Review #144: Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin
#144: Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin
If you read my last LZ review, you know I don’t think they deserve to be here. Not because this isn’t an amazing album, but purely because they are officially overrepresented.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about why this album rules.
Eight of the songs were recorded at the country house Headley Grange, but the rest were all lifted outtakes from other albums, including “Bron-Yr-Aur” and “Houses of the Holy.” Every song is great. What else is there really to say?
FAVORITE SONGS:
“The Rover” —Hypothesis: This album is named “Physical Graffiti” because it sounds like sonic graffiti.
“In My Time of Dying” — This is a cover of a Bob Dylan version of a traditional folk song! Also reminds me of Three Days Grace.
“Houses of the Holy” — Okay I was quite confused when this one came on, because they also have an album called Houses of the Holy. Apparently, they intended this song to be on that album but decided it didn’t “fit in,” so they saved it for this one. But it rocks!
“Kashmir” — Hard to say this album doesn’t belong here when it has freaking “Kashmir” on it.
“Bron-Yr-Aur” — Written at a cottage in Wales called, you guessed it, Bron-Yr-Aur. Beautiful guitar.
“Ten Years Gone” — Dark and wild and a generally really sweet closer.
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Custard Pie” — I don’t dislike this song necessarily, I was just mildly baffled by it. Did the Beatles write this song??
“In The Light” — What the hell is this vocal effect?
“Down By The Seaside” — There are about three other songs I just didn’t include at all because I thought they were boring and nothing special, like this song. Feel free to tell me I’m wrong, I often am.
IS RS FULL OF IT?
I’m not going to repeat myself, but in a word: Yes. Sorry, LZ, you just don’t need to dominate so much anymore.
In the spirit of representing another God of Classic Rock, I believe that Meat Loaf’s sublime Bat Out Of Hell belongs here, which has one of the best songs of all time on it: “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” Can you believe that album isn’t anywhere to be found on here? A crime.
