User Profile
Rob Dwyer
Currently the "Tour Dates Guru" for Black-Sabbath.com, I was also the webmaster and creator of Sabbathlive.com. I have been playing guitar and writing music criticism since age 10. While I was raised on a heavy diet of Heavy Metal, Prog Rock & New Wave, my voracious appetite for music has made me open to music of numerous genres. I strive to be honest, but also judicious and fair in my musical reviews, while trying to avoid being too hateful.
Reviews
517
Lists
1
Collection
466
Rob Dwyer's Album Reviews
LED ZEPPELIN (I) is a magnificent showcase for a band that has since attained godlike status among their diehard fans. The thunderous volume of their heavier numbers easily matched, and often surpassed, the intensity of most of their contemporaries in 1969. At the same time, their songs were quite dynamic and were inspired by many different genres including folk & blues.
It's never been any great secret that Zeppelin borrowed many of its ideas from other songwriters. Although several other songwriters are credited on this album (including Willie Dixon, who later sued them over "Whole Lotta Love"), there are several others who aren't. One example would be "Dazed And Confused", which was inspired by an obscure folksinger named Jake Holmes. It also seems obvious that Jimmy Page had been paying close attention to Jeff Beck's debut TRUTH while crafting the sound of his new band, even going as far as covering "You Shook Me".
Regardless, they were amazing interpreters who knew how to reshape these ideas and elevate them to another level altogether. Although the members of Led Zeppelin would often reject the "heavy metal" label, the sheer volume & bombast of their performances justified their inclusion into that genre. “Communication Breakdown” showcases their more manic side, while “How Many More Times” throws it’s sonic punches over an incessant bass riff.
That said, Zeppelin's music transcended such generalizations. Their debut album combines elements of folk, blues & hard rock into their own unique gumbo. It was all about dynamics or "light & shade", as one biographer wrote. These sudden changes in mood and volume could occur across the course of the entire album or even within just one song. "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" and "Dazed And Confused" are just a few examples of that approach.
What initially impressed me about this album was the almost telepathic interplay between Robert Plant & Jimmy Page. For example, Robert might sing a line and Jimmy would mimic or answer him on the guitar – or even vice versa. On the album, this interplay sounds raw and spontaneous. My favorite example of this occurs during “You Shook Me”. Jimmy & Robert follow each other through the verses, but the climactic ending is especially impressive.
Jimmy Page’s guitar work on this record was a huge inspiration to me personally, as well as thousands of other guitarists. I believe his passion for the music is perfectly evident and his inventive ideas were often the core of Zeppelin’s success. At this time, Jimmy was quite an experienced studio musician and was considered something of a virtuoso. His decision to use a violin bow on his guitar during “Dazed And Confused” was both an inventive musical approach and an extravagant stage move.
Led Zeppelin’s debut album remains a towering achievement to behold, both for musicians wanting to follow in their footsteps and more casual music fans who just can’t get enough of their music.
It's never been any great secret that Zeppelin borrowed many of its ideas from other songwriters. Although several other songwriters are credited on this album (including Willie Dixon, who later sued them over "Whole Lotta Love"), there are several others who aren't. One example would be "Dazed And Confused", which was inspired by an obscure folksinger named Jake Holmes. It also seems obvious that Jimmy Page had been paying close attention to Jeff Beck's debut TRUTH while crafting the sound of his new band, even going as far as covering "You Shook Me".
Regardless, they were amazing interpreters who knew how to reshape these ideas and elevate them to another level altogether. Although the members of Led Zeppelin would often reject the "heavy metal" label, the sheer volume & bombast of their performances justified their inclusion into that genre. “Communication Breakdown” showcases their more manic side, while “How Many More Times” throws it’s sonic punches over an incessant bass riff.
That said, Zeppelin's music transcended such generalizations. Their debut album combines elements of folk, blues & hard rock into their own unique gumbo. It was all about dynamics or "light & shade", as one biographer wrote. These sudden changes in mood and volume could occur across the course of the entire album or even within just one song. "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" and "Dazed And Confused" are just a few examples of that approach.
What initially impressed me about this album was the almost telepathic interplay between Robert Plant & Jimmy Page. For example, Robert might sing a line and Jimmy would mimic or answer him on the guitar – or even vice versa. On the album, this interplay sounds raw and spontaneous. My favorite example of this occurs during “You Shook Me”. Jimmy & Robert follow each other through the verses, but the climactic ending is especially impressive.
Jimmy Page’s guitar work on this record was a huge inspiration to me personally, as well as thousands of other guitarists. I believe his passion for the music is perfectly evident and his inventive ideas were often the core of Zeppelin’s success. At this time, Jimmy was quite an experienced studio musician and was considered something of a virtuoso. His decision to use a violin bow on his guitar during “Dazed And Confused” was both an inventive musical approach and an extravagant stage move.
Led Zeppelin’s debut album remains a towering achievement to behold, both for musicians wanting to follow in their footsteps and more casual music fans who just can’t get enough of their music.
Was this review helpful?