Led Zeppelin - 'Led Zeppelin II' (1969)

Versions:
LP
CD
Cassette

Tracklisting:

Side One:
1. Whole Lotta Love
2. What Is And What Should Never Be
3. The Lemon Song
4. Thank You

Side Two:
1. Heartbreaker
2. Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)
3. Ramble On
4. Moby Dick
5. Bring It On Home

Best Tracks:
Ramble On
Whole Lotta Love
Bring It On Home

Currently listening to: LP

As I teenager, I - like many others before me - faithfully worshipped at the alter of the mighty Led Zeppelin. I was convinced that they were the best rock band to have ever graced the Earth. Though I loved Houses Of The Holy and Physical Graffiti, those first four albums were as precious to me as gold.

As the years wore on, my love for Led Zeppelin faded. Quite dramatically. Of all the 60's bands I listened to - and adored - as a teenager, there's only two that I can't really stomach anymore - Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. While Deep Purple don't really come to the table (sure, Fireball is still a great album. That's about it), I feel a little guilty about abandoning Led Zeppelin, if only for how much I deeply, deeply loved them when I was 15. While tastes change, I still love most of the bands I loved at 15. And, Led Zeppelin are, in my estimation, still one of the most loved bands around. So, what is it about them I can no longer relate to?

I'm about to drop the needle on Led Zeppelin II and find out. I'm hoping I'm newly impressed by what I hear. But, I have a feeling it might be a bit too wanky, cock-rock for me.

Things are off to a good start with 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'What Is And What Should Never Be'. Robert Plant's voice, which used to be one of my favourites voices in the world, teeters on the verge of self-indulgence, but, happily, doesn't quite becomes conceited. On these first two tracks, at least. Once we get to 'Killing Floor' (or 'The Lemon Song', if we really must), it all falls apart. It doesn't help that I'm much more familiar with Howlin' Wolf's version of the song now than I was when I worshipped Led Zeppelin. It's also with this song that I've come to realise that, largely, it's Robert Plant's voice that has put me off Led Zeppelin. Yes, he has a great voice. But, it's a bit pompous and over the top, isn't it? 'The Lemon Song' sounds like Page and Plant playing soggy biscuit. It's not pretty. 'Thank You' is possibly the worst song on the album. A song like this shouldn't have been so bad in 1969 - tons of bands were doing sickly saccharine love songs, and making them work. Somehow, 'Thank You' is particularly nauseating. It should have been their 'Here Comes The Sun'. Instead, it's their 'Close To You'.

I'm hoping things improve with the second side. I can't decide if I like 'Heartbreaker', it was never a favourite. Things pick up again with 'Living Loving Maid'. While it sounds like it could be any number of unremarkable hard rock bands from the late 60's, I quite enjoyed it. Even better is 'Ramble On', where all the elements have harmoniously fused. It is, easily, the best four and a half minutes on the album.

'Moby Dick'. Ugh. I forgot about this one. The riff's actually pretty good. But, then there's the drum solo. 70's drum solos are the musical equivalent of watching paint dry. And, this was the monster that started them all. The albums ends on a high note with 'Bring It On Home'. That pompous voice croons the blues-y songs pretty good. The first half of the song is a rare understated moment in Led Zeppelin's back catalogue, and it really works well. Even when the rocky part kicks in half way through, it still works. Aside from 'Killing Floor', I can't think of any of those old blues songs (that blatantly they stole) that they didn't do well.

I'm pretty sure that the first version I had of this album was a cassette. And, strangely, it's not the same cassette copy as the one I still have. My Dad did inherit a lot of my old tapes to play in the car. I'm assuming this one of one of them.

I did not enjoy Led Zeppelin II as much as I thought I would. I have listened to it - and enjoyed it - in the last few years (I have a friend who, once our drinking sessions had wound deep into the night, would inevitably demand that I put this album on), but tonight it felt like an old friend that I have no interest in reconnecting with. Perhaps, the first or third (or even fourth) albums would have been a wiser choice if I wanted to reignite the love for Led Zeppelin. But, I don't. I know that will sound like blasphemy to the Zeppelin faithful out there - I know, from experience, that they hold the band very close to their hearts. However, Led Zeppelin II, as influential and important as it may be, just isn't for me anymore (which feels odd to say after the last blog praised Kylie Minogue's first album. But, there you go).