22nd October - Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin II

Artist – Album: Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II

Released: 22^th October 1969

Sounds Like: The only way to fly

Their debut was good, but Led Zeppelin II was the album where Led Zep became Led Zep. Blues based hard rock (‘Heartbreaker’), Tolkein-inspired lyrics (‘Ramble On’) and even a bloody long drum solo (‘Moby Dick’): these are to Led Zep what tiny Stonehenges, amps that go up to 11 and self-combusting drummers are to Spinal Tap. Oh look, I mentioned Spinal Tap on a heavy metal album review (I have previous: here and here)! This time, though, there is a fair excuse; for Led Zeppelin II didn’t only cement the sound of Led Zeppelin, it provided the blueprint for every other heavy metal album that followed. And, even now, it’s still better than them all.

Albumaday... rating: 10/10

1.       Whole Lotta Love – 5:34

2.       What Is and What Should Never Be – 4:44

3.       The Lemon Song – 6:19

4.       Thank You – 4:49

5.       Heartbreaker – 4:14

6.       Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman) – 2:39

7.       Ramble On – 4:23

8.       Moby Dick – 4:21

9.       Bring It On Home – 4:20

Listen to ‘Ramble On’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKVp-atyiVA

Also released on 22^nd October:

2001: Gotan Project – La Revencha del Tango

Also released on 22^nd October:

2001: The Hives – Your New Favourite Band

21st July - Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction

Artist – Album: Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction

Released:  21^st July 1987

Sounds Like: Raucous, rough and rowdy rock, la

So, I’m back at the flat now after spending the last couple of days in Liverpool (to see a girl, tee hee!). It may not be Paradise City but, I’ve got to say, it is a grand old town. Strolling around the docks, visiting the Museum of Liverpool and it’s football orientated exhibition, and standing outside the Beatles Story museum (well, we weren’t going to pay the £15.95 each to go in!), I couldn’t quite shake the feeling that, as good as the place is right now, it’s hard to deny that it's seen better days. The same can be said of Guns N’ Roses style hard rock too.

In 1987 scouse singer songwriter Black scored a big hit with ‘Wonderful Life’, Liverpool and Everton were two of the best sides in England, and hard rock was so popular that Appetite for Destruction would become the highest-selling debut album of all time. Whilst a large amount of this success can be attributed to the inescapable mega-smash ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’, the record earned so many sales and rave reviews through its freewheeling, heavy guitar work, anthemic choruses and fiery odes to hedonism and the pleasures and dangers of living life to excess. Although there’s a few of songs revolving around the ever-popular subject of girls (‘My Michelle’ and ‘Rocket Queen’), we also learn about the bands favourite poison (‘Nightrain’), their drug of choice (Heroin as detailed in ‘Mr. Brownstone’) and the numerous horrors involved with city living (‘Welcome to the Jungle’).

Subject matter aside, the album just wouldn’t have sold so many in today’s world. Prodigious guitar solos have been passed over in favour of dance beats and synthesizers, whilst no amount of auto-tuning could make Axel Rose’s pained cat-like vocals palatable. Still, like a visit to the capital of Merseyside, it’s brilliant to bang it on and reflect on former glories.

Albumaday... rating:  9/10

1.       Welcome to the Jungle – 4:34

2.       It’s So Easy – 3:23

3.       Nightrain – 4:29

4.       Out ta Get Me – 4:25

5.       Mr. Brownstone – 3:49

6.       Paradise City – 6:46

7.       My Michelle – 3:40

8.       Think About You – 3:52

9.       Sweet Child o’ Mine – 5:55

10.   You’re Crazy – 3:17

11.   Anything Goes – 3:26

12.   Rocket Queen – 6:13

Listen to ‘Mr Brownstone’:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVYDnQwi3OQ

Also released on the 21^st July:

1978: Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings and Food

Also released on the 21^st July:

1992: Sonic Youth - Dirty

Also released on the 21^st July:

2003: Dizzee Rascal – Boy in Da Corner

24th Feb - Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti

Artist – Album: Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffti

Released:  24^th February 1975    

Sounds Like: Led Zep-jam

Led Zep are the rock band’s rock band. They’ve got the look – long luxurious hair, prominent cheekbones, hipster flares. They’ve got the sound – blues influenced hard rock, with Jimmy Page’s genius guitar solos and Robert Plant’s impressive range of vocals. They’ve also got the mythology. This morning I woke up sat upright in an armchair, with one saltshaker worth of salt in my right pocket, a definite hangover headache and only a vague recollection of the final hours of the night before. But there’s no doubt that whatever stories may transpire, they will pale into significance up against the corridor motorcycle riding, television throwing, cake attacking, weird sex legends of Led Zeppelin.

They’ve also got the albums, with this being right up amongst those considered their best. It’s easy to see why with songs such as ‘The Rover’, ‘Houses of the Holy’, ‘Kashmir’ and ‘Bron-Yr-Aur’ in tow. The album switches between a variety of rock subgenres and the boys capably hold their own in every jam.

As a double album, the record does suffer from a lack of direction. Although I appreciate the skill and musicality involved in creating each of these epics, I do prefer the shorter, earlier albums for their clear thinking. Some of the tunes are little more than jams, which can grate despite their enormous talents. It is good but I have my other favourites.

Now, you may have guessed I didn’t sleep so well in that chair last night, so it’s time for me to go to bed!

Albumaday... rating: 7/10

1.       Custard Pie – 4:13

2.       The Rover – 5:37

3.       In My Time of Dying – 11:04

4.       Houses of the Holy – 4:02

5.       Trampled Under Foot – 5:37

6.       Kashmir – 8:32

7.       In the Light – 8:46

8.       Bron-Yr-Aur – 2:06

9.       Down by the Seaside – 5:13

10.   Ten Years Gone – 6:32

11.   Night Flight – 3:36

12.   The Wanton Song – 4:10

13.   Boogie with Stu – 3:53

14.   Black Country Woman – 4:24

15.   Sick Again – 4:42

Listen to ‘Houses of the Holy’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSd3yys69AE

12th Jan - Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin

Artist – Album: Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin

Released:  12^th January 1969

Sounds Like: Game changing rock and roll

Led Zeppelin the band formed after The Yardbirds disbanded, guitarist Jimmy Page joining forces with Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones to create one of the most successful and influential groups of all time. Though primarily based on the blues, their music would become a prominent inspiration on the genres of rock, heavy metal and punk. And they were living embodiments of the rock and roll lifestyle, dangerous, long haired rebels who took drugs, slept with groupies and rode motorbikes through hotels hallways.

Led Zeppelin the album formed around both the blues and hard and heavy rock. ‘Black Mountain Side’ and ‘Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You’ have a folksy sound, whilst ‘Communication Breakdown’ is just one step from The Ramones. ‘Dazed and Confused’, often cited as the keynote of this album, sounds unlike anything that’s been recorded before or since. Bafflingly, critics were unimpressed on the initial release of the album, often comparing their sound unfavourably to the likes of The Jeff Beck Group. There are similarities, it’s true – after all, Jeff Back had served in The Yardbirds with Jimmy Page and they both strove to make bluesy guitar rock - but Led Zep just did everything harder and, to be honest, better. Perhaps those initial reviewers were taking the band’s name too literally.

Hard rock the genre formed using the foundations set out by this phenomenal band and their stunning debut album.

Albumaday... rating:   9/10

1.       Good Times Bad Times – 2:47

2.       Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You – 6:41

3.       You Shook Me – 6:30

4.       Dazed and Confused – 6:27

5.       Your Time Is Gonna Come – 4:34

6.       Black Mountain Side – 2:13

7.       Communication Breakdown – 2:30

8.       I Can’t Quit You Baby – 4:43

9.       How Many More Times – 8:28

Listen to ‘Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrVDViSlsSM

9th Jan - Van Halen's 1984

Artist – Album: Van Halen - 1984

Released:  9^th January 1984

Sounds Like: It came from 1984... duh.

Van Halen really didn’t need to name their sixth album 1984 – it is pretty obvious from what era this record belongs. The prominent use of synths, the endless barrage of guitar licks and tricks, not to mention the perm-mullets no doubt sported by all individuals within a 12 mile radius of the group at the time; this album is as 80’s as a shiny, white pair of Reebok Pumps or Brat Pack-tastic movie The Breakfast Club.

Those synths don’t waste a second in introducing themselves, as though they were a secret that the boys were just bursting to tell us. The album starts, in fact, with a synth solo: the instrumental 1984; which leads straight into the colossal mega-hit Jump, a song I personally rate amongst my top three suicide-inducing songs of all time.

After the opening two tracks the keys are laid to rest for a bit while the band get back to doing what they do best – partying on dude! Panama, Top Jimmy and Hot for Teacher are all arena rock anthems in the classic mould, with shout-a-long choruses, blistering guitar solos and a bombastic rhythm section all doing the business. Synths again rear their ugly head on I’ll Wait, before the set closes with two of it’s heaviest and best songs.

I was born in 1988 and, by the time I got into music, grunge had washed away all but the most stubborn traces of hair metal and hard rock. Subsequently, I find it hard to like an album like this. There are definitely good points to be found but, as a whole, I just don’t like it. Consign it to Room 101.

Albumaday... rating:   6/10

1.       1984 – 1:07

2.       Jump – 4:04

3.       Panama – 3:32

4.       Top Jimmy – 2:59

5.       Drop Dead Legs – 4:14

6.       Hot for Teacher – 4:42

7.       I’ll Wait – 4:41

8.       Girl Gone Bad – 4:35

9.       House of Pain – 3:19

Listen to ‘Panama’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NshzYK9y0