Each week I plan to review one golden oldie from my collection and one relatively new release that I have really enjoyed. Now go out and buy 'em!
"Led Zeppelin IV" by Led Zeppelin (released 1971)
Sitting atop the pantheon of hard rock are the incomparable "Led Zeppelin". Jimmy Page/Robert Plant/John Paul Jones/John Bonham blasted onto the music scene fully formed with their debut album in 1969 and transformed the musical landscape forever. With this, their fourth release, they record a masterpiece. "Black Dog" opens with Plant's distinctive wail and a massive guitar riff powering the song through five minutes of rock bliss. Bonham's crashing drums and Page's kerranging guitar launch the iconic "Rock and Roll". The mandolin driven "Battle of Evermore" slows things down a bit and highlights Plant's amazing vocals! His voice spine-tinglingly echoing back for the last minute and a half. "Stairway to Heaven" closes out side one as a perfectly structured song from beginning to end. Starting with fingerpicked guitars and flute, building gradually as the drums and electric guitars kick in and climaxing with the penultimate guitar solo in rock history (there, I said it). Side two gets off to a flying start with the bouncy rocker "Misty Mountain Hop" and the driving "Four Sticks". "Going to California" is a beautiful ballad featuring mandolin and a more laid back vocal from Plant (much as he sounds 40 years later). The album ends with the heavy blues of "When the Levee Breaks". Bonham's bone crushing drums push and pull the rhythm as Plant's harmonica signals the impending doom. Page's production on this release is a marvel with layers of guitars swimming through your brain. The variety and quality of the songs is staggering, showing why this album deserves every accolade that has been heaped upon it. Listen to it and be amazed all over again.
"Go" by Jonsi (released 2010)
Jonsi is the leader of the Icelandic band "Sigur Ros", a group which has produced a unique brand of brooding yet beautiful music featuring his ethereal vocals. You can see the band perform in a variety of Icelandic settings on the DVD "Heima" (highly recommended). On this, his debut solo album, he sings mainly in English for the first time and many of the accompanying songs have a more upbeat and joyful tone than his "Sigur Ros" material. The centerpiece of every song is Jonsi's heartachingly glorious vocals. Whether he sings in English, Icelandic or Wookie is beside the point, it's the sound of his voice that captivates. When he launches into his heavenly falsetto it's as if you are hearing the crystalline purity in the ice of his homeland. The overall sound favors a minimalist approach with percussion, flutes, keyboards and strings appearing as needed but never interfering with the vocals. Each song has it's own beauties and unforgettable moments. "Go Do", "Boy Lilikoi"and "Around Us" are the most pop-like tunes. There is a melancholy hovering over many of these songs "Hengilas", "Tornado", "Kolniour" and "Grow Till Tall" (the falsetto refrain will bring tears) that haunt you long after the song is over. Jonsi is a singular talent who has produced a stunning, emotional debut and I anxiously await his next musical step.
No comments:
Post a Comment