Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
1969
Album Summary
Led Zeppelin II is the second studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 22 October 1969 in the United States and on 31 October 1969 in the United Kingdom by Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at several locations in both the United Kingdom and North America from January to August 1969. The album's production was credited to the band's lead guitarist and songwriter Jimmy Page, and it was also Led Zeppelin's first album on which Eddie Kramer served as engineer. The album exhibited the band's evolving musical style of blues-derived material and their guitar riff-based sound. It has been described as the band's heaviest album. Six of the nine songs were written by the band, while the other three were reinterpretations of Chicago blues songs by Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf. One single, "Whole Lotta Love", was released outside of the UK (the band would release no UK singles during their career), and peaked as a top-ten single in over a dozen markets around the world. Led Zeppelin II was a commercial success, and was the band's first album to reach number one on charts in the UK and the US. The album's cover designer David Juniper was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package in 1970. On 15 November 1999, the album was certified 12× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales passing 12 million copies. Since its release, various writers and music critics have regularly cited Led Zeppelin II as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time.
WikipediaClassic. Just damn classic. There's not a single song on this album that's not just fantastic. Maaaybe "Moby Dick" could be left off the list as it's really just an entire track of drum wankery. But, for drum wankery, it's still really good.
I've had this album's dick in my mouth since I was in middle school. Great to revisit. Haven't listened to Thank You or Living Loving Maid in a while. I always listen to the How The West Was Won Heartbreaker... interesting to see how tame the album version seems in comparison. Still my favorite Page solo. Bring it on Home is possibly my favorite final song on an album. Classic. Iconic.
There are a lot of bigger Zeppelin fans than me - I would say I definitely like their highs but there's a lot of "miss" in their collection as well... Nothing more to say here than Zeppelin II is a *direct hit* - from top to bottom I believe their most consistent and best album (however, i'll definitely reconsider that statement when Zep IV is reviewed). Whole Lotta Love is a statement kickoff, a classic, and to me the worst song on the record which says a lot. Everyone in the band is peaking here and aside from their early-period standard of ripping off old blues legends (not quite as bad as on their first album but close :P....) their songwriting got a lot better here; excellent mix of riff rock, acoustic/mellow, dynamics, and melody. Page/Plant always had the aura but the rhythm section of Jones/Bonham was the heartbeat of this band, nowhere more evident than on this album. Almost perfect. 9/10 (5 stars)
An exceptional album. Has two of the best Led Zeppelin songs on it in Whole Lotta Love and Ramble On. Led Zeppelin are great at really maintaining a blues feel, even folky in some areas but with a more heavy rock exterior which I think is what makes them so good.
This was SO good, I listened like 3-4 times. Led Zeppelin reminds me of Chris Balestrinis dad cos when I was a teen I said I liked them, then whenever he would drive us places he would put it on for me. Nice touch
My favorite Led Zeppelin album as well as one of my favorite albums of all time, hands down. The rhythm section of John Bonham and John Paul Jones manages to perfectly meld American blues and gospel influences with the new wave of rock n' roll that was emerging during the British Invasion of the 60s. Jimmie Page, with his legendary guitar riffs and solos, and Robert Plant, with his bombastic vocals, play off of each other with a sense of freedom around the rock-solid rhythm section. Tracks like Heartbreaker, Lemon Song, and Moby Dick all show off the pioneering talents of Page, Jones, and Bonham, respectively. With so many incredible moments on this timeless album, I believe it is deserving of no less than 5 stars, and furthermore I believe every self-proclaimed fan of rock n' roll should listen to this album. How can Zeppelin fans say tjat Physical Graffiti is better than Led Zeppelin II? The world may never know.
This album reminds me so much of high school. Whether we were smoking in Trixie and blasting this tape, or smoking in Nick's car and singing Living Loving Maid like some kind of gay, barber shop trio, there was always a good chance we were smoking and listening to Zeppelin II. "Thank You" is what Sam and I danced to at our wedding. And then we smoked and drank beer. Some things never change. All time awesome album.
Oh, good. More Zep. A good rhythm section, a solid guitarist, but it doesn't add up to a sum of its parts. It winds up being a mess of plagiarism, pedophilia, and horrible, shrieked vocals and masturbation sounds. Zep were the most self-indulgent band that people still (somehow) look upon positively despite the fact that it's just proto-hair metal. Outside of a smattering of good moments like Immigrant Song and Kashmir, this band's discography is disposable pulp on a pedestal made of statutory rape charges.
Too prone to jacking off in misbegotten shows of elegance or, yawn, classicism. They regain some ground with the riffs (though even they're not half as good as you expect) then take twenty steps back with Plant's vocals. The yowling isn't the problem--that's all good fun--it's how unsexy his voice is. When he says he's gonna give me every inch of his love, I can only shiver and reply "That's very generous of you, Robert, but why don't you keep it to yourself." And when he says the juices are running down his leg: ew, ew, ew.
A classic mix of classic rock and psychedelia. This album is like a wild rollercoaster that when you get off you jump right back in line no matter how long the wait.
Most bands don't put out greatest hits albums with this many bangers on it. Rarely does a sophomore effort rival the first album. In this case, it is neck and neck. Zep II is required for any teenager who ever picked up a guitar and a necessary inclusion for all road trip playlists. This is Rock N' Roll culture boiled down into its most potent form. If you don't love it, you don't get it.
so happy to have this one on the list today - one of my all time top albums. I remember sitting in my friend's room in front of 3-foot speakers blasting this until our ears bled. (it was actually the box set, but you get the point)...metallica MoP was also in the rotation...prolly part of the reason my ears ring today...along with you fuckers.
Whole Lotta Love - what a way to start an album. I love the use of guitar, for example the call and response with the vocals. Sometimes it sounds like an angry car, sometimes almost a voice in itself. The bass is so strong throughout the whole album and makes the heavy sound, but still allows for the melody. Every member of the band does a fantastic job. Although, I could have done without the drum solo... Some tracks are definitely folk rock, some are deep blues rock.
This album has so many iconic songs that pioneered the path for future artists in the genre. Zeppelin still focuses on shorter hard rock songs here, with loud jams and tight lyrics. This record is unbelievably polished showing their musicianship in every facet of the group.
This is an album that I've heard many times so I tried to do something different when I was listening to it. I really concentrated more on John Paul Jones and Bonzo with my most recent listen. It's so easy to focus on Page's amazing playing that it wasn't easy but the more I listen the more impressed I am, especially by Jones. I like the debut a little bit more than this one because it's a straight out rocker but this definitely had more diversity in the songwriting as the band itself was developing their sound.
TWAS IN THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF MORDOR I MET A GIRL SO FAIR BUT GOLLUM AND THE EVIL ONE CREPT UP AND SLIPPED AWAY WITH HER
If one of my kids asked me what classic rock was, I would sit them down and play them this album. It is quintissential. If it weren't for a couple of Plant's questionable performance (I'm looking at you "Bring it on Home"), I'd say the album was flawless. Classic riffs like the openning bars of "Whole Lotta Love", "Heartbreaker" and "Moby Dick" are all you need to hear to know exactly how impactful this album was on every record that came after it. But it didn't just come down to catchy bars. Almost every song is dynamic, leaving room for exploration of the spaces in between the muscial themes. I've listened to this album countless times before, and it continues to be worth every star I can give it.
Rock n Roll at its finest. A fucking heavyweight of an album. Jimmy's axe work is sensational and Robert's vox are piercing. I'd take your mum to uncle Brian's abattoir and bang her to this one. Bang her in amongst the hanging dead meat.
Golum! At the evil wall! Zepp is either backdoor banging your girl or en route to Mordor with a 20 sided die. The holy trinity of hard rock, Tolkein, and sleezy sex somehow come together like butt cheeks on this record. Side question: do you remember hearing people point out that Jimi Page was more of a "black" guitar player and Jimi Hendrix was more "white"? Am I making that up from my subconscious? The thing that strikes me most pleasantly about this album is that in the midst of all the heavy Led, there's a pretty love song "Thank You" full of gratitude and a beautiful organ outro. One evening in Gig Harbor when I was about 13 my dad and I sat down and listeded to a bunch of records from his college years. All of his albums had "Garb" written on the cover in sharpie. This was the first one he played, and it's left a deep impression. Lots of scratches during "Heartbreaker" and my dad said "that was a fun party" and smiled. That was the start of my classic rock phase. That and the Almost Famous soundtrack. Thanks Cameron Crowe. Thanks Dad. Landmark album for AER. A-
It is amazing that this is their 2nd album. So many great tracks. John Bonham and John Paul Jones deserve more praise. The drum and bass work on this album are fantastic. There is one track on this album that, for me, has has permanently painted Robert Plant as a creep. My enjoyment of Led Zeppelin in general is dragged down by this sense of Plant's creepiness. Bleh. That being said, tracks like "Ramble On" (my favorite from this album -- listen to the bass lines), "Thank You" (my 2nd fav), "What Is and What Should Never Be", and "Moby Dick" keep this album at 4 stars.
This is another example of an artist that I've heard every song by but rarely if ever as an album. I had no idea what songs would come up but enjoyed guessing based roughly on the feel of the other songs (and what knowledge I DO have of certain songs and their albums). Anyway, excellent listen all the way through. Particularly enjoyed a lot of the (like 3) songs I had never heard before - particularly Thank You. It feels wrong to NOT give it a 5 but there was some stuff that I was a bit on the fence about (lyrics, specifically). Otherwise pretty impeccable.
Darker, deeper, and more oblique than it's predecessor, their sophomore effort tracks a more acoustic tack (culminating in the follow up LZ III), which, when combined with the raw power and cut of their debut, they would leverage to craft their iconic masterpiece IV. As such, this is a transitional work that still manages to pack quite a punch. The hits here loom large, but on the whole it's a bit uneven. Compared to their best, it can't help but come up a bit short, but it remains better than most within the genre
Couple of bangers. A few songs drag for me, even with appreciation for prog. Hard to dislike, just not astonishing.
Started well with the Top Of The Pops music - and what a lot of interesting characters that threw up! Spent over four decades trying to get my head round Led Zeppelin and can still only take small doses. Some good riffs and some more melodic tracks.
Robert Plant is a bit of a 'nob with vocals akin to Pat Sharp scraping his mullet down a blackboard. Overblown in places. Wanky guitar solos at times, but fine I suppose.
Led Zeppelin II, famous for being Lez Zeppelin's second album, is the followup to Led Zeppelin's first album, Led Zeppelin. Here, the band still sits firmly in the blues rock/hard rock crossroads, with these sorta jam sections to bring the dynamics down a little bit the old-fashioned way: Bonham and Jones keep it steady while Plant and Page sorta noodle before going back into the song. Not saying if it's good or bad but it definitely follows a pattern. Led Zeppelin is really good at what they do. Even the songs that don't stand out as much fit right in with the best songs. My favorite is easily Moby Dick, wherein Bonham has free reign to go crazy on the drums. I am, however starting to come to terms with the fact that I am not a huge Led Zeppelin fan. Nothing wrong with them specifically, I just don't find they do much for me. Either way, pretty good album!
Sorry Zep fans but this album ain't a 5 - not even close. I'm rounding up to get to a three. Whole Lotta Love: Great opening riff - Page makes this band - followed by a great opening rip off. Did they think Willie Dixon wouldn't notice? A retrospective of this band shows they consistently held the view that stealing is only wrong if you get caught. Also, I forgot how bad the noisy interlude is. The exit from the noise features a Bonham drumming bit that everyone knows. I think we are so happy the interlude of noise is over that we remember and think fondly of that drumming bit. Thank You: The last song on Side 1 brings us the first really good solid song. Thank you. The harmonies are good and the drumming is quite impressive and almost Moon like quality. Heartbreaker: I always liked the opening riff and also the transition to Living Loving … Money Dick? My hatred of drum solos made me forget this hideous song. At least when you’re at a concert and a pompous drum solo breaks out, you can take the opportunity to hit the washroom and not miss anything important. A drum solo on a studio album is pure agony. Bring it on Home: A very nice song to end the album. I quite liked this album when I was in high school but a combination of excessive airplay and maturing have killed it for me.
CockRock. Big Guitars, Big Drums, Big Cocks. Could happy live the rest of my life never having to listen to Led Zep again.
4.75/5 An album of straight up bangers, and the trend setter of so much hard rock that would be to follow, for the most part Led Zeppelin II has stood up so well to the test of time. The guitar riffs, from Whole Lotta Love to Heartbreaker to Moby Dick to Bring It On Home, are amazing. The drum solos, amazing. The vocals, amazing! A highly cohesive album in terms of the sonic themes and influences, most notably from delta blues. Admittedly, I am slightly biased, as the Led Zeppelin version of Bring It on Home (the original by Sonny Boy Robinson is also fantastic) is one of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs. Unfortunately most people don't know this song is a cover - if I'm docking a fourth of a point, its for two reasons. One is that the influence of delta blues is clear to the point of being at times a little uncomfortable in the stylizations of the vocals - I find it a little bit laughable when Englishman Robert Plant sings about what are clearly Black southern American concepts. Unfortunately the 60s were not a time when people were more cognizant of how this might be uncomfortable at best. The other is that the lyrics, particularly when it comes to women, can be pretty cringey. If there's one song that HAS NOT stood up to the test of time, its Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman). Led Zeppelin's whole thing with chivalrous manhood radiates "nice guy" energy. This might be why I personally tend to gravitate towards Led Zeppelin songs with minimal singing in them or songs that weren't written by them, as on some of their songs the lyrics are terrible to the point of distracting. But regardless, this album is full of impressive, blueprint setting guitar work. Bombastic and complimentary drums, cymbals, bongos, and more fascinating use of backing instrumentals. Vocals that radiate personality and would only become more distinctive and impressive on albums like Led Zeppelin IV. Experimental use of tempo, the rock song structure, dynamics, and more. There are endless things to find on each listen of this album, and that is so rare!
precioso, y todas mejores que whole lotta love te diré. varias favoritas pero gana el drum solo de moby dick.
not sure if this or IV is my favourite - but it doesn't really matter, both are bangersssss
A couple songs are really great (e.g., The Lemon Song, Ramble On, Moby Dick) - didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did!
Volgens mij het beste album van Led Zeppelin al zijn de meningen daarover verdeelt, vooral het nummer Moby Dick blijft steengoed
More Led is good, wish it was a different band. Mix it up! LZ is always a delight. No complaints, ready for the next album.
A classic. It is definitely not the best Zeppelin album, but there is not a bad song on here and JPJ really shines. Just an all around great, hard hitting rock album. Favorite track(s): "Lemon Song" and "Bring it on Home"
Classiqu. led zep est un de mes froupes preferes et led zep 2 est pas loin d’etre leur meilleur. Si il ne l’est pas… 5*
I always dug Zepplin. It was one of the ONLY bands my day seems concerned about me listing to. I think he associated with stoners. Not a bad song on the album.
The lemon song was my unexpected highlight. Always familiar with led zeppelin, it was great to really focus on the bass and drum arrangements. Never really appreciated just how intricate instrumental the arrangements of the band are
This is one way to close out a decade -- with an all out revolution! This album changed rock forever, and the band never looked back.
5 stars. This album is 5 stars, what's with the vote button? This shit isn't up for debate!
A gift to humanity but of all the zeppelin albums, I probably revisit this one the least. It has a lot of songs I hear played often. And when I do want to hear these tracks, I listen to the live album
forgot how much it slaps and stands the test of time. WIAWSNB, Thank you, Moby Dick are standouts, but all are bangers. there's really not a weak track on there, or maybe they're all so deeply ingrained in my memory. it's like a time machine to being 15 again.
Some really stand out moments on this album, not my favourite Led Zep but it’s still a belter!
This is prime Led Zeppelin. One of their best works. From one of the best bands ever. What more can I say.
Otro de mis grandes favs. Un buen disco, y aunque Jimmy Page no haya sido nunca un músico muy prolijo, nos regaló mucho de los mejores riffs de la historia del rock. En particular del Led Zeppelin II me quedo con “Heartbreaker” y “Moby Dick”. 5/5 solo por existir, gracias por tanto.
One of the best rhythm section of all time. Just another stellar album from a stellar band.
Words almost unnecessary. For a teenager, hearing this album for the first time was a life-changing experience. Their best album by a mile in my view.
Have not listened to all the way through before. Moby Dick is cool, but drums go on too long. Cool songs on here. Rocks hard.
First time listening: 9/9 songs liked Damn that drummer, holy shit. It gives all those blue standards and originals so much more flavor and grit. Robert plant has the right theatrics to his voice that doesn't take me away too. Wonderful! 3 songs saved
If I could give this album 10/5 stars I would. It’s the best LZ album, and every song knocks it out of the park. Plus, it’s got a true drum solo that is actually very cool to listen to.
Back-to-back jams. The only bad moment on the whole album is the drum solo in Moby Dick, otherwise flawless.
really good, some awesome basslines on here. i hadn't listened to this one before and it's cool to hear the roots that develop more in III and IV. 9/10
And see? That's why you can't just have American Music. Yes Violent Femmes, I like American Music but if I only liked it my 60's perspective would be warped by the Velvet Underground. Just need a little Zeppelin to bring it all back. Don't get me wrong, both VU and LZ were inspired by drugs but LZ brings a different ferocity. Would this album be anything but a 5? Of course not. You know all the big tracks and everything in between. I'll just say that the little pause between Heartbreaker and Living Loving Maid is one of my favorite musical moments, just knowing what is coming next. I rock out every time.
Never heard of it. OK, seriously, such great staples of rock in this one too. I like this one more than the first, actually. Big step up in sound and experimentation here.
Led Zep II was released at the end of the same year as Led Zep I, continuing the brilliance of their explosive debut. Amazing guitar work and drumming drives the heavy metal blues feel. Amazing talent!
Such a great album, had not listened to it for a while. Love it!! Every song it amazing
No brainer. For one album to have all these great songs, some of the best ever written, recorded etc is insane. Incredible. Can I give more than 5 stars?
Crazy to think Robert Plant is the weakest link. The rhythm is tight on this one! Bonham Bonham Bonham!
September 24, 2021 Awesome! Except for the last track ("Bring It On Home") which I didn't really enjoy.
This hits me different now to when I heard it first time aged 18 and my only criteria for a good song was the quality of the guitar solo. Still a stone cold classic though. This is one of those rare albums that defines an era, sets a template for its genre and acts as a tentpole for the career of the artists. An absolute monolith in rock history.
Amazing! It's got heavy guitar riffs, blues influences, BIG drums, and Lord of the Rings references. What more could you want? It's really great.
An instant rock favorite, Led Zeppelin's second self-titled album is short of dull tracks. A harmonious and synergistic record, all instruments are orchestrated in such a way that breathes the true spirit of blues-rock and even a hint of metal. The word influential becomes an inadequate descriptor, as Led Zeppelin cements its hall of fame status with all-around CHBs through Plant, Page, Jones, and Bonham.
Incredible album with many memorable tracks. Some of my favourite Led Zeppelin songs are on this album. Not starting this album on max volume is a sin.
6 stars muthafuckas! Admittedly, pretty biased when it comes to Zeppelin but from the opening guitar riff of ‘Whole Lotta Love’ to the last note from the Harmonica on ‘Bring it on Home’ is all epic. Zeppelin hit the ground running when Led Zeppelin dropped and they continue to be on full display with Led Zeppelin II with Plant’s screeching, Page’s jamming, John Paul Jones’s plucking of the Bass keeping rhythm and what can be said about Bonham’s drumming that hasn’t already been said (probably won’t be the last time I touch on my love for the way harsh, callous way he slams the drums). Gives me goddang chills, tell you what! Not much in the way of lyrical depth on ‘Whole Lotta Love’ but the way they played with the music, including Plant’s voice, from 1:20 into the song to the next lyric at 3:20 is FRIGGIN’ AWESOME. Remember, this was probably recorded on 4 tracks, maybe 8. I know I’ve blasted love songs in past reviews i.e., Songs in the Key of Life but the emotions in ‘What is and What Should Never Be’ and the back and forth of the softness and the hardness of it all, the instrumentals in the middle of the tune (John Henry ‘Bonzo’ Bonham lives!) and Plant’s voice bringing it all together make it a timeless hit. I can relate to being with someone you should have quit a long time ago (fuck you bitch, for giving my money to another man!) sung about in ‘The Lemon Song’ but it’s not easy to leave when they squeeze you 'till the juice runs down your leg and you’re gonna fall right outta bed. Another love song with ‘Thank You’ (actually, most of this album, as with many of Led Zeppelin’s songs are, are love songs. But these aren’t you fluffy happy go lucky love songs now, are they. The fervor and zeal is just a different level)?!? No problem. You gotta love it when the feelings portrayed are as passionate and intense as Romeo’s and Juliet’s love and makes you think ‘the all-seeing sun, ne’er saw her match since first the world begun’ (even though Romeo is referring to Rosaline at this point). ‘Heartbreaker’ (Jimmy!) and ‘Living Loving Maid’ are the epitome of rock and roll songs that perfectly round out the middle of the album. Indeed, sometimes I grow so tired, but I know I've got one thing I got to do; Ramble on (life lesson right there!). What a story ‘Ramble On’ tells. Envious of the freedom but hoping the best for him none the less that he does find his baby. At this point you have to know what I think about Bonham and therefore his opus ‘Moby Dick’. And has there ever been a more aptly named closing song than ‘Bring it on Home’? The chugging of the Bass and the blasts of the Harmonica effortlessly bring up imagines of watching the train roll down the track. Starting off soft and slow, gradual crescendo to rock your socks off, and then measuredly brings you back home. Emotionally, physically and mentally drained like a $20 whore on payday.
This is, for my money, the best Zeppelin album. Hard to pick a favorite track, but I'm always tickled pink by the Gollum reference in Ramble On. Moby Dick is one of the best drum solos of all time, but actually *any* live recording is better than the album version. Ah well, still a perfect album.
God damn! That was great! I’m familiar with most of the songs but I don’t think I had ever listened to this from start to finish. I love it.
Great guitar work and absolutely love the rhythm section throughout. Some absolute classic riffs. Heavy folk/blues sound and gospel influences on some tracks are great. Wasn't captured by vocals but think that's often the case for me with Led Zep stuff.
This is my Dad's favorite Led Zeppelin album, and I don't know if it's my favorite, but I do like lots of songs on it and think it still deserves a five-star rating. Favorite songs are What Is and What Should Never Be, Living Loving Maid, and Ramble On. I appreciated The Lemon Song more when I listened to this, because previously I'd only really known the line about squeezing the lemon until the juice runs down his leg, and that was a bit too crude of a metaphor for me LOL
I really love LZ I & II, they both have some great hard rock/blues but I think they really revealed their true talent on III and everything that came after not to hate on the first two albums, I give this one a 9/10, but the stuff that comes after this is their best stuff
Listening to Led Zeppelin is like visiting an old friend. I may not be listening to them nearly as much as I used to, but man, they still pack a punch for me. While this may not be their best overall record for me (though many disagree with me lol), it packs some of their absolute best songs, like Ramble On and What Is and What Should Never Be. What a nice treat to revisit this.
One of the forefathers of Heavy Metal/Hard Rock. Such a master of repetitive guitar riffs that stick to your brain like molasses on sugar. This album set the stage for so many to follow, and it probably my favorite Led Zeppelin album. Heartbreaker and Ramble On are my favorite tracks, with Whole Lotta Love's guitar riffs following closely behind.
i'm ashamed for a few reasons: 1) i have never listened to this album in full, 2) i never realized i knew so many of these songs, 3) i want to live in the moment between heartbreaker and living loving maid forever, and finally, 4) i am now a fan of led zepplin. surprised to hear so much progressive rock in here!
Great album; Led's early albums changed rock music; moved music away from the beatles and the like. They had songs with great stereo effects. they had songs with drum solos in them, they had songs with great change of pace. their albums' songs were all different from each other with different sounds. this album should easily be in the top 50.
5.0 + Maybe (?) my favorite record in LZ's incredible discography. This one's got almost everything: super-charged blues rock ("The Lemon Song"), balls-to-the-wall bangers ("Whole Lotta Love"), crazy mid-song breakdowns ("What is And What..."). Also "Ramble On" (still not sure how Bonham gets that tappy-tappy sound on the verse!?!). Not a dull moment.
I had a friend in 1969 (I was 10 years old) who had an older brother (13, 14?) who turned me on to Led Zepplin, this particular LP. It blew my mind, as it did virtually everyone else that fall when it was released. You couldn’t tune into an FM rock station during any broadcast hour of the day or night and help but hear ‘A Whole Lotta Love.’ That same teen also introduced me to my first hit off a roach (nothing happened), and almost to being an accomplice to the borrowing of and subsequent joy ride in his mother’s car (where something did happen, but thankfully, I was not present.) That kid was trouble. I should have known it by his look, resembling the guys on the cover, and the way in which he carried himself with the same air of danger as one keeping company with a group of fellas I initially, mistakenly assumed were Hell’s Angels, but turns out are German pilots from the first World War. These guys were probably already smoking pot, I reckoned, and were eyeing the keys to the particular airplane they were getting ready to commandeer; no, boost. Any scenario you want to go with, to my innocent little ten years, the LP cover clearly communicated the message: open and listen at your own peril. Well, I did, and have, for over half a century! (Its befitting, by the way, to measure one’s listening history and enjoyment of the mighty, majestic Led Zepplin by centuries, rather than years or months or weeks.) At this point, I could analyze it track by track, the ebb and flow of the heavier songs into the softer ones, sometimes even both in one song (‘Ramble On,’ i.e.), but what’s left to say that hasn’t already been said. There are songs on 'LZ II' (‘Thank You’) that can gently rock you to sleep. And then there are some (‘Heartbreaker’) that can jolt you wide awake and right up out of bed. It’s about as flawless as an LP can get, with the exception of that awfully (too) lengthy drum solo on ‘Moby Dick’. Still, John Bonham deserves a pass here because he is, in my humble opinion, rock n’ roll’s greatest drummer, bar none. Please watch him live, sometime, on YouTube, and marvel in awe at the sheer power with which he pounds his drums. Furthermore, is not Jimmy Page, if not the greatest guitarist, certainly in the top tier, along with a very small few like Jimi Hendrix and Terry Kath. John Paul Jones really rounds the whole thing out with his incredible and underrated bass and keyboard parts. And back when Robert Plant could howl and moan like a sex deprived Viking on shore leave, you could hardly find a better front men. There’s not one over or under used band member. And everyone is disciplined enough to stay in their lane- no small feat when at least two, perhaps three of the four have fairly large, untamed egos. Alas, such is the special burden of rock deity. While fans may construct elaborate arguments for which LP is Zepplin’s greatest- the first, the 'IV,' 'Physical Graffiti'- for me it was always this one, 'LZ II.' From the highly charged electrical sword Page unsheaths in the opening seconds (Da-Doh Da-Doh Dumdumdumdum dumdumdumdum dumdumdumdum, etc) to the final harmonica note blown, teased, bent (Waaahhhwaahh), I stand with, and as countless pilgrims have before me at the foot of the misty mountain to pay homage to the denizens of the palace on its peak where the gods of rock eat and drink... and plug in. Oooooo, just talking about it puts the squeeze on my lemon.
Yep. It's an absolute classic. I know it too well to be objective. The Lemon Song is way sillier than you'd expect Zep to be, I guess? Everything is brilliant.
Adored this 25 years ago (when the album itself was already over 25 years old) so will be interesting to revisit it today after not listening to it much in recent decades. Yes, it's full of riffs, blues rock, blueprints of heavy rock and folk rock. Still inspirational bass grooves. Brilliant and essential.
Whole Lotta Kelso. Led reminds me of dad, riding his motorcycle, growing up in the ‘70s. Need to see more pictures of when he was young with his pretty long, golden hair. Need to celebrate his 60th bigger this year. Love him. “Thank You” is my favorite.
An absolute classic. It's no my favorite from Led Zeppelin, but it definitely deserves to be in this list. Favorite tracks: * Whole Lotta Love * Ramble On * Heartbreaker
This is a classic album, and one of my favorites. Not a bad or weak song on it. Gotta be a 5.
Led Zeppelin has a bit of cultural, historical ubiquity that may in fact work against them if you are not already a fan that has followed their discography. A large catalog with several hits tend to skew the experience for new listeners where devoting intentional listening to an album might seem a boring affair. Thing is, most bands do create favorite songs over the course of their discography, but few ever put out an album that demands its own place in its history in its entirety. Even fewer do it more than once. LZII carries with it a near frenetic (but never frantic) pace, driven by a deep bass, heavy guitars, and an at times shrieking Robert Plant, few other bands really balance this energy with tempered moments to prevent listener burnout. A testament to their mastery of the blues, 1970s rock had a tendency to find a groove and stick to it, but Led Zeppelin managed to groove within the groove and stand out. Sure, "Whole Lotta Love" is a runaway hit on this album, and perhaps it carries the remaining tracks with its momentum, but the band avoids entirely the one-hit wonder syndrome. The modern day metrics we get to see for the additional tracks suggest a more than modest success even without "Whole Lotta Love". Secondarily, as history has had time to figure out how to treat Led Zeppelin, their offerings are not bolstered by the loss of their front men. It is arguable that if Lennon and Cobain were still alive today, that their catalog and surviving bandmates would enjoy the post-success that they do, a happily paid cost for keeping them with us however. Overall, this album drives hard and the ride is fun. The roots of rock and blues are evident, but they are launch pads versus fallbacks. There is a sense of danger in the ride, but at no point does it feel unsafe. The vocals and the music exude such an incredible confidence that either Led Zeppelin knew what they were doing, or they were too and the only thing the listener needs to do is get in and go.
I've already written other LZ reviews, praising their influence and sound, the individual and teamwork between Plant's passionate and diverse vocal style, Page's insane talent on the guitar that often acts as a supplementary vocalist, Bonham's intense drumming that knows when to shush and when to take lead, and Jones's bass and organ that help fabricates the imaginary worlds elaborated by the themes (in sound and lyrics). But this is a general overview on what makes LZ one of the best bands of all time... what can be said about this album? To me, all the songs are masterpieces. The first half starts off with "Whole Lotta Love," a very prog wild piece, beginning off strong with an iconic introduction to the album before a sudden shift into chaos and distortion ensues, which surprisingly goes on for 2 minutes before an epic return to the theme. This song is just perfect all around. It's full of great moments and innovative techniques that come together super well. Has my favorite drumming off the album, you can really hear the power and force Bonham drives in this song. Plant also gives his best performance... he sings and shrieks at least two dozen different ways in under 6 minutes, I have no idea how he pulls it off. Following the showy intro, we immediately contrast with a calm followup "What Is and What Should Be." Love the vibe, between Plant's distorted whispery vocals and Page's melodic riffs, the juxtaposition between the quiet and freak out moments, and the sudden bridge to the coda marked by Page's short riffs coming from everywhere and a gong (for whatever reason). Next we have "Lemon Song," a Howlin Wolf track and of course one of the bluesiest on the album, but LZ's contributions make the track nearly unrecognizable, a complete product of their own. My favorite part is how Page's short-lived riffs compliment Plant's verses, almost like an additional vocalist. The coda sounds like an improvised 50s rock n roll performance. This side ends with a folk "Thank You," honestly reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel with the harmonious vocals and the keyboard, here an organ. It's a quiet, relaxed finish of the first side. The second half begins with the hard "Heartbreaker." What speaks out to me is the bridge when the song suddenly dulls and centers around Page's solo, kicking off into a frantic frenzy before a sudden stop, returning to the verses. The transition between "Heartbreaker" and "Living Loving Maid" is one of the best I've ever heard, I actually spent a considerable time looking up and requesting a feature on Spotify for gluing songs together like this (when playing a playlist). So fast, even the guitar solo only lasts like the 10 seconds (which might I add, sounds NOTHING like the rest of the song, it just sticks out but I love it). Next up is another one of their most famous pieces, "Ramble On." Characterized by a whimsical folk sound that alternates with a hard chorus, and some interesting solos in between that just blow my mind. It just hits you with a wall of sound, excellent work on everyone's part. The Mordor verse is for sure my favorite that paints the mythical setting of this song and has influenced how I listen to other songs (I compare it to the Houses of the Holy album cover). We're back to what appears to be straight instrumental blues in "Moby Dick" until it turns into a surreal drum solo that sounds like congo work until the cymbals come in, bringing us full circle in the last 30 seconds. Album closes off with a blues cover, with the intro and outro among their most bluesy work and staying faithful to the cover, with the middle swinging out of control. A great way to close off the album, keeping that momentum to the very end. No track feels like filler. No duds, although I could see myself skipping tracks like "Moby Dick" not because they're bad, but because I'm not in the mood. By the time LZ formed, their prior experience has ensured that mastery of blues rock, carrying the genre into a heavy style that would be idolized by metal and rock bands to come.
If you look up classic rock in the dictionary, a picture of this album should appear and nothing more. This is the quintessential example. Musically, the changes in volume, pace, and energy are captivating. Lyrically, there are a lot of overt and metaphorical sexual references: “Way, way down inside, I'm gonna give you my love. I'm gonna give you every inch of my love” “I wanna be your backdoor man” “Squeeze me baby, 'til the juice runs down my leg” “I try to make love but it ain't no use. Give it to me, give it” “I'm going to give you loving, baby” Every song is about a woman. Some are loving (Thank You) while several discuss wanting to get laid (see above). From a personal perspective, I have an internal mismatch. I love this album and Led Zeppelin in general. However, I’ve never had a phase when I obsessively listened to them, which I have done for other artists/albums that I feel the same. Frankly, Led Zeppelin deserves this kind of attention and I intend to annoy everyone around me by playing Led Zeppelin, and this album, more and more.
One of the greatest rock albums of all time. There is both an edge and a sultriness to Led Zepplin. Maybe it’s the way they slide between notes, maybe it’s the blues influence, or maybe I have just seen dazed and confused too many times, but this album makes me want to do drugs and get laid. I guess I now better understand the phrase “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll”.
This is the definition of a great rock n' roll album. From the growling guitar riff that opens Whole Lotta Love (one of the best rock album openings ever) through the driving beat of What Is and What Should Never Be, the tender, almost-holy poetry of Thank You, the double-blast of Heartbreaker/Livin' Lovin' Maid, and Ramblin' On through a Tolkien landscape that tops any song the Hobbits could ever come up with - this album has it all. Some may find the drum-solo piece (Moby Dick) a bit unnecessary (Bonham is so amazing on the rest of the album, he maybe didn't need this showcase?), or quibble over the couple of less popular tracks here. But really, there are no misses and Zep proved with this release that they were the sound of rock n' roll.
“I sort of don’t trust anybody who doesn’t like Led Zeppelin,” Jack White said in the documentary "It Might Get Loud."
Was super-excited to get a Zep album on this because... they were a really good band ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1t7sV7Ol1E
I started with Led Zeppelin IV and the boxed set then worked my way back to the other albums, so I hadn't heard II as a coherent album until much later. The strong blues influence and super great rock takes on some of those classics, Bonham's excellent solo on Moby Dick, and the timelessness of Ramble On make it a top top album.
So frickin' good. Many iconic riffs, sharp guitar solos, and the singing is unique. Honestly only one "lemon" of a song for me :)
I truly believe Led Zeppelin will stand the test of time for forever. Brilliant guitar licks and unique vocals paired with Bonham’s drums. Something I can listen to over and over again.
There's nothing not to love about this album. The vocals, guitar, bass and drums are all phenominal. Songs are great. Album is all killer.
I've listened to this one before, but I think I forgot just how perfect of an album this is. Everything hits just right, and it honestly feels like Led Zeppelin flexing for 45 minutes straight. They prove with this album that they're masters of the craft of rock, and it's hard to hold a candle to them.
The fifth Led Zeppelin album - but the first one I actually thought was great. While respecting their influence, I always found them quite unappealing to listen to, with the exception of a few songs. This album seems to be a welcome exception too! It seems much faster and harder than the others, with just the right amount of blues mixed in and almost none of their annoying parts (the drum solo on Moby Dick was pretty tedious though - which sort of fits with the book, incidentally). But enough criticism. This was actually a great album!