 1971, intentionally left untitled, with no indication it was by Led Zeppelin on original release - although many have commonly referred to it as "Led Zeppelin IV", "Zoso", "Symbols" or other unofficial titles. On Discogs, the title of this release is "Untitled", unless specifically titled otherwise, i.e. "Led Zeppelin" or "IV" (as some later versions)."
I just don't get on with Plant's voice/noises, however this is my favourite studio album of theirs, but it won't trouble my shelves because the Greatest Hits compilation that I do have, perfectly serves my Zeppelin needs. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 ★★★☆☆(6/10) Total reviewed : 351 Already owned : 78 Purchased : 16 To buy : 3 Nope : 254
Where do I even BEGIN with this one. Oh my GOD. Stairway to Heaven is one of the songs on this album and it quite possibly is the greatest rock song in existence. I know it gets overused alot and played out as jokes for Guitar Centers but SWtH is a masterpiece in every meaning of the word. Jimmy Page's solo is immaculate, despite kicking in very late, and is for sure one of the blueprints for modern rock.
боже харашо ну леж зепелін імба хто б казав інше 4.5
Great
I understand the hype. I would play it as background noise tho
Some albums I have just heard so many time they feel natural to me. I don't get excited by them, I feel like I am drinking water. But it doesn't happen to most of this album, no matter how many thousands of times I've listened to this. Even after all this time I get the excitement when showing this album to someone who hasn't heard it before. Almost like letting someone in on a secret - but this is no secret. Everyone know how big this album is.
Bliss
Would I listen again: yes Enjoyed stairway (as many do) and got along with the style and musical choices for the most part.
prolly haven't listened to this in decades, early 20s or late teens. i've always loved it, but i think now i appreciate side 2 even more so than before. "misty mountain top" into "four sticks" is pure genius
Sinceramente empezó muy bueno, las primeras canciones eran muy estilo rock, guitarras, cantos y mas, pero cuando fue transcurriendo el album, sentí que me aburría, o que no me generaba algo muy grande como otros albumes. El album tiene buena instrumental si, eso no se niega, pero no es un album que compraría en vinilo por ejemplo, o un album que escucharia porque quiero. A diferencia de los anteriores albumes que evalúe, este no creo que esté cerca del 4, pero no es tan malo como para dejarlo debajo del 3. Además, siento que el hecho de colocar canciones al inicio de un estilo distinto a las que vienen, genera la idea que todo lo que viene es asi, pero no.
Led Zeppelin were a band I listened to a fair bit in the 80’s and 90’s. Still do occasionally, but alas not as often these days. I was always amused that Stairway to Heaven used to top Capital Radios 500 most popular songs pretty much year-on-year in the mid-80’s despite never having been released as a single. The joys of a public vote! Stairway to Heaven was also on of our go-to jukebox tracks - especially if someone in the pub had pissed us off as we’d just load it up on repeat and leave them to it. But I digress. This album is a really good and has some great tracks on it. Very pleased to have it turn up on this list and for the excuse to give it another spin.
I know most of the songs, they're mostly really good but for some reason it's not an album (or a band) I ever go to listen to - I'm not really sure why!
A classic, nothing else that can be said about it that hasn’t already been said.
Un discazo. Para su época es espectacular
It’s not in my record collection, but I pretty much know the whole album from the radio.
III kreeg 3 sterren, IV krijgt 4 sterren
De 1-2 punch van Black Dog en Rock and Roll om het album mee af te trappen is zo vet. Stairway to Heaven natuurlijk beetje te vaak gehoord, maar afsluiter When The Levee Breaks is ook grootse highlight, wat een mooie plaat. Ruimste 4 sterren.
This was really cool. I recognized a lot of the songs not knowing they were Led Zeppelin. The sleeper hit was Going to California which I thought was a nice contrast compared to the rest of the album which was heavier rock.
I understand the hype for LZ IV. It turns out I already knew most of the songs, and I found that I enjoyed most of them in the context of the record. A lot of the tendencies that I disliked about LZ II are gone, but a few of the things I enjoyed about LZ III are also gone. Altogether, it's a solid release.
So not as good as I thought it would be. A lot of bluesy/country style music which I know is their big influences but not what I consider Led Zeppelin
I remember in high school believing this was the greatest album ever made, as an adult I hear a solid album with plagiarized music and a lot of goofy lyrics. Even the best songs are just plagiarizing Tolkien
A classic
They put all bangers on one album! Seriously it felt like every good led zeppelin song was on here.
I would have loved to have seen them live, they’re so tight and on it here. I do know someone who saw them at Knebworth who claims there was a guitarist in the wings covering for Jimmy Page as he was in the midst of an alcohol problem. This album is immense, not a dud track to be heard. They had some kind of alchemy going on, maybe there was something in the Aleister Crowley obsession…
Didn’t love
Decent album overall.
duh
Pure gas
This was great. Favourite Track(s): Black Dog, Stairway to Heaven Least Favourite Track(s): Going to California
Very good
One of the epitomes of rock
I mean it's LZ4. There's a reason we're sick of hearing all these songs. Classic. Which actually makes the album hard to rate. You can't listen to this with fresh ears. Stairway still gives me chills though.
The one album that keeps American rock radio stations alive.
10/10 For me, this is where Led Zeppelin peaked. The range of styles that they cover across the record, from folk to blues to metal, add great depth and variety, while always maintaining the inherent tonal quality that makes it sound like no other band. This is undeniably Led Zeppelin, and what's particularly great about that is that every member of the band plays a part in that sound. Robert Plant's vocals and Jimmy Page's guitar obviously take the spotlight, but there is exceptional work from the rhythm section too. Bonham's perfectly arranged and considered drum work treads the fine line between restraint and balls-to-the-wall action perfectly. John Paul Jones' solid and underrated bass work pins the groove, adds weight and a rock-solid centre, while also finding the time to add moments of flair and nuance to his playing. And he does great work with his secondary instruments, too. It's a real journey of an album, kicking off in fast and furious fashion with a sublime one-two punch of an opener, before letting you catch your breath through the more considered and fantasy folk-inspired Battle Of Evermore. And then they hit you with one of the greatest songs of all time. Yes, it's overplayed, yes, it's a cliche, but it's still phenomenal work, and I don't think I'll ever tire of it. The second half, while not quite up to the obscene standards of the first, brings us bucketloads of swagger, drive and some further development of the vibe and atmosphere, experimenting with some slightly psychedelic twinges, some cool uses of uneven meter and more of that characteristic weight and groove. It's really great stuff that barely lets up at any point. Even the drumless tracks manage to maintain great momentum and rhythm through the staccato elements of the guitar and mandolin work. It's all pretty epic stuff and, while there is great value in the vast majority of Led Zeppelin's catalogue, for me their first three albums are a steady build towards this, an album of great scope, vast quality and beautiful coherence, all wrapped up in a perfect 42 minute, 8 track package. Black Dog - An iconic and exceptional start. the call and response between Plant and the rest of the band is sensational. There's so much drive and swagger to this and it rolls and moves through different sections with such ease and cool. The riffs are heavy and groovy, the vocal is full of attitude and skill, and the rhythm section just deliver everything you could ask for. Pure brilliance. Rock And Roll - What a one two punch. This is much more of a straightforward structure with a more routine rock and roll style, but it absolutely slaps. Heavy, driven and with just the right edge of groove and swagger, it's just so much fun. Everything about the performances and production is exactly the right combination of grit and talent. The Battle Of Evermore - And we're off to fantasy land now. It's a great change of pace after the full-blooded opening duo, and while it is a touch on the long side, there are some lovely pieces of melody and harmony from Plant and Sandy Denny, and the vibe and atmosphere are excellent. It's very rhythmically inclined despite the lack of drums, thanks to the staccato mandolin. And it's great that these rock superstars were just massive nerds too. Stairway To Heaven - It's iconic and overplayed for a reason, with its slow and considered build and gorgeous blend of melody and harmony. It runs on brilliantly from Evermore too in the context of the album. Every part is pretty much perfect, with John Bonham playing with the kind of restraint and nuance that he's not often credited with, and John Paul Jones laying down some excellent bass work. By the end, it's picked up pace and drive and, of course, we get that iconic Jimmy Page solo. What a brilliant song. Misty Mountain Hop - There's a lot of swagger to this. The double-tracked vocals are excellent, in that Plant is so close between the two takes at points that the effect drifts in and out in a really nice way. I really rate the electric piano on this one, too, as it adds an extra dimension to the sound. There's a great groove to the track, and everyone gets their moment to show off. It's perhaps a touch on the long side, but I'm nitpicking slightly really. Four Sticks - A lovely 5/4 riff with rolling drums and a four-bar break into 3/4 before a full section of 3/4. It pulls the ear around beautifully without sounding jarring, which is always a skill when dealing with odd meters. It's got quite a psychedelic, almost proggy edge to it, while also delivering weight and punch at the right moments. Another decent change of pace that still maintains the core tone of the record. Going To California - And now we get something with a bit more melodic focus. It's drifting and pretty and, as with Evermore, does a great job of having good rhythm through the guitar work despite the lack of drums. It's really atmospheric, and the production does a good job of giving the sound depth. Really nice stuff. When The Levee Breaks - And Bonham comes back in with a closer that has such an iconic drum line. Obviously, this one is a cover, but the band really make it their own, and Plant's vocal is superb. The whole thing has such groove and swagger to it. It pulses and soars, and the different lines that sweep around each other are so interesting and have great musical range. It's a long one, but it feels cool, considered, and full of deserved self-confidence that it just drags you along with it for the full 7 minutes. A brilliant ending.
It's alright.
Love the 2 opening songs, “Black Dog” and “Rock and Roll.” I no longer care for “Stairway to Heaven” or the “Battle of Evermore.” “When the Levee Breaks” still holds up for me and “Four Sticks” has grown on me over the years. All in all, not surprised it’s on the best of list. I prefer rocking Led Zeppelin to their quieter fare Even the songs I no longer enjoy are done well.
Does anything more need to be said about this album? Every instrument is played masterfully, Zeppelin combine their love of blues, folk and Tolkien and end up with one of the most beloved albums of all time. There's not a wasted second on here and there isn't anything that I would changed. It might get tiring to hear this get mentioned in the greatest album ever conversation along with other records like Dark Side Of The Moon, Abbey Road and Rumours, but it is really that good.
Is there even a question? Easily one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It’s as perfect as it gets. There’s not much more to say.
It’s a great album. I don’t love every track so it’s not a 5 for me, which i know is a crime to say considering how many people love it. Still great though.
Tämä levy on ollut jo 80-luvun puolesta välistä omasta levyhyllystä. Zepukoiden tuotanto on läpikotaisin tuttu ja sitä tulee kuunneltua säännöllisin väliajoin. Tälläkään levyllä ei ole yhtään huonoa biisiä. 6/5
Always been a favourite! 1-4 by Zeppelin are all 5 stars in my opinion
I think this is not really their best work, but that closer is all time. 3 + 1 for meeting notability guidelines.
easily one of the best albums from them. I have not heard many others, but here are Stairway to Heaven and Black Dog. And beside them, I find it so engaging how each song has something interesting to say musically: the groove, the melody, the concept. I find each of them remarkable in some way
Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Going to California Date listened: 3/06/26 Listen when: Annoyed
Maybe not too many standout tunes outside of Stairway to Heaven but that’s an all timer and just a really cool sound to the whole album.
The height of their mastery puts us on the stairway to heaven
Favorite Track: Stairway to Heaven
My dad said it was their best album and I can believe him even without hearing anything else from Led Zeppelin
Knew this would be a 5 before even listening. Incredible how many jams are on here
stairway to heaven carryeeeeee, fakke også litt med going to california
Forgot how much I like Stairway to Heaven. The songs that hit hit hard, but the other ones are a little clunky. Very good time though.
I’ll be so honest. This album has stairway to heaven on it. If it was that and then 2 hours of fart sounds it would still be 5 stars. The others songs are good too tho, doesn’t go above five tho unfortunately.
's pretty good
You could certainly argue that Led Zep have too many albums in here too but if you asked most people, I think this would be the one that they would choose, as it's generally considered their best. I'm fairly new to the band, other than a few of their hits. It wasn't until 2014-2015, when I started collecting vinyl and very quickly found their first 3 albums on vinyl. It wasn't until 2023 when I bought this and over time, it's slowly becoming one of my faves of their's too. Just 8 great songs, all killer, no filler!
A fantastic cover. This is silly, heightened, fun. They are shredding like their lives depend on it. Lots of this is so famous that I had no idea I knew it already. Aw, they’re talking about Ring Wraiths. DWEEBS! It’s not really my thing but compared to other albums I’ve heard from this time in this sort of genre the lyrics are refreshingly interesting. At this stage, I appreciate competence.
If, by committing to this project and getting this far in your life that you're listening and writing reviews for albums, you have not heard THIS ALBUM yet, you need to reevaluate your life choices. Everyone who is enthusiastic about music will have heard and know at the very minimum the hits from this album, if not every single track. I played this album almost every day one summer as I found it in my dad's record collection, and probably wore the vinyl out. It's that good. It never ages. It's a classic for a reason. My rating: 5/5
Emotional das Beste. Wenn dieses eine Lied nicht wäre. deshalb nur 5/5
What a classic this is. Just before my time, so actually already passé in my youth.
Well, I really dont have anything bad to say about this one. At one point I thought it might go a little glam-rocky, but I'm happy that it did not. Solid 5 probably
3.8
Ok…. HELL YEAH
Ledddddddd Zeppelin!! Fuck yeah. Music worthy of a list, and more importantly music worthy of your mind and soul’s time.
zajebiste troche zapominalam sie wsluchac bo pisalam z alima wiec przydalby sie relisten od razu ale ogl to mega myslalam ze bedzie sraka a nie byla
i meannn, perfect, nothing else to say, theres so many lefendary songs on here
Some absolute classics on here, there’s no denying that. I connected with IV less than other Led Zeppelin albums though. Still fantastic though obviously.
Probably my least favorite of the good Zeppelin albums, and still a pretty easy 5.
Okey my first idea of this album is what a classical sounds. Ofcorse i didnt listen any classical rock music so i am newly listner but two songs in the album is amazing. First is stairway to heaven and albums last song when levee breaks amazing i love it
Best song: #1 Black Dog
It's probably one of my all-time-fave rock albums that I can listen to from start to finish--classic!
I don’t normally listen to this style of rock, so it was difficult getting into. But I’m doing this challenge to expand my music taste, so I can’t really complain. My favorite tracks were Going to California and Misty Mountain Hop.
Какие сытные здесь барабаны в последнем треке
An air guitar classic
Every so often I'll listen to a bit of Led Zeppelin to see if I still dislike them as much as I think I do. Yep, they're still massively not my thing.
FFS…Tom. Not the very worst of the LZ albums thus far but very close, I shudder to think how many more there will be to endure. One star.
What we have here is one of the great albums in rock. All eight tracks are good, and then there are songs like Stairway to Heaven and When the Levee Breaks that are outright brilliant. The only reason it’s not a 5 is because hard rock like this isn’t necessarily by bread and butter, and because lyrics at points feel lacking in depth.
Buen disco, tiene tracks memorables que para nada son sobrevalorados, sinceramente no soy fan de sus tracks mas alternativos.
Black Dog, Rock and Roll, and Stairway to Heaven are such well-known classics that it's not really hard to see why this album is so beloved. Even outside of those, there are some really good songs here. Misty Mountain Hop and When the Levee Breaks are both fantastic as well. Absolutely an album worth listening to.
I really did not like The Battle of Evermore, other than that it was a pretty damn near perfect album. The instrumentals are otherworldly and the vocals enhance it all the way through. Just can’t give it 5 stars because I shouldn’t dislike a specific song that much from a 5-star album.
Absolute masterpiece. Thought not even their best.
Their best album, just a beautiful and epic portrayal of life in a fantastical way, at least thats what i get from it. Standouts are Stairway to Heaven (obviously), Misty Mountain Hop and When The Levee Breaks.
This might be the easiest 5* on the list. Eight songs, eight massive hits, eight musical masterpieces, eight wildly different styles, and eight songs I'd listen to on infinite loop.
Drr, I suppose I should be a fan of Led Zep but for some strange reason they do not move me...
Yeah, this is funky and fun as always. I will probably never listen to this again and have already forgotten it but it probably made me look cool as I rolled up to the toll booth this morning, so there's that.
BEST ALBUM EVERRR
What a vibe! All good songs.
It’s got some good songs on it, I think Stairway to Heaven is one of the all time most overrated songs of all time though
I think this is my own POP's favorite Zep album and is certainly in his top 5 all time albums. I heard it so many times growing up that there really was no moment I can recall where I "discovered" Led Zeppelin, they were always already there. We know that some things lose their luster with time. They no longer shimmer in the light like they once did and whatever strong feelings they once evoked have dulled. Sometimes I feel this way about the band overall, like they just don't have the punch they once did. And how do I feel about this album now that I've heard more clarified and powerful examples of all of the kinds of songs you can get from this record: rock and roll, blues, hard rock, fairy folk, etc.? It's the broadest and best of Zep with a good range of styles across its 8 songs / 43 mins and yet, and yet, picking it up again today I felt like I had to clean something off, a crust of cultural production, polish it up with a bit of listening effort (and more volume). Black Dog didn't immediately grab me by the collar like it had in the past. Here we could spend more bits and bytes reacting to the record but suffice it to say that there is something at the intersection of the listener and the sound wave — a special ZoSo magick — that keeps many of us coming back whether it sparks brightly on its own or needs a little dusting off at times. Stars: a four today, a five tomorrow? The sky is filled with good and bad / Mortals never know...
Strong contender for "best Led Zeppelin album". There isn't much to say - almost every song is a classic. Every time I listen to this album, I'm surprised by how well it withstood the test of time, even for songs that have been overplayed to death like Stairway To Heaven. It's hard to imagine this was released 55 years ago. I don't listen to this as much as I used to, but it remains an era-defining album. The magic still works for me, at least. 9/10
So much to say, such little time. One of my favourite and even the somewhat cheesy/ too easy Stairway to Heaven is a masterpiece of gradual build up. The legendary when the levee breaks and its iconic drum recording with loop effect in the hall of the castle where they wre recording... Good times indeed.
The definitive Led Zeppelin album: exciting, strangely joyful, and totally universal. Yet the cover, or songs like “The Battle of Evermore,” give it something strangely intimate too. It’s massive, but it still feels alive and fun. Hard to argue with this one.
“Zep time 4: led zep fury road” So I took February and March off from thinking about Led Zeppelin at all, because I wasn’t going to be listening to ROBERT PLANT’S voice during BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH. Then in April I wrote a really great review of this album but it was deleted because the site reloaded before I could save it. Discouraged, I took a month and a half off from any Led Zeppelin related stuff. And then I got this album for the “1001 Albums You Must Listen To Before You Die” album generator, and I, not wanting to break the run of Zep time reviews, rushed to the RYM review box to review this project. And lemme just say, this is their first genuinely great album, hands down. “Black Dog” is a great opener. Though I prefer “2122,” which is the opener off of Geese’s 3D Country and is directly derived from “Black Dog,” it’s still an incredible opener and a great way to start off this album. I mean, Plant’s vocals are the best they’ve ever been!! And I mean that! Then we have “Rock and Roll,” which, obviously, slaps SO hard. The rawness of the guitars and the vocals is great, and it’s just a driving song that really provides some serious momentum. After that is “The Battle of Evermore” which is a pretty underrated song that actually has some awesome melodies and vocal passages. I love the end of that song too, it’s super intense in a really great way. And then comes what’s arguably the best song on this album the legendary “Stairway to Heaven.” Iconic, every second. The intro, the vocals, the strummy riff, when the drums come in, everything is insanely good. It’s a simply unbelievable song and it takes the A-side to the next fucking level. Opening up the B-side is “Misty Mountain Hop,” which while being one of the less favorable songs on the album, is still respectable and great. Just kinda basic and not at all memorable and uhh… worst vocals on the album. But then we have “Four Sticks,”which is also kinda memorable except for IT’S IN MY FAVORITE TIME SIGNATURE!!! Ily 5/4 you make everything okay 🥰 then is “Going to California” which is a really pretty, sweet little folksong that Plant sings bearably, which is impressive for him. It’s pretty. It fills time well. And then is “When The Levee Breaks,” which is the best “cover” zep ever, EVER did. When you hear those drums… it’s like everything stops, and the song washes over you. It’s genuinely a transcendental experience of a song. And seven whole minutes! It’s ridiculous. Ridiculous and incredible and the perfect end to this album. So, I do indeed love this album. Easily the best Zep album so far, and one of the highest 9s I’ve ever given. Like, the sequencing? And the vocals? The guitar tones? The DRUM TONES???? Duuuuude don’t even play. This album is ridiculous and deserves pretty much all the praise it gets. 9.7/10
This is a vinyl I already owned, so I threw it on for a fresh listen Going in, I expected to see this album as pretty average - yes Stairway to heaven is an incredible track, but so much of Zeppelin's music feels old and stale. Glad that a fresh listen proved me wrong While hearing the first few tracks, I was reminded of why I ever bought the vinyl in the first place - this album and these tracks are ultimate comfort. Hearing that famous opening riff on black dog, hearing the ongoing cacophonous drum beat of rock and roll, hearing the smooth, mellow slide guitar against the screeching harmonica on when the levee breaks feels so familiar, yet so calming. I've heard these tracks (among many other zeppelin tracks) hundreds of times, yet I know and recognize the intricacies of each as if they're the back of my hand. In between the known tracks, the (relatively) calmer, lesser known tracks provide an excellent buffer to bring me back down to earth. Going to California feels like longing to drop everything and move across the country. Misty mountain hop feels like spending a Sunday afternoon together with close friends. Battle of evermore feels like a ballad which could have been the groups defining track. That brings me to the core of this album, what would actually become the groups defining track and a defining track of early-to-mid era rock and roll, stairway to heaven. Similar to the hits of this album, I've heard it hundreds of times before. However, hearing the first few faint guitar plucks, hearing the backing woodwind section, hearing Robert plant sing the first few lyrics, all feels like I'm listening to it again for the first time. Each of the major parts of the song feels like I'm a kid again - hearing the guitar give off more of an electric sound, hearing the drums crash in, hearing the riff which signals the transition between smooth, classic beats and a legendary guitar solo all feels familiar, yet gives me the sense of getting to enjoy it for the first time. This album is truly special. There's a reason people are still listening to it 50+ years later, and it's because led Zeppelin created a goddamn masterpiece
Very good
Favourite Songs: When The Levee Breaks
This project really has some surprising aspects. On the one hand, I’m discovering new music that makes me wonder why I didn’t listen to it much earlier. Then I listen to albums where I don’t understand why they’re supposed to be special. With Led Zeppelin, the thing is, I’ve always enjoyed listening to the band, but it’s only now that I’ve realized I’ve been a fan for a long time. I didn’t own this album myself until much later, but I listened to it often at friends’ houses when I was younger. I can’t figure out why I didn’t spend my allowance on this record. An all-around great album that I love listening to over and over again. 5/5
This might be LZ's most legendary album. One of my favorite aspects of LZ continues to be how satisfying the drum/string parts intertwine to create satisfying syncopation and evoke polyrhythmic feeling, like in Black Dog or Misty Mountain top. the Battle of Evermore and Going to California were also highlights for me
How to rate this? Although I've never owned the album, I'm plenty familiar with most (all?) of the tunes esp. on side 1. However, I've only just learned/realized that the singer duetting with Plant on 'Evermore' is the late, great Sandy Denny, who I like quite a bit, esp. from her work with Fairport Convention (speaking of whom: I hope we get one of their albums). And, unlike tracks 1, 2, and 4 (which have been played to death on the radio, over the past 55 years), I've only occasionally heard 'Evermore' - so, for that reason, and because of Sandy Denny, and the mandolin on it, too, it's easier to appreciate that one. The biggest obstacle to me liking LZ, always, has been Robert Plant's voice. I've made my peace with it (more or less), but I still don't love it. And then, deep down, there are still some vestiges of my initial/early dislike, due not only to Plant's voice, but also to hearing LZ on the radio so much, plus maybe some sort of tribal reaction against the (very white and male) tribe of people in middle and high school (and "classic rock" dj's) who were LZ fans (i.e., thinking, subconsciously, that if *they* like it, it's probably not for me). Ok, anyway, to rate this: extra points for mandolins, and Tolkien (?) references, and Sandy Denny. Deductions for Plant's voice, and over-exposure. And -- trying to set aside my longstanding aversion (which I've mostly already discarded) -- 4 stars seems right. Favorite tracks are Evermore, Misty Mountain, and Going to California (note that Evermore and California both feature mandolin). And the last track, Levee, is good, too. So, yeah, a solid 4 stars. Would I have given it 5 stars, if I'd never heard it before? Who can say?! (But I'd still have had to grapple with Plant's singing. ;) )
first of all, you gotta play it loud. second, this album suffers from success, and most notably from it's use in car commercials. Like The College Dropout, this is one of the first albums I remember listening to. One of the CDs I co'opted from dad I guess. I had kinda grown tired, maybe even dismissive of it because I had listened to it so much over the years. But I cannot deny that it's a fantastic album. This is the sound that defined rock and roll for me. I don't really care if they're stealing from what came before. The sound is incredible. This is my favorite LZ material because it combines folk fantasy and distorted guitars. It's fantastical rock music like Fleet Foxes and I haven't found much else like it. The more acoustic songs are beautiful and welcome contrast to the ruckus. Plant's vocals also sound better than they ever did. I think they're being layered a lot of the time and the effects are excellent. I must reiterate, it won't sound good if it's too quiet.
One thing before I start complaining: the album is good because all the individual members are very talented and know how to play their instruments. However, that doesn't necessarily have to add up to a record I love. I have a few problems with this one. First of all, I think these guys are at their best when they make this raw, energetic, a bit rough around the edges hard rock. By comparison, this album is more cleanly produced which I can see appealing to some, but not as much to me personally. There is flashes of that energy here, like in the insane circling rhythms of Black Dog, but generally I find most of this album less interesting than some of their earlier stuff. Then there are the vocals, which are unfortunately rough at times. Robert Plant has never been my favorite singer and it's especially apparent on songs like Rock and Roll or Four Sticks that his abilities are a bit limited. Finally, one thing that bothers me about all LedZep albums really: the lyrics. While usually I don't listen to them much, I just get triggered when I hear people say shit like: oh, lyrics used to be so much better, nowadays songs are just about nothing. If someone ever says that to me I will throw them a copy of this album in the face. Let's face it, most of the lyrics are complete bullshit and describe some weird sex fantasies and metaphors. The funny thing is, they made one song that actually has a meaningful message and guess what? It became their biggest, most recognizable anthem. While I do have a lot of complaints about this album, I have to say that When The Levee Breaks is an incredible song, that drum beat is just so good and feels very ahead of its time. Overall tho I find the album really overrated and it wouldn't even make it into my top 3 of their records. I would rate it a 7/10, but with the amount of ranting I just did it has to get 3 stars.
How can I praise this album in a way I haven't before? ... uh, let's see ... Straight bangers, back to back!
I mean, is there any other rating to give this?
It's not an album that I'm going to revisit much, but what else can you give this album. Also, Going to California is my favorite Led Zeppelin song, along with Bron-Yr-Aur.
My reaction on seeing the album come up: “Oh, sure, Zep 4, easy 5 rating. Wait, I forgot Black Dog *and* Rock and Roll are on this one. Can I go higher than 5?” Such a pleasure to listen to it start to end. I thought long ago that I'd filled my lifetime Stairway quota, but that was apparently wrong. It deserves every bit of its overplay during the album rock FM years of my youth, and every one of its 1.3 billion plays on Spotify, and whatever other airing it gets. Every other song on IV is a classic too. This isn't even my favorite Zeppelin album (that would be Physical Graffiti, and yes I'll be pissed off if that's not on this list) but it's perfect.
5/5 - The most classic of classic rock albums? Probably. My nostalgia for the album is endless, but I'd still listen to it any day. From the opening call of Black Dog to the relentless pounding of When the Levee Breaks, this is great.
First Led album I bought, listened to over and over, great time to blast. Truly a band that gets better with volume, as high as tolerable for best results. They were pretty transcendent here.
As discussed in the chat, I like Zeppelin a lot more than I realized before starting this list. That said, this album didn't hit as hard as III did for me. Battle of Evermore was a bit of a bore and I think the novelty of Stairway to Heaven is just so far gone at this point that its appeal isn't as great as it could be. Black Dog, Rock and Roll, and Misty Mountain Hop are all jams tho.
Might even be better than Zeppelin 3 but either way, both 5 stars
it was good
An impact that is lessened by the release of Paranoid, but a certainly solid rock album worth listening through
fuckin wild that you could put the songs on this in any order and it would still be ☆☆☆☆☆ the drums on"when the levee breaks" deserve a nobel, a Ramon Magsaysay,a Victoria cross, and fields medal.
It’s amazing and everyone knows it.
Ну тут слов не хватит описать, насколько это важный альбом для музыки вообще. Одна из лучших групп в истории на своем абсолютном пике. Разнообразие материала зашкаливает, при этом каждый трек - идеальное попадание. Один из величайших риффов в Black Dog, одна из самых известных рок-баллад (что-то там про лестницы), невероятно крутое и качовое исполнение старенькой When The Levee Breaks, поразительно красивая переносящая в средневековье The Battle of Evermore, даже вроде бы стандартная с музыкальной точки зрения Rock and Roll так круто исполнена, что каверы на нее до сих пор выходят в огромном количестве. Этому альбому действительно не нужно было официальное название, чтобы взорвать индустрию и навсегда остаться в истории как одно из величайших творений рок-музыки.
Хайп. The Battle of Evermore и Going to California очень понравились. Бриты сверхлюди.
несмотря на главный хит, который слушать у меня уже нет сил, проходных песен на альбоме для меня нет, все очень хорошо, еще одна 5ка, просто рад был в очередной раз переслушать шедевр
My favorite of their albums. Probably their best.
This album is an all-timer for a reason. Every song an anthem, not a single misstep.
Like a good friend, this album is always there for you
Took them a while to settle down into their sound prior to this but the result is solid.
A classic album, some big hitters on this album. Surprisingly concise and very re listenable
Very Nice album!
Glorious
Is it brilliant, is it overblown wank? At times, it's both.
Much better effort from the lads on this one, well done. Weirdly feels like I've never heard the end of Stairway to Heaven, how can this be?? Feels like a different tune, anyway, solid album.
Really good album. All killer, no filler
Near prefect, Zepplin 4 is just hit after heavy hit
yeah, 5/5. Easily. Some amazing reviews in here, nothing to add for me.
This is pretty good but I felt like I had had enough by the end of side one, which was Stairway To Heaven, which I have never cared for. The Battle Of Evermore was a new discovery for me, and I enjoyed it, especially Sandy Denny's vocals. All the rest comes across as a bit goofy and pretentious, especially crediting themselves with symbols instead of names. (Which two of them just picked out of a book, truly phoning it in. It really makes me think it was Jimmy Page's thing and the others couldn't be bothered to argue him out of it. I know that Spinal Tap is my go-to reference in all things rock and roll, but honestly these symbols and the band's presumed disinterest just remind me of the aborted zodiac masks concept.)
Prooooobably the best led zep, but as covered before, not a huge fan Good, decent, short enough. Fine
Great album, not my fave led Zep but still a classic
Every song is incredible. I think the one I liked the least is Four Sticks. There’s something about it that doesn’t hit me like the others do but it’s still a masterful piece of music. Great album. Great band.
10/10
There’s a good argument to be made that 1971 was the best year for music since the invention of the gramophone. This album is a prime example of a good album being more than the sum of its parts. It’s not perfect by any means - Stairway to Heaven plods along for just a bit too long and let’s face it, however good John Bonham’s drumming is, When The Levee Breaks is still a bunch of white guys playing delta blues. However the rest of the album more than makes up for these petty cavils, with a mix of stomping rock’n’roll and quieter numbers, with a bit of Tolkien-esque elves and goblins folderol prog thrown in for good measure. Speaking of which, The Battle of Evermore is notable for featuring the great Sandy Denny and it’s a shame that she didn’t get to do more with the band as her vocals are a perfect complement for Robert Plant’s.
Delightful. I’ve been for long waiting for a classic masterpiece to get recommended to my feed.
very exciting, love the guitar and the lyrics, just not my style of music
i like it
Im sadly not big on Led Zepplin, but man there's some all-time bangers on there
When you put aside all the 'greatest ever' nonsense that surrounds both the band and this album, this is a really good record. Yes, I occasionally get a little tired of some of the songs, and Stairway is over-praised and over-played, but when the guitar solo in that song starts, or the first drum hit thunders on When The Levee Breaks, or the Jew's harp opening to the album leads into "Hey Hey Mama" on Black Dog, it can still raise the pulse. The album is never less than good, sometimes overblown, sometimes exactly what is required. Today I noticed just how idiotic the lyrics in 'Misty Mountain Hop' are, but how wonderful the guitars under the OOO-OOH fade out are.
It’s become fashionable to bash Led Zeppelin, this album, and “Stairway to Heaven“. After all, much of the punk ethos of the mid-70s was a backlash to the bloated excesses of multiple performers (sometimes including Led Zep themselves) trying to copy/re-create/outdo this album. But forget all that. This is just a great album. Led Zeppelin sets out to make a rock tour de force as in “we’re going to show you how to play rock ‘n’ roll” and then does exactly that. The blues-based call and response of “Black Dog” opens the album, followed by the loud/fast warping of Chuck Berry that is “Rock and Roll”. Next comes the medieval/fantasy “Battle of Evermore” with its delicate guitar/mandolin sound. The side ends with “Stairway”, which comes across as a suite, with its opening acoustic section, a different middle, and then ending with a hard rock coda. For better or worse, “Bohemian Rhapsody“ doesn’t exist without this one showing the way. Side two opens with the iconic riff of “Misty Mountain Hop” while Robert Plant sings us a funny story about a riot. This is followed by the ultra heavy riff of “Four Sticks” (so named because John Bonham was bashing his kit with two mallets in each hand) with Plant wailing over the top of it. The mood lightens with the next song, the acoustic hippie anthem “Going to California” with its delicate acoustic guitar. The album closer “When the Levee Breaks” opens with a wailing harmonica over another heavy blues riff. This song sounds absolutely apocalyptic, like the world might actually end TOMORROW. This is right up there with Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower” for implied menace. Easy five stars.
Amazing album!
Overall: 10/10 I would love to write some big long review for this, but I also have absolutely nothing new or original to add to the conversation so...... Classic. Fav Song: When the Levee Breaks
ja dizia jeff buckley: "My main music influences? Love, anger, depression, joy... And Zeppelin totally."
Eu gosto desse álbum
é tipo dizer que o seu é azul
Zeitlos, geht für mich fast immer.
Super!
Masterpiece. Such diverse sounds. No two songs are alike and there are zero skips.
Oh, I could try to be contrarian. But why bother?
I know it’s a classic, but it is not that great. A few weaker tracks on side 2, if I’m not mistaken. Stairway to heaven is of course outstanding.
I know this album inside out. I haven’t listened for years because I over did it. A couple years ago I finally learned to play black dog correctly. Led Zeppelin II will always be my favorite. I will be skipping Stairway. No desire to hear that again. 😂 This album is a masterpiece. I will never understand how they used odd times, and traditional instruments and made the rock album that’s everyone’s reference point. The sound and grooves of “when the levee breaks” are just legendary.
1- 8 2- 8.30 (me hizo acordar a rock and roll y nutbush city) 3- 5 4- 9 5- 8 6- 6.30 7- 5 8- 6.30
So many great songs.
It was alright, very overrated, no bad songs, but only a few that stood out
3.5
(6 estrellas)
Really nice album.
Great album, some of their best work. Couple of averageish songs but the rest more than make up for them
Excellent album. Almost all of their best songs are from this one. Impressive!
Listened to the 180g vinyl reissue. So far ahead of its time compared to everything else I’ve heard from the list around then. Great drum mix, stellar songs.
You know what, in terms of the 60s/70s rock mush that this on this list, I really enjoyed this one! Felt less generic and had a bit of something to it. I those Led Zeppelin's are gonna make it!
I have a guilty love of Led Zep tbh, maybe it's the feeling of being in my dad's car as a child, or helping him make a Led Zeppelin song his ringtone. It's just funtimes good ol rock n roll to me!
Initially I had to get used to the sound, especially the voice of Robert Plant, it's.. sharp. So I focused on the drums more. Also, the last few songs were more interesting and for the time probably quite revolutionary. I can see where Angine de Poitrine got some inspiration. And of course.. Stairway to Heaven. I've heard it a 1001 times now. Really listened. It's a gem ok. Very familiar. But a gem.
Can't deny that this is great rock and roll. If you were ever a teenage boy (I was) there may be a specific kind of hard wiring of this music in your brain. There is a reason classic rock stations have played the shit out of this for FIFTY years.
Loistava levy kuten olettaa saattaa. Ei kuitenkaan Zeppelinin paras. 4,75/5.
personal rating: 9/10
decent blues rock but i wasn’t particularly moved..
Fine for OWG music. Like the hits
Kult
Sonaré a papá cansón, pero definitvmente Led Zeppelin logró algo con el rock desde los 70 que sigue siendo ininigualable.
4 just because of stairway and levee
I really like the first 4 songs but I fell asleep because i barely got any sleep the album was really nice other than that so I'm giving this a five stars
Tiene algunos temunes, la verdad en general me gustó mucho, capaz lo único que le criticaría es que las canciones son muuy largas.
Sometimes you dont feel like Led Zep but when you do nothing hits quite like it.
I feel as though whether you love or hate Led Zeppelin or not hinges greatly on whether you love or can't stand Plant's voice. Thankfully, I love it; it accentuates the the rock and roll feel that Led Zeppelin helped push into the future with this album. Seeing that this was released in 1971, it is years ahead of it's time, making the rock scene of the 80s look like a cheap imitation. My musical vocabulary in still in the gutter, so unfortunately cannot begin, with any tact, to describe what I loved so much about this album and each of it's songs. "Black Dog", "Stairway to Heaven" and "Going to California" were my favourites here. Simply an incredible and important rock album.
Very energetic and energizing. Must have been mind-blowing to listen when it first came out. The album doesn't have a lot of pacing or sequencing, though - it's more a selection of individual songs, each of them strong on their own merits. Their ability to compose an album with a coherent arc and meaning (instead of just songs) hasn't fully emerged.
Amazing album, I feel like Stairway to Heaven is THE rock song when you think about rock songs. I also love that Robert Plant is a Tolkien nerd.
Good album, really enjoyed it. Zeppelin is always good time and this hit the spot.
This isn't my favorite Zeppelin album, and I am a victim of too much Stairway to Heaven as a teenager, but it's still a perfect album. Genre hoping, acoustic prowess, hard as shit rock and roll, and Tolkien, glorious Tolkien references abound. Ending with When the Levee Breaks is so badass.
It's Led Zeppelin, Im not crazy for this album but I think it's probably more iconic among instrument lovers. Stairway to Heaven of course was familiar.
This is honestly the Zeppelin album that I gravitate to the least. When the Levee Breaks is a monster, Misty Mountain Hop is great, and Rock and Roll is good too. But, sorry, I'm not in love with Stairway to Heaven. The Battle of Evermore is a drag. Going to California is weaker. I'd take Four Sticks. Black Dog I get. But this is too often the pantheon of Zeppelin when in reality it should be II. I gave I a 4 star rating. I can't see giving this a 3 necessarily, but if I never put this on again, I'm not sure I'd feel lost without it.
LMFAO Led Zeppelin 2 days in a row, what are the odds (approximately 0.001%, I should buy a lottery ticket). Sorry folks, I hope I am wrong but I historically do not like Led Zeppelin as much as mos of you do. Led_Zeppelin_apology_form.pdf Yeah this rips, its really, really, good. I am so happy to be proven wrong. For whatever reason this is the first Zeppelin album I've listened to where Plant's voice doesn't make me want to punch my eardrums out. 5/5
Led Zeppelin V
Even if Stairway is overrated, this is still the best Zep album.
Stairway and Black Dog are classics! Going to California also good to hear. However, some of the other songs are too reminiscent of AC/DR'S shrieking and turn me off
Masterpiece
Perfect, brilliant, magnificent rock.
Lowkey mythological.
Tough to beat some classic rock - and it doesn’t get more classic than this! Favourite track: Stairway to Heaven
it`s ok.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but this album turned out to be overall pretty good. Definitely I’m going to listen more.
Definitely a 5 for me.
Yeah I’m sure it was good in the 70s, and they’re good at what they do. Would I listen again, maybe just the hits.
As usual, Zeppelin very much worth of the hype. Aged really good I feel.
I went through a HUGE Zeppelin phase back in college and ended up kind of burning myself out on them, so it's tough to try and listen to this with fresh ears, but even so, it's insane how stacked this album is. An easy 5/5.
A classic from beginning to end. First Zeppelin album I bought, still play it endlessly now.
Iconic band, iconic record. Four Sticks is the worst song & it's a banger. 1000/5
listened to it a while ago. incredibile album with very elevated songs and some psychedelic imo
I have this on record🤤
Epic
One of the easiest 5 star ratings out there. A stone cold classic full of stone cold classics.
You know what. They’ve won me over.
This was so close to a 5 but a couple of songs are worth skipping.
Black dog! Stairway to Heaven! When the Levee Breaks!
Solid album, loved Black Dog and Levee Break, tbh i didn’t know Les Zeppelin was from the 70’s.
Deserves this rating for stairway to heaven alone
I think I need to listen to it again to truly get it. I really liked Going to California
Buddy in college got a record player and the first 3 albums he had were Rumors, The Chronic and Led Zeppelin IV. This one got a lot of run time (they all did to be fair). When the Levee Breaks is arguably my favorite Zeppelin song.
We're not worthy!!! No skip, even the non-big hits are still fantastic.
7/10
I wonder if these guys knew they were cooking when they made this. Immaculate tracks, immaculate track order.
Z E P P E L I N
I already know I love this album so easy *****
Never got along with classic rock, but led zeppelin somehow gets away with it. I’ve never understood why everyone gets so excited about stairway to heaven. I am also not a Tolkien guy. That said, I enjoyed listening through this, and I can appreciate why it’s considered one of the best of the genre.
Fantastic album, not a single song I'd remove. Almost every song on this album is still well known today
Easy 5 star album, their best of the original run. Possibly their best album, I need to go listen to the rest of discography
The soundtrack of my years as a preteen dirtbag.
Probably the most enjoyable LZ album
This is pure math. IV ≠ 5. In fact, IV = 4
Their best work and outstanding hits/track ratio. Something is holding me back from awarding the five however. Over play? Too Boomer? I don’t want a physical copy? Just vibes? I don’t know & I’m not sure I care.
Klasyk
Amazing front to back no skips
Overrated
Just wonderful
I mean, c’mon.
Perfect album
Just classic. Know these tunes too well to not respect everything they have done for music.