This album is the amazing follow up to their great debut album Led Zeppelin I. This album doesn't have as many blues influenced songs, it has more hardrocker songs. Also, this album includes John Bonham's epic drum solo, Moby Dick. Jimmy Page adds some amazing guitar solo, that make thw album even greater. Each member of the band contributes to the album, which is why I think it is such a great album. This is also a great album to start with, if you want to start listening to Led Zeppelin. I think this album is just a little better than Led Zeppelin I.
THE BAND
Robert Plant : vocals, harmonica
Jimmy Page : electric, acoustic, and pedal steel guitar
John Paul Jones : Bass, organ
John "BONZO" Bonham : drums, tympani
THE SONGS
1.) Whole Lotta Love
This song begins with an opening riff that I think everyone has heard at least once. The bass joins in, and Plant starts singing the first verse shortly after. Bonham joins in atthe beginning of the chorus, and continues throughout the song. After the second singing of the chorus, the famous weird part of the song with all the synthesizer. This is the only part of the song I'm not to fond of, I don't think it flows with song to good. This lasts for about a minute and twenty seconds, Then Page starts his little solo inbetween the drum beats. Plant sings another verse, then he has his solo where he just sings, while the rest of the bands quite. The song ends on Plant singing, while Bonham has some great fills. Overall, this song is a alltime classic, and is probably my second favorite song on the album. 5/5
2.) What Is And What Should Never Be
The song starts out with Plant singing, and the rest of the band playing a soft, mellow riff. The song gets a lot harder when the chorus starts, then mellows down again for the verses. After the second singing of the chorus, Page plays the verse, and chorus as a solo. Plant sings one more verse. The song ends with a jam, while Plant sings, and the song fades out. 4.5/5
3.) The lemon Song
This is the longest song on the album at 6:20, and this is kind of a jam song, which is kind of unique for the album. It starts off with the sound of a gong, and some fuzzy guitar in the background. Then, the rest of the band starts in. Page has some nice fills inbetween verses. After the second verse a real upbeat tone takes over, and Page has a good, fast-paced solo. After it's over the main riff starts back up again, and I think the transition back sounds really cool. Then, a the jam starts up with Page singing, Page with some more nice fills, and the bass is really prevelent during this part. Page has a solo, then then the upbeat riff starts up again. The song ends right after that's over. 5/5
4.) Thank You
This is the softest song on the album, and is a nice song for a little break from the hard rocker that make up most of the album. It starts out with Page on the acoustic. During the verses JPJ plays organ while Page plays lightly in the backdround. Binham joins back in during the chorus. then, Page has a little solo, that flows good with the song. Plant songs another two verses. The song ends on JPJ playing the organ, and the song slowly fades out. 4.5/5
5.) Heartbreaker
This is another one of the very recognizable Zeppelin songs, and is another one of the rockers on the album. It starts out with unmistakable riff that everyone knows. Inbetween the first and socond verses they play the opening rif over again. after the second verse the best solo on the album begins, I think it's one of Page's most recognizable solos, and one of his best. Then the band joins in with the solo, which makes it even better. Plant sings one more verse, and the song ends on Plant singing "heartbreaker". This is my favorite song on the album, and is one of the best rock songs of alltime. 5/5
6.) Living Loving Maid (She's just a Woman)
This song starts right after Heartbreaker's over. It's the shortest song on the album at 2:40. The only thing I don't like about this song is it's to short. It's very upbeat, and has an awesome sounding riff. It has a little solo in the middle, that's pretty good. It's very catchy so if you listen to it, it will be stuck in your head all day. 4/5
7.) Ramble On
This is a great song, with a very nice acoustic riff. Bonham taps softly on his drum that goes throughout the whole song. The bassline to this song is also very good. Plants lyrics are very mystical, and magical, and tell of far off lands, which is what we hear a lot of times in his lyrics. The music picks up, and gets a little harder during the chorus. Page has some very nice fills inbetween verses, that the song even better. It fades out on Plant yelling the last of the words, with the band playing in the background. 5/5
8.) Moby Dick
This is the epic drum solo by John Bonham. Plant doesn't sing at all in this song, and is one of only a few instrumentals by Zeppelin. At the beginning Page plays some guitar, and adds some very nice fills. Then Bonzo takes the cake with this awesome solo, which is amazing live. He plays some bongos that sound very good, and in the movie The Song Remains the Same he plays his drumset with his hands which is pretty cool. The solo goes from soft to loud, and from slow to fast many times times. Then, at the end Page comes in again, and where Page had his fills at the beginning of the song, where bonham plays some great fills. 5/5
9.) Bring it on Home
The riff at the beginning sounds very folky, and Plants voice is very raspy. Plant also plays some good harmonica. At about a minute and fourty-five seconds the riff gets really loud, and it turns into another hard rocker. During the whole song Page plays a very fuzzy riff, thats sounds pretty awesome. At the end the song turns back into the folky sounding song at the beginning, and it ends. This is a perfect ending song to this classic, and is one of my favorite on the album. 4.5/5
This is one of Zeppelin's best albums, and is probably second best next to physical grafitti. This album shows why Led Zeppelin is the best hard rock band of all time. If your a hard rock fan this is a must have, and is one of the alltime best albums, and will always be one of my favorite albums.
Hope it helped.
CYA