Hopefully this one was expected by some. I knew this review was coming. I mean if I reviewed Black Sabbath, then it would only seem natural to review this band. They have been so influential in not just hard rock and metal but in music period. Hopefully you’ve figured it out by now but if you haven’t then the band up on the chopping block is the legendary Led Zeppelin. Let’s take a look……
Led Zeppelin- well what can I say? I mean really seriously what can I say? It’s the first of many great albums. I mean it’s hard rock driven by blues what more could one ask. I know that when reading on the history of this album, reviews were not so good and obviously now that has changed. I give this album 9.5/10
Standouts: You Shook Me, Black Mountainside, How Many More Times
Led Zeppelin II- again what can I say that hasn’t already been said about this album? It’s Led Zeppelin for crying out loud! This album is another absolute classic and musically I actually think it’s heavier than the one before it. Now that’s not to say that this is a heavy metal record. Personally Led Zeppelin I don’t think they are a heavy metal band. However, with this record, I would say that it’s a heavy rock record. This album is one of those where it’s held in high regard and for good reason. I give this 10/10
Standouts: The Lemon Song, Heartbreaker, Moby Dick
Led Zeppelin III- so if 2 was a rock album then this one would be more of a folk rock album. I mean that’s not to say that the rock songs aren’t on here I mean after all this is the album that gave us hits like Immigrant Song and Out on the Tiles. This one is different from the last record but it shows how a band can evolve in the right way. Again this is another classic record and it’s another 10/10.
Standouts: Out On the Tiles, Celebration Day, Gallows Pole
Led Zeppelin IV- so out of all the albums reviews thus far, this is the one that has the most hits. I mean if you really are a newcomer to classic rock and especially Led Zeppelin, I’d say start here. What the Paranoid album is to Sabbath, IV is to Led Zeppelin. This just has so many hits and yes this is the one with the song Stairway to Heaven. I mean how can I give it anything but a perfect 10/10
Standouts: Rock and Roll, The Battle of Evermore, Misty Mountain Hop
Houses of the Holy- so if you are looking for their most eclectic sounding album, then here you go. This one doesn’t seem to have as much of that hard blues driven rock that was present on past albums. I mean Jimmy Page’s guitar tone is definitely cleaner and more expansive. I don’t know for me personally, I really appreciate the fact that they are going in a different direction here. Like III, they are evolving but they are doing it the right way (not to sound like a broken record). I mean if you keep making an album like the last one, I suppose it would get tired and derivative. I have no choice but to give this one a 9/10
Standouts: The Crunge, The Rain Song, The Ocean
Physical Graffiti- here we have a range of styles. We have rock, folk, progressive and even a little funk. This is another classic and I would also say that this would be another good album to start with. It just has so many great songs on it. Even thought not everyone knows all the songs on it like say Led Zeppelin IV it’s still a fantastic record. I give it 9.5/10
Standouts: The Wanton Song, Boogie With Stu, The Rover
Presence- this one probably has the longest opening track yet with it clocking in at 10 minutes. I guess Robert Plant was in a car accident so they couldn’t tour behind this one as much or spend a lot of time in the studio. I mean when you listen to this one, it does seem like something was off. I personally think it’s actually a decent album but at the end of the day, it’s not as strong as their other albums. I give this one 8/10
Standouts: Hots on Nowhere, For Your Life, Royal Orleans
In Through the out Door- well this is an interesting record. I must admit that I hadn’t heard a lot of songs off this album. It’s a different Zeppelin album that’s for sure. It’s almost got some songs that have an electronic feel to them. That being said as different as it is, it’s not nearly as bad as the initial reviews made this one out to be. I think one review of it said that they were out of touch. I don’t feel like that’s true. Different yes. Bad? No it’s not. Is it as strong as other albums? No but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to it. Unfortunately this would be the last album they would release before the death of drummer John Bonham. I give it 8/10
Standouts: South Bound Saurez, Hot Dog, Fool in the Rain
Coda- not much to say about this one except that it’s just mostly a collection of rarities and outtakes. It came out two years after John Bonham’s death. I guess Jimmy Page said that because fans had all this bootleg stuff from them, they might as well release this album. It’s not a bad album but again it’s hard to rate an album that consists of rarities and outtakes. I will say the songs are good songs but I went into this thinking that it was a full length album. I give this 7/10
Standouts: Walter’s Walk, We’re Gonna Groove, Darlene
Here’s a question that I’m sure will spark some sort of debate and that is are Led Zeppelin a metal band? My answer is no. No they are not however, they have inspired a lot of metal bands. Simply put, they are a hard rock band. Again as stated earlier, what can be said about one of the greatest rock bands in the world that hasn’t been said before? Do I think they should’ve maybe tried to continue without John Bonham? Maybe at least give it a shot. Who knows it might’ve worked. I think they should at least do one more worldwide tour then call it quits for good. At least give those that couldn’t see them a chance too. However at the same time, I totally understand why they won’t do it either. Whatever the case may be, they are one of the greatest bands to ever exist. This one is going to be a very hard discography to rank.
Album Rankings:
- Led Zeppelin IV
- Led Zeppelin II
- Led Zeppelin III
- Houses of the Holy
- Physical Graffiti
- In Through the out Door
- Led Zeppelin
- Presence
- Coda
Sinister Reviews 