Why does Led Zeppelin not excite me?
Posted by: Whizzkid on 11 May 2009
Hi Guys
Now I have two Led Zep albums 2 & 3 and have had them for about a year now and when I flick through my collection and come to these albums I think Ooo! I'll play some Led Zep and a few tracks in I think this is really good in a musical sense but leaves me cold emotionally. I appreciate the quality of the playing but really don't get a sense of what Led Zeppelin are to others. I get the feeling I'm listening to a great Country Rock tribute band. I know they are probably just not my cup of tea but because of the love of this band on this and many other boards around the interweb and real world I feel I must be missing something and I'd like to know what makes this band so highly rated when I just don't get them, and Stairway To Heaven whats all that about.
Listening to Disraeli Gears at the moment and bugger me do I get why Cream are highly rated especially by me
Dean...
Posted on: 16 May 2009 by The Strat (Fender)
Morning Dean,
I was smack bang in the Led Zep era at school - at the school disco Stairway to Heaven was the mandated last dance (snog if you were lucky!) record. They are in my opinion fantastic - great musicians their capacity to turn what in many ways was a pastiche blues into something so inventive put them at one level way ahead of anything else. But they have always been over hyped much of it self induced. Interestingly in the final analysis I prefer their quieter moments - Ramble On, That's The Way and Going to California is just pure genius. Further after a while the Plant screech wears thin on me. But I understand that you prefer Cream as do I - have you tried Free? A simpler style but more organic in my view. Page is great but not as fluent or melodic as Kossoff, Clapton, or Green to my taste.
Regards,
Lindsay
Posted on: 16 May 2009 by mjamrob
quote:
When looking at the painting you are admiring ART, and not a real chair
And I would far prefer to stare at a great piece of art for an hour than a real chair.
regards,
mat
Posted on: 16 May 2009 by Mat Cork
I've no idea if his trousers were art, but I like them.
Posted on: 16 May 2009 by BigH47
quote:
Originally posted by Nobbyright:
In the Doors of Perception Aldous Huxley claimed to have found the folds in his trousers more significant and transfiguring than "a great piece of art" (whatever that's meant to be)
Use the same drugs and find out, and listen to LZ amongst many others.
I'd rather sit in the chair.
Posted on: 16 May 2009 by Luxen
More emotinal stuff:
- No quarter (Live on "The song remains the same")
- Celebration day (How the west...)
- Dazed and confused (How the west...)
- The Rover (PG)
- Tangerine (III)
Posted on: 16 May 2009 by Mat Cork
quote:
Originally posted by Nobbyright:
LZ great art? pphh... who are you trying to kid?
All art, by definition is a con...that's the wonder of it.
Posted on: 17 May 2009 by manticore
Houses Of the Holy for me its always been in my top ten albums of all time No Quarter is just mystical The music just dosn,t age at all
Posted on: 17 May 2009 by mjamrob
Been listening to Led Zeppelin remasters album, in particular Nobody's Fault But Mine and Achilles Last Stand, being for me among their very best stuff. I would definitely say they qualify as art in the best sense, intense gripping energy that never fails to lift me onto another level. They played beautifully and effectively as a unit all working off each other to each others' strengths, and there is a hell of a lot of risk taking and invention in Jimmy Page's playing. I like the way he cuts to the point and never takes the comfortable smooth route in his approach, he really extended what the guitar was capable of.
I like Clapton a lot too but he is a lot safer, and after Cream his bands were a bit bland for me.
regards,
mat
Posted on: 17 May 2009 by Voltaire
Dean, don't worry about it, maybe you'll 'get them' in the future, maybe you won't. My advice is dig em out every now and again, play em and let nature take it's course.
I 'get' music now that I didn't 'get' before and vice versa.
Gordon
Posted on: 17 May 2009 by Voltaire
quote:
Originally posted by Nobbyright:
In the Doors of Perception Aldous Huxley claimed to have found the folds in his trousers more significant and transfiguring than "a great piece of art"
Great book, and worth reading. Those that have read it like Nobbyright and I know that it is less about taking drugs and more about...you should read it.
Posted on: 17 May 2009 by Whizzkid
Gordon,
I understand what you are saying though I have tried for a year now and it didn't take that long to "get" Mahler quite a bit less time actually. I will try again in the future but there is so much more out there to enjoy. For me I think its straight up Rock music that I don't get I need something more than just machismo in my music.
Dean...
Posted on: 17 May 2009 by John M
quote:
Originally posted by Whizzkid:
I think its straight up Rock music that I don't get I need something more than just machismo in my music.
Dean...
Ten Years Gone, Going To California, Thank You, Since I've Been Loving You, Tea for One, Tangerine
machismo? straight up rock? I'm done.
Posted on: 01 August 2009 by northpole
Lots of hype, loads of bollox about them, but I still regard Led Zep as the best band I've ever heard - III, IV and Houses of the Holy at the top of their pile.
Peter
Posted on: 01 August 2009 by Howlinhounddog
Absobloominlutely love Led Zep, however if I never hear Stairwy to heaven again it will be too soon.
With so many great tracks to listen to why oh why does THAT track always get played ?
A great moment in rock history no doubt but it is NEVER the sum of Led Zeps parts.
Zep 1 for me every time, it's what turned me on to the blues, for which I will always be greatful to them.
Posted on: 01 August 2009 by tonym
quote:
Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:
Zep 1 for me every time, it's what turned me on to the blues, for which I will always be greatful to them.
It's the ONLY one for me I'm afraid. I love lots of their stuff, but when it comes to whole albums there's much which I positively dislike.
Their first though is something special IMO.
Posted on: 01 August 2009 by FangfossFlyer
quote:
Originally posted by Whizzkid:
Hi Guys
Now I have two Led Zep albums 2 & 3 and have had them for about a year now and when I flick through my collection and come to these albums I think Ooo! I'll play some Led Zep and a few tracks in I think this is really good in a musical sense but leaves me cold emotionally. I appreciate the quality of the playing but really don't get a sense of what Led Zeppelin are to others. I get the feeling I'm listening to a great Country Rock tribute band. I know they are probably just not my cup of tea but because of the love of this band on this and many other boards around the interweb and real world I feel I must be missing something and I'd like to know what makes this band so highly rated when I just don't get them, and Stairway To Heaven whats all that about.
Listening to Disraeli Gears at the moment and bugger me do I get why Cream are highly rated especially by me
Dean...
1969...you just had to be there to get it!
Posted on: 02 August 2009 by Jet Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
quote:
a space in time
Ten Years After - great band.
We totally agree here ROTF ....I still love a bit of TYA on the black stuff!
Posted on: 02 August 2009 by Komet
Personally I always thought that Zeppelin were one of England's finest covers bands.
