Led Zeppelin IV

Before this relisten I would have probably said that 4 was overrated and Stairway sucks but, definitely not. Goes so hard and even Stairway rocks.

Thanks Dad. I miss you.

So great.

The type of album that rewires your brain in the best way possible

ABSURDO algumas músicas são grandes demais, mas no geral, o álbum é insano!

I have an embarrassing confession. I didn’t hear this album until almost 10 years after its release. I was only familiar with Stairway. Roadtripping to Albion for my first ever cross country meet. My ultra cool classmate, a migrant from Portland, OR, world-wise and profoundly less naive, popped this cassette into his portable boombox and cranked it in the van. Out came the bombast of Black Dog. I did not know what to think. The production quality was lower than stuff I was playing at the time. And it was raw. Unlike any of the highly produced pop rock from REO, Journey, Foreigner, Styx, among others that had been dancing in my ears at that time. But I reveled in it. It was like I was taking my first secret sip of alcohol or first puff of a joint. So wrong, but you couldn’t help that it somehow felt right. It was decadent. Yet, for some unknown reason, I still didn’t delve into their catalog even though I can clearly remember the first time I heard this album. The full Zeppelin came later, beginning in college. After fully embracing Zeppelin, while I enjoy this album, it is not my favorite. A sacrilegious view among rock fans. Even more sacrilegious, Stairway to Heaven probably doesn’t even break into my top 10 Zep songs. The rawness and straightforward rock of Black Dog is still my fave off this album. Even though it is not my favorite, I probably consider this album to be their first truly complete effort. Instead of feeling somewhat disjointed, this is an outstanding piece of work that flows well from beginning to end.

Probably my favorite LZ. Not much I can say that hasn’t been said before… mostly would like to echo that it’s the most fully realized of their self-titled series - feel the most like “Led Zeppelin” out of all of them while still being incredibly tight. There’s not a single inessential song or even moment on this album. In my opinion, it’s the epitome of “1001 albums to listen to before you die”. 8 perfect songs for 43 minutes of perfect music. Even if Stairway to Heaven is slightly overrated. :) I remember listening to these albums for the first time in high school and being absolutely blown away that music from the late 60s - early 70s could sound THIS good. Even with more experience listening to music from this era, I still can’t get over how timeless the production and musical style of this album feels. Probably more of a testament to LZ’s influence on hard rock and metal generally, but all still the same.

Yeah this albums amazing. I was expecting it to be overrated but it definitely wasn’t. 5 stars

stairway to heaven is probably the first English song that made me learn it's lyrics.

Nicht so gut wie III, aber trotzdem geilooo

Foundational rock guitar album. Easily one of the best albums of all time. The guitar work is top quality. Stand out tracks include stairway to heaven and black dog!

100 stars, no notes, straight up masterpiece. One of my fave albums ever.

Several classics, with Black Dog, Stairway to Heaven, and When the Levee Breaks, but there's something to like in just about every song, and there are several genres represented throughout the album (albeit with a rock tinged Led Zeppelin sound) The whole album is good, but Stairway to Heaven is on a whole other level, and almost makes the rest of the songs sound slightly worse in comparison.

One of the best all-around albums ever made. The thing that stands out the most to me about this album is how musically diverse and rich it is. Blues rock, rock n roll, sweeping epics, sweet interludes, and even some pseudo-hip hop driving beat? The rare album that is honestly as good as everyone says it is

One of my fave albums.

Perfection isn't it? I mean for me it isn't Houses of the Holy, but it is bloody great.

Doesn't get much better than this. Going to California is probably the biggest highlight in this album followed by how Black Dog and Rock and Roll flow into each other and then Stairway to Heaven.

No notes. All the jams.

A classic. Reminds me of the Chicago station that would “let the Led out” and just play Zeppelin like an hour a day.

Dit wordt eigenlijk een hele kromme rating. Ik vind lang niet elk nummer op dit album even fijn om te luisteren en ik ervaar bijvoorbeeld zo'n Four Sticks als veel te druk, maar het album waar Stairway to Heaven op staat krijgt in de context van deze lijst eigenlijk automatisch een 5. Een gevalletje 'je maakt maar zin!' dus.

A desert island album for me, personally.

Goddamnit. I'm so, so sick of the '70s rock on this list, and I have no background or interest in Zep, but this still wowed me. Maybe it's because I've already heard so many of these songs before, so I'm warmed up to them? Or because this wasn't as long or self-indulgent as I had expected? Sigh. Whatever, it's clearly a masterpiece and I'm mad about it!

The only sorta weak song on this one is Four Sticks but Going to California EASILY makes up for that

Oh come on, who doesn’t love this album?! It’s a classic for a reason.

This is THE Led Zeppelin album. Classic.

The BEST

Led Zeppelin's best album, hands down. The pastoral cover artwork with no album title or band name gives the record a mystical feeling, almost like a found relic from some sort of ancient druid society. And of course, the songs are great, too. Every single one of the eight songs on here is among the band's greatest work. A very well-balanced mix of Hard Rock, Folk, Blues, and early Heavy Metal. Even after being overplayed to death, it still resonates. Key tracks: Black Dog Rock and Roll The Battle of Evermore Stairway to Heaven When the Levee Breaks

Classic greatness

Yes

Get the LED out!!!!

One of the all-time greatest rock albums 🤘

Obvious 5. I was interested to recently learn that Sandy Denny is the backup vocalist on Battle of Evermore. So cool.

“No Stairway!? Denied!” “Stairway to Heaven” is overly ubiquitous, but the Wayne’s World gag and real life banning of the riff in guitar stores is overwrought. Despite that, “IV” is still a V, with “Battle of Evermore” and “When the Levee Breaks” as my standout favorites.

With two absolute bangers starting this album off, closing with the amazing When the Levee Breaks and with the iconic Stairway to Heaven sandwiched in between, how could this album be anything less than five stars. Zeppelin defines rock ‘n’ roll and this album defines Zeppelin.

Is Stairway to Heaven too long? Yes, but the second half of Stairway would be a top 10 LZ song in its own right. Led Zeppelin II might be my favorite album but When the Levee Breaks is the song I can't get out of my head.

This is one of Led Zeppelin’s strongest albums with LZ II and Houses Of The Holy. Seven of the Eight tracks are strong (Four Sticks being the lone exception) while there are several amazing songs. Black Dog’s call and response between vocals and instruments is great. And I love the passages where the drums and guitars are out of sync timing wise. Happy little accidents or maybe not accidents at all. Stairway To Heaven is over and under appreciated at the same time. Too many people try to go against the grain and downplay its brilliance because it’s too popular. Bollocks! The swinging groove to Misty Mountain Hop is so much fun. And the cover of When The Levee Breaks is awesome.

Led Zeppelin IV is the band’s magnum opus — the perfect storm of power, precision, and musical ambition. From the very first snarling riff of “Black Dog,” this album goes hard, pulling no punches and wasting no time. It doesn’t even think about slowing down until the third track, and by then, you’re already all in. For 20 years, “Black Dog” has been my personal favorite — a snarling, swaggering beast of a song with that iconic call-and-response between Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. It’s the ultimate opener, setting the tone for an album that doesn’t stick to one lane. Zeppelin stretches out across genres like it’s nothing — from the bluesy stomp of “Rock and Roll” to the mystical folk of “The Battle of Evermore,” the prog-leaning grandeur of “Stairway to Heaven,” and the backwoods groove of “Going to California.” Every member is in peak form here — Page’s riffs, Bonham’s thunderous drumming, Jones’s subtle but essential textures, and Plant’s golden god vocals. IV is proof that Led Zeppelin could do it all — and do it better than anyone else. It’s not just one of their best albums. It’s one of the greatest rock albums ever. A towering achievement that still sounds massive decades later.

Great record, one of the most emblematic Led Zeppelin albums, memorable songs, incredible sound and lyrics. One of the all time greats for multiple reasons.

Tremendous.

One of the most perfect albums ever. Every single song is amazing. I’m not sure what else to say about it, but this is one of my favorite albums of all time!!

This one was ubiquitous to the point that guitar shops had to post signs banning anyone from playing “Stairway” under penalty of being kicked out of the store. 40 years of listening, and I still love this band to death. I don’t think there is any other band where I can say that every single second of every single record they ever did is still exciting to me. I know I’m old, but it’s amazing to me that many people have never heard this album.

Fantastic album full of huge hits, hard to pick a favorite for the 1001 playlist as there isn’t a bad choice. Great mastery in every part of this album, very easily 5/5, nothing else to say about it 🤘

Op

Thebest

Finalmente la saga è finita, sicuramente non ci sarà Led Zeppelin II Heh

It amazes me every single time I relisten.

Perfection. That's all. Chur.

One of the greatest albums ever committed to tape, easiest 5, there's zero argument to be had... But "Stairway to Heaven" is a glorified fingering exercise, and you all know it!

The Good: Roman Numerals! The Bad: Where’s the X… The Ugly: wondering what kind of X-rated album would have a cover showing a man with a bunch of twigs… Is this the GOAT album? For many it certainly is, and when you think about it, that is one MASSIVE song to start an album off with… Hey hey mama! I am really at a loss for words today. Don’t know what to say about this album that hasn’t been said before. So, I will leave with this thought… 4 1/2* for me, but that’s because I am NOT a LZ fanboy! Damnit… have listened to the album three more times, and mother fuckers… this is one of the GOAT!

Fantastic listen as always. Each track is incredible, and while I grew tired of “Stairway to Heaven” for some time, hearing it play in its preferred location as track 4, right in middle of this bluesy rockin’ and rompin’ record just made me realize how great that song and this album truly is. Another Led Zeppelin masterpiece.

Every song on this album is great and nearly every song on this album is a rock classic.

Quizás el disco de Zeppelin con más hits. La cumbre del rock and roll.

Classicozao

Masterpiece

Holy shit how did I get Zeppelin 4 the day after I got Zeppelin 3!!! This album is a work of art, and their best work. Not a 10/10 because I really don't like The Battle of Evermore, but other than that this absolutely rips. Best Song: Going to California Rating: 9.5/10 5 Stars

Amazing

It’s the ultimate Zep, it borrows elements from their entire catalog, and balances between their musical prowess, their appetite for exploration, their nerdiness, and possibly signifies the peak of their connection to the root of music. It’s an amazing album by all accounts. Not my absolute favorite album, that probably resides the rock forward number II, however it is objectively their best.

Strong contender for best album ever made.

The elite LZ album. Got it on vinyl that’s how elite it is ben

Amazing album - when the levee breaks is one of my favourites

This album is on my list of all-time favorites. It is arguably the best Led Zeppelin album, although "Rock and Roll" is probably one of my least favorite songs by LZ. Zeppelin's music is like sex: even if it's not the greatest, it's still good. I have heard "Stairway" a million times, and I always enjoy hearing it again. This one goes to 11.

Black Dog is what led me to learn the guitar. I would listen to that song on repeat before middle school, as if to internalize it or satiate myself enough to get through the day and get back to LZ4. 6/5.

The gold standard of rock. Everytime I hear something and ask myself ‘does this rock?’ I’m really asking if it makes me feel the way this album does.

8 tracks of rock n roll glory Who hasnt heard all 8? These were all spinning daily on 105.7 WAPL in the fox valley, Wisco (and probably still are) The three most underrated tracks (if I can even say that) are Battle Of Evermore, Four Sticks and When The Levee Breaks (the other 5 tunes are absolutely top 1000 rock songs of all times). I spun these three the most to get something new from this album Jimmy page plays the hell out of a mandolin, Bonham spins up freakishly weird time signatures in Four Sticks - its in some funky 5/8 thing and alternates to something else (also the name is some direct reference about playing with 4 sticks - vibraphone style maybe - idk, not a drummer) and even the Beastie Boys couldnt resist sampling Levee. God damn. What a legendary album. Id give it 10 stars if I could

I wasn’t really raised on Zep but still knew most of this album. Excited to see how my overall album ranking of these albums shakes out, so far would still put PG at the top.

Beyond perfect. No notes. 5+/5

Classic. How can you not love it?

Amazing album. Not a bad song on it

Unmistakable, undeniable! One of the best albums in the world, ever. Simple as that. Any less than 5 stars for this masterpiece is a sacrilege of the utmost.

No hay más que decir

There is music before IV came out, and then there’s music after IV came out. IV set the yard stick for rock for decades - and remains a high point. Yes, Stairway has become almost a cliche, but so have sayings from Shakespeare, Dickens and Austin - they all share one thing: Our language, our culture is enriched by their existence. It’s that good.

What can I say about this album that hasn’t been said a million times before. The album is just non stop quality mind-bending classic rock anthems. The level of consistent quality on this album is unmatched by Led Zeppelins other projects and by most classic rock albums out there. Everyone in the band brings their A game to this one and it’s a legendary piece of music history for a reason. I think the word I would use to describe this album is hypnotic, what a fun way to spend 40 mins. 5/5

Great First? 4/5 Again 5/5

Great album, great cover, great musical prowess. Iconic.

I believe the kids these days call these “bangers”

\m/ Masterpiece!! \m/

Such an easy 5

One of the biggest cliches in rock history, but it's so fucking good. What an album. The song I enjoyed most this time around was probably Going to California. And that Stairway solo... 🤤

Remember when I said in my "Physical Graffiti" review that that wasn't Led Zeppelin's best album and I knew it got better? Well...here we are. A PERFECT album. There isn't a bad song here. "Black Dog" is a FANTASTIC way to start an album, I wish I could hear "Stairway to Heaven" for the first time...the solo absolutely fucks, "Rock and Roll" is soooo good, "Going to California" is so beautiful, "Misty Mountain Hop" is so fun, "Four Sticks" is great, and "When the Levee Breaks" is such a great closer. "The Battle of Evermore" isn't my favorite song, but it's still pretty good. That being said...I'd like to tell a story: While I was waiting for the bus to go to high school my senior year, someone at my stop said they were going to pray for me for listening to "Stairway to Heaven." I was a sinner because "that isn't how you get into heaven and if I listened to that song I was going to go to hell." And I replied "it's Led Zeppelin man. Fuck off" Liked Songs: All of them, but "The Battle of Evermore" is my least favorite

liked songs: all of them What is there to say about this album? It's fantastic front to back, no misses. Peak Led Zeppelin. 5

holy shit

Amazing in every way

Very good, one of my favorites. Not much else to say.

Simply amazing.

I was so happy to get this album :) I love these songs and it reminds me of when I was younger and my Dad would play Zeppelin songs. I also didn’t know 2 of the songs so it was cool to listen to them as well. I was listening driving up to Vermont and it was lovely.

Classic

This is the rock album. Where else could you find this stratospheric level of instrumentation and songwriting with such a marketability for all audiences? On their untitled fourth output in just two stellar years, Zeppelin interweave the cymbal-driven crashing of the blues rock and hard rock that enabled their initial success with the most enchanting of folk influences that enabled Stairway to Heaven to become the pillar of popular song that it so greatly deserves to be. Whole Lotta Love could have kept Zeppelin afloat in musical culture for decades, but with [IV], Plant, Page, Bonham and Jones will be at the very core of rock for eternity.

A classic album...Stairway to Heaven was (as was typical) my intro to Zeppelin. Loved this album as a kid but realized it was surpassed by other Zep albums (namely Houses and III). Going to California is a fantastic song, and still get chuckles over the blatant LOTR references. 5/5

Houses of the Holy is my Zeppelin perfect album but every song here bangs

Absolutely fantastic

5.0 5x or so. self explanatory, but this has been a favorite of mine for a very long time, and even though overplayed, it still has its magic

This was my entry point to Led Zeppelin. Then I bought the 4-CD box set and it was over for me. I loved Led Zeppelin and nearly everything they did. I think this is their best-known album just because it has Stairway to Heaven and Going to California on it. Every song is great, even Four Sticks, and I love this whole thing. It has pretty much everything you get from Zeppelin. Acoustic songs, bluesy rockers, epic rockers and John Bonham going bananas on the drums. I would suggest if someone wants to get into Zeppelin, then I would start here.

‘Led Zeppelin IV’ is the quintessential hard rock album. ‘Black Dog’, ‘Rock and Roll’, ‘Stairway To Heaven’, ‘When The Levee Breaks’, ‘The Battle Of Evermore’, and so on; It’s all killer, no filler and it’s stood the test of time in a way very, very few albums do. Somewhere out there, right now, some kid is listening to this record for the very first time and their mind is about to be blown the same way mine was many, many years ago. The adrenaline rush, the massive dopamine hit, the sheer joy. The next generation will listen to ‘IV’ and feel the same, and the next and the next. Such is the circle of life, and a small part of this albums enduring, monolithic legacy.

Essential to this list

Hoy no ando de muy buen humor, y he estado a punto de darle un 4. Pero luego ha llegado When the Levee Breaks y se me ha pasado. Led Zeppelin es mi segundo grupo más escuchado, y este es su mejor disco. No hay razón para darle menos puntuación, a pesar de que Stairway to Heaven esté ya demasiado manida a estas alturas.

Wasn't into the earlier (later) album from LV but I thought this was top drawer

I may give this a 4.5 if I could, but I really can't give it below 5 stars, personally, just due to the fact that it does have songs that are still impressive while also just being so monumental and influential. Even if you take out "Stairway to Heaven," there are still monster tracks like "Black Dog," "Misty Mountain Hop," and I really love "Going to California" as a quieter, beautiful and emotional song.

Classic

I don't listen to this album much now but it's been part of my life for over 50 years. It stands as one of the five greatest albums ever recorded - certainly within the rock/metal/blues part of the spectrum. It doesn't have a bad track, or anything remotely resembling a bad track. Every composition, performance and production is magnificent.

Wow, it's been a minute since I've listened and forgot how good it was. The only tough part is deciding if I like this one or LZ2 more. Nothing to say that hasn't been said 1000 times before. Timeless Rating: 4.9

Love it!! Songs of my youth.

So flipping good I love this Led Zepp so much

10/10 Led Zeppelins best and maybe the best album of all time. Stairway is the greatest song of all time Favourite Song=Stairway to Heaven Least Favourite Song=

the goatiest goat of goats

uhh, this is amazing?

One of the best albums of all time!

One of the greats!

When the levee breaks, going to California, stairway to heaven, nuff said

Possibly the greatest rock album ever, also love the lord of the rings refernces :)

Every track on this album is a banger. Side 1 starts off strong, veers into some really nice acoustic work, then smacks you with Stairway. Side 2 builds and builds then finishes strong with Levee. One of Led Zep's absolute best works.

Perfect album. Ridiculous

a classic and beautiful album that encompasses the wide ranging sound of led zeppelin from the aggressive blues rock on Black Cat to the genre-defining rock ballad of Stairway to Heaven. It's such an easy listen that has clearly defining elements that reflect the famous Led Zeppelin sound.

One of the great albums that I think actually deserves its reputation

Gema

Love this one

excellent, A+, no skips

Dusted this one off after playing it too much in my teens! Still awesome - but nowadays, the back half of the album is way better

Like the 3 Albums before - epic

A perfect rock record. Going to California and fours sticks are underrated led songs but all others are classic and don't need to be named just listened to. This is the album you get to introduce the band (although physical graffiti is their most ambitious and houses of the holy/2 and 1 have some of their best tracks, this is their definitive record.

Whereas the Stones brought a mix of blues and country to rock, Zeppelin used blues and bluegrass; that makes all the difference - that and the superb vocals. Each song on this album is great, and together they are balanced.

Essentially, a perfect album. So much talent in both musicianship and songwriting.

En su mejor momento. Casi perfecto

Initial thoughts: SIGH, another 70s rock album. counterpoint - Led Zeppelin kinda slaps. This is also one of my wife's favorites, so there's that. I'm not disappointed to see this pop up, to be honest. Dude. What can you say? Banger after banger after banger. There's honestly not a weak song on the album, it's actually astounding. Look, I don't adore this era of rock, but if I have to listen to it, *THIS* is the album to listen to! 4th album, 8 songs, 43 minutes, 5 stars.

Truly a classic. A great range of styles that encompass everything they’d done up to this point. Almost docked a point for Stairway after years spent working in guitar shops, but that’s more a me problem than a them problem

One of their best albums

Im not even going to say anything about this album. What more needs to be said.

Now this is peak Zeppelin! Great songs from start to finish. Every song felt unique and strong in its own ways.

Classic

Amazing album. The album that changed Led Zeppelin. Stairway is their most famous song and its successful journey started a change from driving blues inspired tracks (Black Dog) to long sweeping epics (Kashmir). Both phases are represented on this album, but my heart it’s always pulled towards the early albums. This however, doesn’t negate the greatness of this album.

All killer and no filler, never get bored of Going to California and When the Levee Breaks.

I mean, come on. It’s Led Zeppelin IV. It’s nearly perfection and one of the most influential rock albums of all time. Easy 5.

I'm a simple woman. I see Led Zepllin IV, I give 5 stars. 5/5

What's not to Love! Zep rules!

I mean it’s Led Zeppelin. They don’t miss. Stairway is a masterpiece and I mean that in the truest sense of the word. It’s the magnum opus of a band so talented that off the top of my head I could list 15 songs and 5 albums that are all amazing. Jimmy Page is a creep with underaged girls but he’s a guitar god. Robert Plant is a soulful sorcerer and JPJ and Bonham always deliver. I assumed I missed most of the well known stuff on this list but it is refreshing to no longer be debating what a 5 star album is. I’ve listened to this one 20 times at least and I’ve learned several of the songs in part or in whole on guitar over the years. I only do that with songs I love. It almost feels weird for me to type anything to try to justify 5 stars as it seems so painstakingly obvious in my soul.

When this era of classic rock was making its resurgence in the mid-2000s, this was the album that caught my attention the most. So much so that I actually went out and bought the CD since streaming was still a decade away. Everyone knows Stairway and it’s guitar solo, but there are so many jams on here. Always a pleasure to listen to IV, and today was no different. Stairway might also be the first time I’ve been alright with a seven minute track from the list. I know it’s overplayed quite a bit, but it’s still incredible.

"Black Dog" "Rock and Roll" "Stairway to Heaven" "When the Levee Breaks" Each of these songs would have made this a successful album on their own. Having all four on one record has cemented this as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. The hits are well spaced out, and the lesser songs don't bring it down. I was teetering on a 4 or 5, but the album length of 42 minutes falls right in that perfect duration earning it at least one bonus star.

Masterpiece! I like it! Perfect guitar, perfect vocal. Every track is very nice, Starway to Heaven is the Number One forever!

I told myself I wouldn't give this 5 stars because it's not even top 3 Led Zep albums and I gotta start being a little more critical and blah blah blah - This is actually flawless. No wonder they're my top artist on Spotify.

Contender

Black Dog has got to be one of the greatest album openers ever.

led zep. a classic, 10/10.

I mean come on its a classic

Obviously already know this album in and out, what an absolute classic. Insane how many great songs are on this album, not a single dud in my mind. Not much to say about this album, it's so god damn good, vocals, guitars, drums, bass, everything sounds great and everything is so well written.

Dang. This album is still great. Many five star moments. Although the herky-jerky parts in Black Dog still feel bad, kind of like when walking down steps and almost tripping to your death but catching yourself at last moment. Sooo, is Bread Zeppelin anything? Stairway to Leaven, amirite?

Unpopular opinion: My favorite Zeppelin album is In Through the Out Door. That’s my easy five star album. But unfortunately it did not make this list and there is NO WAY Led Zeppelin is not getting five stars from me. So this is the one. It probably deserves 5 stars even if it isn’t my favorite.

First rate

Amazing

Now we're talking! Apart from that song, which is one of those overplayed ones, not a duff song. Sandy Denny on Battle of Evermore is beauty in song form. Rock n Roll shakes your booty and Four Sticks is another favourite.

A classic!

Such a massive album. It’s one of those albums that’s larger than life at this point. This is a work of art that, like a Monet or the Mona Lisa, will outlive everyone in the era that it was created. It’s an album that people will probably listen to on other planets one day. This is for good reasons. It’s a tremendous album from start to finish, with hardly a miss. It’s heavy on the blues: Black Dog is such an all time great album opener. It’s such a killer take on the blues, with syrupy Page licks and powerful vocals from Plant. Rock and Roll serves as updated take on straight ahead rock. The Battle of Evermore is a shockingly nerdy detour into the world of Tolkien that somehow works. And then, Stairway. Even if the rest of the album sucked (it firmly doesn’t suck) Stairway to Heaven would still have given the album immortality. It’s one of only a handful of songs that will exist so long as human consciousness exists, perhaps beyond. Perhaps the biggest complement to the greatness of Zeppelin IV is that the back half stands on its own to the impossibly great first half. Misty Mountain Hop brings some fun to the record. Four Sticks is the only arguable miss on the album and not a go-to stand alone track, but it does fit well sonically on the album and gives the listener a bluesy breather before the incredible ending tracks. Going to California is one of at least four songs on Zeppelin IV that could be argued as the band’s best song. It sounds mystical, is fantastically sung by Plant, and tells a terrific tale of a forlorn hero who smoked his stuff and drank his wine and had an adventure. One of the better Plant/Page songs lyrically. The finale cements the god-like status of the album. When The Levee Breaks is my personal favorite track on the album: it’s an insane take on the blues. It’s a wild, stomping medicine man of a song. The harmonica goes harder on this song than anywhere else in rock music, and it gives the song such a raging urgency. All bow down to Zeppelin IV.

Had to be 5.

IV is a fantastic album. It's got one of the most recognizable and accessible Zeppelin songs in Stairway, and it's got one of my personal favorites in Battle for Evermore. It's probably a close tie for me between IV, III, and Houses of the Holy for my favorite Zeppelin album, but why choose? They are all electric and timeless.

Quintessential classic rock. Explosive energy is occasionally interrupted by softer, more sincere songs, summed up in one of the most legendary ballads of all time in the middle and tied up with incredible vocals. Flawless instrumental work and no skips. Favorite song: Going to California.

This is what I'm talking about when I say classic rock 4.6/5

• 5/5 - maybe the greatest Rock album ever • Stairway isn’t even the best song on the album! • They knew it was so good it didn’t need a name . . .

I had become a bit averse to dad rock in this exercise - especially with the biased scoring of some of the records from the same era and genre - but listening to this one - it is just a masterpiece - with the bangers, the band’s groove, John Bonham’s drums and the general story telling of this album. Even next to the other Zeppelin albums - this is stellar.

10/10

Clearly

What an incredible album. I remember how excited I was when I first heard this. Sheer magic. 10 stars.

It's LZ. 5 stars.

One of the best albums of all time

Another album I have on Vinyl. Bloody generational

Still a classic

An all-timer. It blends hard rock, heavy metal, folk, mythology in such a complete and masterful way. No weaknesses, and each of the 4 band members bring so much in their playing and singing. Don't even have to ding them for not giving credit to many of the songs' original writers like they are more guilty of on other albums. Except for maybe "Stairway to Heaven", which is overrated anyway. Favorite is "When the Levee Breaks".

All time classic.

Es increíble la racha de obras maestras que tuvieron los Zeppelin. Otro disco increíble e icónico, y nada menos que el que nos dio Stairway. Y el resto de las canciones son igual de buenas. Glorioso.

Brilliant album but I expected it to be a little more punchy.

What a bunch of nerds

#381. There's nothing I can say here that hasn't already been said, or that would add to the conversation in any meaningful kind of way. So instead I'll just say that while I have no real desire to be a guitarist or play the guitar in a serious fashion, I do want to learn how to play Stairway to Heaven just well enough to be recognizable, just to see how many guitar stores I can get kicked out of for playing it. 5/5: obviously.

Perfect album. 5 stars all day.

Led Zeppelin doing everything they do best. Timeless.

Þvílíkir meistarar. Algjör dúndurfílingur frá fyrsta lagi að því síðasta. Rokkað stup í bland við rólegheit. Þetta gerist bara ekki betra. Ég veit ekki hvernig platan hefði getað verið betri svo þetta er fimma

So many hits. I can't say enough about this album. But, I'll always be a Zep fan.

Classic album

Nothing new can be said about the best hard rock album ever and one of the best albums ever overall. I haven't listened to it for a long time and once again I enjoyed this iconic album very much. What a masterpiece.

Listened Before? Y Well, there's not much more to say about this one other than it's one of the most influential and classic hard rock albums of all time. Close to perfect. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Going To Californit

Classic.

Teenage me loved this album!

One of the all time classics.

I don't need to explain why this is one of the greatest albums of all time. Just get off your ass and go listen to it if you haven't already.

9/10

The best….

A stone cold classic. It’s funny, I was just chatting with a friend at work yesterday about how I completely saturated myself with Zeppelin’s music when I was a teen. I overdid it so much that I couldn’t listen to zeppelin at all for literally decades. He said that he finds Page’s arrangements to be so good that they’re perennially magical to him. When I listened to the album this time, I pushed through memories of singing in the ear of whichever poor girl agreed to last dance with me at a high school dance. Four Sticks was a surprise favourite this time around. And Battle of Evermore. I knew nothing about Tolkien when I first got into this album. I know a lot more LOTR lore now and that stuff really stood out to me. It’s a brilliant album and I’m grateful to hear it with somewhat different ears haha

The kind of album these lists are made for.

Like. C’mon. It’s gonna be 5 stars

Essential!!!

This album feels like reconnecting with an old friend. Excellent from start to finish.

Best Teenage Purchase I ever made

Surprised myself by finding this brilliant. I've heard most of the tracks before of course, but never heard the album in full. Not someone who reminisces for classic rock, but I really got into this. 4.5/5 if I'm honest but it's got enough to round up

This is a top ten album of all time for me.

This album just keeps cranking good song after good song

What to say that hasn’t already been said…? Nothing. It’s a perfect album. Now is it the best Led Zeppelin album? Maybe, I’m not sure. But still, this album is about as good as it gets. Starting off with Black Dog, wowwwwww! Who hasn’t heard the amazing vocal performance and riff on this track before?? And the solo????? It’s such an energetic piece to start off the roller coaster that is this record. 10/10 Of course next you have Rock and Roll. Again, superbly popular riff with spectacular drumming as well. Everything is just so coordinated and comes together so well. 10/10 The Battle of Evermore? This is where things slow down a bit, showcasing the path Robert Plant aimed to take for this album. You got your classic heavy rock mixed with some folkish, beautiful strumming and mystical singing. A real underrated piece of Led Zeppelin history. 10/10 Stairway to Heaven. Of course, many have probably heard it a bit too much (especially Led Zeppelin themselves), but that doesn’t make it any less amazing. The riff, the soft vocals, the amazing lyrical prowess, all leading to one of the best payoffs in music history. 10/10 Misty Mountain Hop, honestly this might be my favorite on the album. I don’t know why, it’s just so entrancing. The simple rhythm and the strangely mixed instrumentals bring about so many mixed feelings, I just can’t explain other than it sounds great. 10/10 Four Sticks, aptly named after the drummers tendency to play with 4 sticks. And the drumming is obviously amazing. And Plant’s singing?? This has got to be up there with one of his greatest performances. And of course Jimmy Page is doing great but you already knew that. 10/10 Going to California, another beautiful track. Really, you’d never expect this from Led Zeppelin of all bands. It’s just so beautiful I can listen to it for hours. It’s wholesome and nostalgic and every good feeling you can have all at once. 10/10 When the Levee Breaks, what a closer!! Everyone’s abilities are on full show. The band ends their phenomenal record with a conclusion that gives the best of everything rock. 10/10 I know none of my thoughts are particularly original, so I’ll keep this review up as a diary to myself: you need to keep listening to this record. Trust me, it’s pretty good.

Tapestry for my youth. I still enjoy it whenever I put it on as a 44 year old

Pretty much as good as it gets. Hard to add anything new to the discussion, except for the fact that I will defend "The Battle of Evermore" with my life!! You can say "Four Sticks" is below average all you want, but leave the silly Hobbit song alone, man!

Sept. 25: y’know what? I’m gonna save this for a worse day Sept. 30: not a bad day (windy and chilly tho), just wanted to close out this month with some Zep Perhaps I just mean that I’ve heard it on the radio too much, but in terms of Zep opening tracks, the stop-starty “Black Dog” might be my least favourite, save perhaps “In the Evening”. Of course, that’s going up against stiff competition as “Achilles Last Stand” and “Good Times Bad Times”, so one could also say I just don’t love it as much as the other tracks. Of course, radio overplay doesn’t mean I don’t adore “Rock and Roll”, “The Battle”, “Stairway”, “Misty Mountain Hop”, and “When the Levee Breaks”. The song I hear the least is, wait for it, “Four Sticks” but that means it felt like I was hearing the chiming guitars towards the end for the 1st time. And “California” is great!-but I will always overlook it in favour of “Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp” & “That’s The Way” from III. If it wasn’t for III, then IV would probably be my favourite.

The holy Grail of heavy metal beginnings. The album that would be compared to all albums after it's release. The quintessential hard Rock heavy metal starter pack. This laid the groundwork for my introduction into blasting guitar gods as a kid. Black Dog-one of the best album opening songs ever. Such a loud and raucous groove. Rock & Roll-the quintessential drum roll and hook of been a long lonely lonely lonely time. The Battle of evermore, what a standalone inspirational song. The haunting intro and lyrics take you to a land far far away. Such a visual journey for me that is created in my mind from this song. Stairway gets a lot of flack these days but to me is still one of the best songs ever. When Bonham hits the first beat halfway thru this song l, it skyrockets into an awesome jam. Misty MTN Hop is another great song and one of my favs. Often overlooked, but I love the lyrics and this one also takes my mind on a journey visualizing the story told. The delivery of the song by Plant is superb. Four sticks is simple, but has a great groove and is a total psychedelic stoner song. Going to California was one of my favorite ballads as a kid. Such a beautiful and inspirational song. When the levee breaks is probably the best album closer ever. One of my fav Zep songs and another amazing psychedelic classic. Crying won't help you and praying won't do you no good. Fix your shit and move on, kid, you're on your own....thats what I hear when I hear this song. Surprisingly great advice. This album has no filler tracks.

Have you ever read a book that transports you to a magical world? Well, pack a bag because this album is a similar adventure. Lyrically bizarre at times, but still perfect.

Great album.

I know this album inside out, but listened to it again anyway. It deserves its legacy as one of the best albums of the 70s, and one of the best in all of rock music history. No bad tracks, and features some of the most iconic rock songs of all time. A genuinely legendary album, but still not the best Led Zeppelin album in my opinion (Physical Graffiti is better).

Sooo many hits!!

5 star for stairway alone

This is the perfect Zeppelin album in my opinion. While it ties with Physical Graffiti as my favorite, because it’s the shorter of the two, I’ll give it a slight lead. Ok maybe I should give it a little more of a lead since every song on here is essential listening for anyone who hasn’t listened to this band yet. I have two distinct memories of this album that come to mind when I think back to my lifetime of enjoyment from it. One is, I don’t know why, but this was the album I had to listen to when mowing the lawn as a teenager. Every single time I mowed I had to have my Sony Discman in my lap with this cd loaded up. Maybe it was the cover image, a dude doing some yard work, that influenced my grass cutting ritual. Maybe it was Jimmy Page’s black magic taking control of me. I guess we’ll never know. Anyway, another memorable moment was when we listened to “Going To California” as we left Portland Oregon headed to L.A. while on tour. The song perfectly matched the mood and landscape to the point that it felt like it was written just for us in that moment, or maybe it was Jimmy Page’s black magic influencing us. Other than that I’ve logged countless hours listening and learning how to play this album, yet I never grow tired of it, even “Stairway To Heaven” still captivates me. Easy 5 stars.

Hit after hit after hit on this album. My favorite one is Black Dog. There's really no band like Zeppelin, except of course for Greta Van Fleet. This is such a great album, so I'll just give it a 5.

Almost every song on this untitled album--Led Zeppelin's fourth--has become a radio staple, and the few that haven't should have been. Not a bad track here. After punching the listener in the face with two back-to-back beasts of momentum, they showcase a medieval folk sound on "The Battle Of Evermore" while Robert Plant exercises his falsetto. We continue their unnecessary obsession with Tolkien on the swampy stomp of "Misty Mountain Hop," displaying an unrivaled literary fanboy status that went unmatched until the 2000's brought us Harry And The Potters. Interestingly, "Stairway To Heaven" has between 2 and 50 times fewer listens than any other song on this album. I concede that it's a great song, and I agree that I never have to hear it again, but for the sake of giving the album a proper listen, I let it spin. Between the acoustic guitar and recorders at the beginning and the distorted guitars and screams on the song's seconnd half, this song works as a great bridge sitting in the middle of folky "Battle of Evermore" and the bouncy rock of "Misty Mountain Hop." Always a fan of odd time, I appreciate the ability to make the 5/4 of "Four Sticks" feel natural. "Going To California" is one my favorite Zep tracks; the rolling fingerpicking is reminiscent of the golden rolling hills of Napa Valley, and it takes me to a calming haze of mind similar to Pink Floyd's "A Pillow Of Winds." I like a good ending to a song, but here the fade out is appropriate; I imagine they are moving to the next town and continue to play the song forever. Before you get too relaxed, John Bonham hits you with the fattest beat of "When The Levee Breaks," and the band hits a swampy blues groove that rides steady for the remainder of the album. All great tunes.

This is the first Led Zeppelin *album* I listened to in entirety, when my aunt pulled out her collection of records to find something to entertain us in a town full of nothing to do, and a few years later, via the CD of my best friend at church camp. I listened to it again tonight, and it still hits so hard. There's variety among the songs but the album feels very cohesive. I tried to type out a bunch of adjectives that describe their sound on this album, and it all inadvertently ended up sounding like I was talking about sex.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So I deleted that, but suffice to say, five stars!

Here is another album that I spent hours in my room with, trying to learn the bass parts. It's such a strong album all the way through. This is probably my favorite Zeppelin album. All four members of this band gave such strong individual performances on this album. Bonham is a machine on it. It's rare for me that I hear a song and am instant hooked, but as a teen I remember hearing Misty Mountain Hop and instantly loving it. It was my introduction to Zeppelin and I wanted to hear more. An easy 5 for me.

Highlights are Evermore, Stairway, Levee. Superlative.

Another Zeppelin album. I never remember what songs are on their different records, but I am always astonished by how many good tracks they have. And this might be their best album, though it's a tough call. Led Zeppelin are kings of sick riffs, and they show it with an extremely strong opening in 'Black Dog', followed by 'Rock and Roll'. 'The Battle of Evermore' fits in thematically well, but is perhaps not the most exciting song of the album. Then comes 'Stairway to Heaven'. This is of course the most no-brainer and unexpected opinion to have, but this might be the best song ever made. It has everything you'd want out of a good song: acoustic elements with slow buildup, good singing, exploding climax, sick guitar solo etc. The lyrics are very fairy-tale-like in true Zeppelin fashion and perhaps not the most exciting, but fits well in. 'Misty Mountain Hop' and 'Four Sticks' are not that exciting, but not terrible either. Then comes one of my favourite Zeppelin songs; 'Going to California' , which is just an acoustic jewel of fingerpicking. And the record closes with 'When the Levee Breaks' which has really cool drums and a sick distorted harmonica lead. Very good album, everyone should hear it. Still amazed that Led Zeppelin manages to deliver 5-star albums again and again. Probably one of the most consistent bands of all time.

I mean there are 5s, and then there are 5s! This is a near perfect album. All songs are hits. From the get go "Black Dog" has you hooked. It could've been a boring song but the syncopation and Bonham's drumming which following the guitar makes for such an enjoyable track. There is such a breadth of songs in this album, from great solos (and just one of the greatest songs ever maybe, even though how overplayed it is) in "Stairway to Heaven" to slower acoustic songs with "Going to California" to the just the intro of drums and harmonica in "When the Levee Breaks. I mean all these songs are just feats in their own right and could top lists of my favourite songs. To find them all on one album is insane. The weakest song I think is "Four sticks" and even that is good. It's an iconic album for a reason. Does it live up to the hype? Hell yes! Everyone should listen to it.

a classic

It's easy to want to buck the reviews on this and say that it's less than brilliant. I'm not sure I can. I mean, sure, some of it has become almost passe from over playing, but the reason it's played so much is because it is bloody good. Other people can write better about the history or the music or whatnot. So I'm just going to say that "when the levee breaks" has possibly one of the best kick drum openings in the history of music. Two thumbs up.

I’m not even really a Led head but this album is pretty undeniable. 8 of the most famous classic rock tracks, all on one album. All incredibly produced, with spectacular orchestration and singing and hooks galore. Does it get better? A well deserved album on this list.

I love Led Zeppelin so much.

1. No to the first question. Yes to the second. Some of those stray dogs I routinely feed are known as "albums". The one I'm feeding today starts with an incredibly intricate and wonderful guitar riff. Woof. (Black Dog) 2. I don't have a driver's license, but I can be partial to American made luxury cars in some films. Or to Model T Fords. Or to Model T Fords converted into luxury cars. (Rock and Roll) 3. I love all things Tolkien, and if I don't smoke weed anymore, I can still take a virtual puff or two from symbolical reefers, listening to trippy early-seventies folk-inspired cuts. Especially if Sandy Denny is involved. Or alternatively, listening to some dreamy-yet-also lively boogie propelled by a Rhodes piano (Battle of Evermore, Misty Mountain Hop) 4. Yes, I remember slow dancing with my crush at an 8th grade party on this song. But things got real awkward when its second part surged. You can't slow-dance to a rock banger, can you? I also remember the sign that said "No Stairway To Heaven" in that guitar shop Wayne and Garth visited in *Wayne's World*. Good times, good memories. (Stairway to Heaven) 5. I have a quite high tolerance for drum circles and the phrase “oh, baby”? (Four Sticks) 6. I have never wondered what a Joni Mitchell song about wanting to sleep with Joni Mitchell would sound like. But I'm wondering *now*. So thanks for popping the question here. (Going to California) 7. I have never taken Quaaludes and tried to write a blues song. But I leave that to Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham. Oh, and Memphis Minnie, of course. It's nice that for once, sly fox Jimmy officially credited the African American blues artists he routinely ripped off or even pillaged. Funny that many years later, the Beastie Boys pillaged that deep echoey drum beat themselves to create one of their best rockers. Good music is an eternal cycle. (When The Levee Breaks) Number of albums left to review: 71 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 400 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 231 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 299

One of the most, if not the most pivotal album of the 70s!!!!!!!!

I Don't beleive I can say anything about this album, that hasn't already been said. It has to be top 2 or 3 most listened to albums of all time.

Didn’t listen to, didn’t need to. A solid 5, the best LZ album. Great everything.

Two classics of the ‘70s in a row. No doubt in my mind about the rating for this one. With any luck, Horses, Marquee Moon, or London Calling is next. In junior high, when I bought this album for the first time, I was fascinated by the mythology around it. No name. The four symbols, each representing a band member. The artwork. I really wanted to figure out what Stairway to Heaven’s lyrics were about. My mom told me they’d play it at her high school dances but no one could quite figure out how to dance to it. I distinctly remember Amazon letting you play 30-second snippets of songs on RealPlayer(!) and the StH snippet began at “your head is humming and it won’t go…”; why that has stuck with me all these years is unclear. (My favorite solo in rock history [#basic] begins about 50 seconds later, so well beyond RealPlayer’s reach.) My dad said Misty Mountain Hop was his favorite, which even today strikes me as such a hipster choice. And when I learned the Beastie Boys sampled When the Levee Breaks, I thought that was the coolest. As an adult, the album is imprinted on me, even if some parts seem a little sillier now. Battle of Evermore feels like a Spinal Tap joke, with LOTR references. The Ted Lasso joke that Stairway is a fingering exercise isn’t totally off base. Four Sticks remains skippable. But it’s not falling below 5. Liking StH is cliche, I don’t care, it’s cliche because it’s one of the greatest rock songs ever. Black Dog, Levee, and Rock and Roll rock. Evermore and California show the range the band had. MMH is fun. A great band at the height of their powers with only minimal stealing from other bands (sorry, Spirit).

Vinyl time! Hatsabombini

Rotating favorite, currently Misty mountain hop

Favorite Track: Misty Mountain Hop

Incredible. Some of the most beloved rock ever made. Unfortunately it’s all played too much but there’s reason and I can’t dock points because songs on an album are popular.

Love Zep, love guitar, love drums, love Bob Plant

Worth all the stars for sure. Back in the days, I bought this album for the one song, you know .... Stairway to Heaven. But every song on here is great in each different way. That to me is why I love this album very much.

The greatest rock band of all time, the greatest rock song of all time. No-brainer… 5 stars

One of few albums I actually know intimately. No question five stars, still stirring.

Goes without saying - one of my favourite albums of all time and represents some of LZ's best ever music.

The day we move our daughter into college comes IV …. Stairway. Levee. California. Misty. All that glitters is not gold….. so I’m packing my bags for the Misty Mountains… if it keeps on raining the levee is gonna break….. going to California with an aching in my heart ….

🐐

Slightly not as good as 2, but still incredible

天国への階段が入っているだけでも歴史的名盤。 このアルバムも大音量で聴きたい。

Just not my thing at all

Growing up, I perceived Zeppelin IV to be the over-rated one with Stairway To Heaven on it. I couldn't have been more wrong. Every song is excellent and diverse in style and feel. I started imagining what each song would be like without Bonzo, or Page, or Plant or Jones and I couldn't. Each member adds something valuable throughout. Liked songs added: - When The Levee Breaks

This collection has just a few other albums like this, where it feels like nearly every song has played on the radio and also withstood the test of time, and yet isn't a greatest hits or compilation album. And of course this particular album has the song I worshiped as a budding (and truly mediocre) guitarist--it still amazes me that "Stairway to heaven" ever got radio time given how long it is, but it's hard to imagine growing up *not* hearing this song frequently. I think the only songs I hadn't heard before were the somewhat painful/unmemorable "The battle of Evermore" (Sandy Denny didn't help this song at all, sadly) and "Four sticks" (which is a bit frustrating for being so much more muddy-sounding than the other tracks). This album is what I associate with Led Zeppelin more than anything else, and while I'm not a huge Zeppelin fan, I can definitely see myself revisiting this album; I just wish the lyrics at times didn't make me think of Spinal Tap's "Stonehenge" so much.... To be perfectly honest, too, this could easily be the only Led Zeppelin album in this collection (instead of the other 4 albums also present), and it would hit all the highlights of what makes them worthy of inclusion. Although then we wouldn't have had all the classics from Zeppelin II, or "Immigrant song" for that matter, but that's a price I'd be willing to pay, especially if it meant not having to wade through Zeppelin III, not to mention getting some other album that didn't make the cut due to space constraints....

A five before even giving it a relisten. Like a lot of others here, I know this album by heart, and every movement is carved into my soul. Reminds me most of being a teenager, sneaking beer, and shooting pool in my parent’s basement. Contrary to some others here, I’ll say Battle of Evermore is one of the greatest Zep songs. Could you imagine any other song leading into Stairway? I bet you can’t. Also five stars to the old man with the lantern on the inside cover. I had him on my favorite tee shirt back in those pool shooting days.

My interest is piqued. One of the biggest albums of all time but not one I'm very familiar with. Black Dog is a decent opener with some good riffs but not as memorable for me as Rock and Roll, which really turns up the speed and heaviness. Insane rhythm section. The Battle of Evermore is totally different, with mandolin and no drums at all. Stairway is Stairway. Still one of the all timers that builds to a hell of a solo and finish. The next couple of tracks are more subtle, Four Sticks in particular standing out with its dense layers of sound and riffs. Going to California is a pretty acoustic folk number and a highlight for me. Finally, When the Levee Breaks opens with thunderous drumming and then a heavy blues riff. It rumbles on at a mid pace with an incredible groove. Eight tracks that all bring something different to the table and the quality of the playing is immense. Complex arrangements. I might be a convert.

Great album

Second best after Physical graffiti

Haven't listened to this in probably 40+ years. Still knew every note.

Ten stars. The best band of all time with one of their masterpieces.

Is this Led Zeppelin’s best album? Yes. Does it also have most of my favorite songs of theirs? Also yes. I’ve listened to this album so many times, and it somehow gets better with each listen. If I had to pick a favorite album of all time, this would definitely be in the conversation.

You just assume this is a 5. Take a closer listen. It's pure rock n roll and very VERY talented musicians. Hard to really say who's the best of the 4 because they are all giants and incomparable. I do think there are better, more immersive Zeppelin albums. I do think they play it right down the middle here. I do think based on who they are and what they're capable of you could argue this is a 4. But I'll round up. Favorite song is Four Sticks. By a lot.

"Right lads, let's stop mucking about and make a proper rock song...one these geezers will listen to forever." "Right-o, let's run through what we'll all do on it, Robert?" "I'm the singer aren't I? Don't be a ponce, I'll sing." "Noted, Jimmy?" "I'll play the guitar, but a few kinds. Give me an acoustic 6, and best have a 12 knocking about, and also let's obviously have the Gibson on solo duty." "Rock and roll. Bonzo?" "Just set up the kit and piss off." "Fair enough, John Paul, that leaves you with the bass, right?" "Yep" "Ok, soun.." "And the electic piano..gimme a Rhoades." "Piano, good, that'll be ni..." "And I want recorders..." "Recorders? Johno this is the greatest rock song of all time, not music Monday in a kindergarten." "No recorders, then I'm out." "Fine...have your recorders."

Fourth studio album. LOL. I'm sure this album wouldn't be on this chart if it wasn't the 4th studio album... It's kind of appropriate they called this the IV album. It's like a shot of adrenaline. The only reason I'm giving this album more than 1 star is because it's not a live album.

What is amazing is that songs like Black Dog and Rock & Roll are kinda boring now… they are absolutely classic, but I don’t get excited about listening to them. The thing that is great is that the rest of this album is so varied different creative and engaging. Evermore, Four Sticks, Going to California and Levee Breaks are all still incredible. The groove/drums in Levee are just so compelling. Fantastic.

Perfect album

easy 5

Man, it's Zeppelin 4. This album is seared into my cortex. Most of it was still getting constant FM radio airplay when I was a kid. It was one of the first CDs I bought. I listened to it over and over and over. There's not much else I can squeeze out of this one. When the Levee Breaks is still one of the dopest drum beats ever. For all his talents, I think John Bonham's greatest attribute was his restraint. The beat is so skeletal and deliberate. But it still has Bonham's signature right foot, going where no other drummer would take the song. A lesser drummer would have played a lot more, and sounded a lot less. Misty Mountain Hop is rollicking fun. It's been years since I've listened to the album as a piece. MMH was the highlight of this spin. Everything is just firing perfectly here. Everyone gets a featured break; and they're all great. The song is a driving masterpiece. I've always loved Four Sticks too. In fact, I think I like the second side of this album even more than side one. And think about that; the A-side has Black Dog, Rock and Roll, and of course, Stairway to Heaven. This is just a fantastic album from the top, down. It has to be one of the best hard rock albums ever.

There are a couple of weak spots on the album, but the peaks are higher than almost any other record in history. Of course I am referring to Black Dog, as well as the iconic Stairway to Heaven and the titanic When the Levee Breaks. When you have three tracks of this quality, it's hard to argue against a 5 star rating.

We are eating good today! Like the man on the cover, I imagine he went into Sunday not sure what was up, how much wood he would collect, but turns out the gods smile on you sometimes and he came back with one of the biggest bundles of sticks ever captured on an album cover. Seeing the cover enlarged I am not realizing it is a painting hanging on a wall. Incredible. While this isn't my favorite LZ album, it's one of the greats. Black Dog, Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven, Misty Mountain Hop, and one of my favs When the Levee Breaks.

As I sat in the car thinking of how to review this album, the radio automatically switched to FM and stairway is what happened to be playing. All of zeppelin is overhyped but only stairway is really overplayed. It’s impressive that a song which sees so much play can feel like it earns it, and more so that the album it appears on feels cohesive, complete, and commensurate to its success.

Lay down, light up, headphones on, volume up, close your eyes and climb the stairway. Then you will understand how great this album is. 5 stars or A+ without question.

A perfect Led Zeppelin album. All over the place sonically, never gets boring.

Calling it a masterpiece still doesn't do it enough justice.

ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!!!

It's one of the most important pieces of hard rock ever. I gave it a 97 out of 100 on My AOTY account.just because I prefer post rock like swans or godspeed you!

classic

A tour de force that has hit after hit as Led Zeppelin completed their world take over. Some controversy in writing upon look back but hard to deny its impact.

Boomers really cooked with this one.

Even the weakest songs of this album are better than many great songs, it doesn't get much better than this.

Inarguably brilliant. Near perfect. Everything just HITS. After two one star albums, this is what was desperately needed.

Heard it a thousand times, but always happy to listen again. Their versatility is on full display here. Rockers, ballads, epics. It's all there.

I could spin this over and over

I don't think there is anything I could say that hasn't been said a million times. This album is a stone cold classic.

What a classic. There are some weak points, with Four Sticks especially and even Rock and Roll feeling like filler tracks to me. But Going to California, Battle for Evermore, When the Levee Breaks just deliver so much soul. And even after billions plays of Stairway, it is still worth an undistracted listen every once in a while. 4.5 stars.

An absolute masterpiece obviously, but as a drummer I have to highlight Bonham's drumming on "Four Sticks" - possibly the sole underrated track on the record. The 5/8 to 6/8 groove is slick as butter, and Bonzo maintains a consistent feel across the entire track - using four sticks, to boot!

Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands, this is one of their best albums

Classic

I listened to it twice because I was in the office the first time and it felt like I didn’t do the listening experience justice.

Classic

Define o que é essencial no rock, demonstração de poder e melodia com as melhores doses de partes ou faixas acústicas com seções de rock pesado. Será um dos disco que mais escutarei na vida.

Generally, not my favorite album of the band but certainly an incredible listen. Bombastic and subtle across the span of the album.

Every time I try to discount this one. Say it's overrated. But damn, this one has it all. The members are in full force with hits of every kind. Might as well be a greatest hits.

Bona fide GOLD! Was least familiar with Four Sticks but loved/knew every track. Enjoyed the simplicity of Going To California as I always have!

Alright, another iconic album! Led Zeppelin IV is arguably one of the most iconic albums ever released. It has been praised to a degree that very few other albums have. I mean, it's the fifth highest rated album on this very website! But does it deserve this high praise? What do you think I'm gonna say? Of course it does. I think the most impressive thing about this album is that it was released in 1971. Obviously, great music had been released by 1971, but this just feels way ahead of nearly every other band from this time. The blend of hard and soft sounds creates a lot of variety in the feelings this album gives you. All of the band's members provide something of value to this band. Robert Plant's vocals are probably my favorite part, but Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham all deserve plenty of praise as well. All of the songs are great too. Obviously, "Stairway to Heaven" is insanely iconic for a reason. It's just an amazing song that I'm listening to again as I write this review. Songs like "The Battle of Evermore" retain that song's emotional high points, while songs like the opener "Black Dog" add a bit of fun into the mix. Overall, this album truly does deserve the praise it gets. Even if I personally wouldn't call it the greatest album ever made (there are quite a few albums on this list that I like more than it), I can totally see why others would call this the greatest album ever. 5/5.

there wasnt a song i didnt like

Album lleno de joyas musicales emblemáticas de una época en la que todo era nuevo y el horizonte estaba lleno de nuevas ideas que se materializaban gracias a los avances en las técnicas de grabación de la época. Hay una leyenda que cuenta que John Bonham grabó la batería de este disco con sólo dos micrófonos y colocando su instrumento en el cubo de la escalera del edificio donde se encontraba el estudio. Esto le dio un sabor muy peculiar al sonido de los tambores y se puede notar en varios momentos a lo largo del disco.

own

Perfection

Musical comfort food

Listened to many times. One of the great rock albums. Page's guitar playing is extraordinary, but his overall songwriting and use of odd time signatures has never been duplicated (although many have tried). And despite the oversaturation of "Stairway to Heaven" it remains the pinnacle of rock epics. "The dark Lord rides in force tonight"

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I almost skipped Stairway but then decided that listening to the album means listening to everything.

Glorious from the first note to the last. I pity the album that comes after this.

Even with Stairway to Heaven way overplayed during our youth, this is an all-timer. Damone: When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV. Ratner: plays "Kashmir" from Physical Graffiti.

One of the best rock albums of all time personally. Every riff slaps, Bonham’s drumming is super tight, and of course Robert Plant’s vocals are energetic and full of personality. The more upbeat and fun tracks like Black Dog and Misty Mountain Hop are great, while the more emotional cuts like Going To California do an excellent job at keeping the listener engaged although they are slower paced. Overall the only small issue with this project is that I wish it was longer, but at the end of the day the super tight tracklist makes it flow better. 9.5/10

Fucking goated. Zeppelin's best album. I love how concise it is, giving us only their best.

Stairway to heaven forever

Rock and Roll is probably one of my all time favourite songs. The whole album is spectacular, not a single negative found. Perfection!

It's perfect.

Zeppelin's magnum opus. A statement so massive that it came out in only the second year of the 1970s and yet it loomed over the whole decade. Big, brash, stupid, stupendous, overplayed as all hell, and, yes, a wonderful album. Best song: Rock and Roll

Battle of evermore, black dog, rock n roll, misty mountain hop, going to california, when the levee breaks

I never seem to get tired of Stairway to Heaven no matter how overplayed it is. I won't say that the next song can hold up after it, but the album picks up again quickly and ends strong. Stand-out: Going to California, Rock and Roll

Ba ba booey 👀

I know, it's a bit of a cliche rating, but I was surprised to enjoy the other songs of the album as much as Stairway to Heaven. A few of them got imitated a lot so they get a strong Seinfeld Effect, but it was still a great listen.

Understated classic for a reason

**Led Zeppelin IV: An In-Depth Review** **Introduction** Released on November 8, 1971, Led Zeppelin IV, officially untitled but commonly referred to as "Led Zeppelin IV," stands as one of the most iconic albums in rock history. This fourth studio album by Led Zeppelin solidified the band’s place in the pantheon of rock legends. The album showcases the band's musical versatility and profound lyricism, supported by stellar production and an enduring influence that spans generations. **Music and Composition** Led Zeppelin IV offers a diverse musical palette, ranging from hard rock to folk influences. The opening track, "Black Dog," starts with a distinctive a cappella vocal intro by Robert Plant, immediately leading into a powerful riff by Jimmy Page. The song epitomizes the band's hard rock prowess, featuring complex time signatures and dynamic shifts. "Rock and Roll," the second track, pays homage to the early rock and roll of the 1950s with its driving rhythm and spirited energy. John Bonham’s drumming is particularly noteworthy, providing a relentless, pounding beat that propels the song forward. "The Battle of Evermore" introduces a more acoustic, folk-influenced sound. The use of mandolin, played by Page, and the duet vocals by Plant and Sandy Denny from Fairport Convention create a mystical atmosphere, reminiscent of ancient British folklore. The album’s centerpiece, "Stairway to Heaven," is a progressive rock masterpiece. It begins with a gentle acoustic guitar, gradually building into an electrifying climax. The lyrics, filled with allegorical references, have been interpreted in myriad ways, adding to the song’s mystique. "Going to California" and "Four Sticks" further demonstrate the band’s range. The former is a soft, introspective ballad with a strong folk influence, while the latter is notable for its complex rhythmic structure, with Bonham playing with four drumsticks, hence the title. "When the Levee Breaks," the closing track, is a powerful blues-rock song with a heavy, ominous feel. The recording of Bonham’s drums in a stairwell of Headley Grange provides a distinctive, thunderous sound that has been widely sampled in various genres of music. **Lyrics and Themes** The lyrics on Led Zeppelin IV explore a wide array of themes, from mythology and fantasy to introspection and existential musings. "Black Dog" uses metaphor and blues tradition to depict themes of lust and longing. "Rock and Roll" nostalgically celebrates the genre’s roots while also acknowledging its evolution. "The Battle of Evermore" and "Stairway to Heaven" delve into mythical and spiritual realms. "The Battle of Evermore" references historical and mythical battles, evoking a sense of timeless struggle. "Stairway to Heaven" is rich with symbolism, exploring themes of spiritual enlightenment, materialism, and the quest for meaning. "Going to California" is more personal and introspective, reflecting Plant's feelings of disillusionment and yearning for a simpler life amidst the chaos of fame. "Four Sticks," with its enigmatic lyrics, touches on themes of determination and perseverance. "When the Levee Breaks" revisits the blues tradition, drawing inspiration from the 1927 Mississippi flood. The lyrics convey a sense of impending doom and the struggle against uncontrollable natural forces, metaphorically reflecting broader existential themes. **Production** The production of Led Zeppelin IV, handled by guitarist Jimmy Page, is a masterclass in achieving a perfect blend of rawness and sophistication. Recorded at several locations, including Headley Grange, a Victorian house in Hampshire, the album benefits from the varied acoustic environments. Page’s innovative recording techniques are evident throughout the album. For instance, the use of the "distance makes depth" technique in "When the Levee Breaks," where Bonham’s drums were recorded from a distance to capture the room's natural reverb, creates a monumental sound. The acoustic tracks, such as "Going to California" and "The Battle of Evermore," were meticulously recorded to capture the nuances of the instruments. The production enhances the ethereal quality of these songs, providing a stark contrast to the heavier tracks. The layering of instruments and vocals is handled with precision, allowing each element to shine while contributing to the overall texture of the album. The dynamic range, from the gentle acoustics of "Stairway to Heaven"’s intro to the full-throttle rock of "Rock and Roll," showcases the band’s ability to traverse and blend genres seamlessly. **Influence and Legacy** Led Zeppelin IV has had an immeasurable impact on rock music and beyond. The album’s innovative blend of genres has influenced countless artists across various genres, from rock and metal to folk and electronic music. "Stairway to Heaven" alone has achieved legendary status, often cited as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Its influence can be seen in the works of many bands that followed, inspiring a generation of musicians to experiment with song structures and lyrical content. The heavy, riff-driven sound of "Black Dog" and "Rock and Roll" laid the groundwork for many hard rock and heavy metal bands. The album’s incorporation of folk elements can be seen in the rise of folk rock and the continued blending of rock with other genres. The production techniques employed by Page have become standard practices in the recording industry, particularly the innovative use of space and acoustics. The album’s success without a title or band name on the cover challenged conventional marketing practices and emphasized the importance of music over commercial considerations. **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Musical Diversity:** The album covers a wide range of musical styles, showcasing the band’s versatility and willingness to experiment. 2. **Iconic Tracks:** Songs like "Stairway to Heaven," "Black Dog," and "When the Levee Breaks" are timeless classics. 3. **Production Quality:** The innovative recording techniques and production quality set new standards in the industry. 4. **Lyricism:** The album’s lyrics are rich with symbolism, mythology, and introspection, offering depth and multiple layers of interpretation. 5. **Influence:** The album’s influence on subsequent generations of musicians and genres is profound and far-reaching. **Cons:** 1. **Lyrical Ambiguity:** Some listeners may find the lyrics of certain songs, especially "Stairway to Heaven," too ambiguous or open to interpretation. 2. **Overexposure:** Due to the album’s immense popularity, tracks like "Stairway to Heaven" may suffer from overexposure, leading to listener fatigue. 3. **Pacing:** The shift from hard rock to folk within the album may feel disjointed to some listeners, affecting the overall flow. 4. **Length:** At just over 42 minutes, some might argue the album is too short, leaving listeners wanting more from such a landmark release. 5. **Consistency:** While the diversity is a strength, it may also be seen as a lack of consistent direction or theme throughout the album. **Conclusion** Led Zeppelin IV is an essential piece of rock music history. Its groundbreaking approach to blending genres, coupled with its innovative production and deep lyricism, makes it a timeless classic. While it has its minor flaws, the album’s strengths far outweigh them, ensuring its place as a cornerstone of rock music and a lasting influence on the music industry.

An absolute titan of an album. Has an enormous reputation that it somehow lives up to. Banger after banger, incredible range. Send this into space.

One of the "best of the best" of all times

One of the greatest albums ever released with, in my opinion, the greatest song ever written.

I kinda have to give it a 5 just for the Black Dog, Stairway, and When the Levee Breaks. Three monstrously good tracks that define what makes Zeppelin so iconic to me.