Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy (Dig) (Mlps)
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Led ZeppelinBrand: LED ZEPPELIN
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2003-06-09
Music Label: Atlantic UK
Soundtracks:
- Song Remains the Same
- Over the Hills and Far Away
- Dancing Days
- No Quarter
Free Music Notes for Houses of the Holy (Dig) (Mlps)
Free Music Review: Led Zeppelin's finest hour
Hit: 5 Stars
Houses Of The Holy (1973.), Led Zeppelin's fifth studio album
In the early 1970's, Led Zeppelin were at their peak. Led Zeppelin were one of the top established bands in the world by the time of the release of 'Houses Of The Holy' in Spring 1973. This was due to the release of four magnificent albums, displaying music from groundbreaking blues hard rock songs to acoustic masterpieces. However, it was mostly in the release of their fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV, that the band really sored to superstardom. Songs like 'Stairway To Heaven', which quickly became a generational rock anthem and other great songs made Led Zeppelin IV the band's best sounding album to date. As a result, the band faced the dilemma of making the follow up to a hard rock masterpiece. Scaling to the heights of Led Zeppelin IV seemed impossible; so were the band able to pull it off with 'Houses Of The Holy'?
Many will disagree with me but in my opinion, Led Zeppelin's finest hour came with this album. Furthermore, I would go as far to say this is rock music's finest hour of the 70's. So why do you ask? How is HOTH better than albums like Led Zeppelin II or IV? Where are the tracks that better 'Stairway', 'When The Levee Breaks' or 'Whole Lotta Love' for that matter? The answer, for me, lies in how much ground the band covers in this album. This album is the mix of the original rocking Zeppelin, with the new, experimental and more developed band. This album, albeit having only 8 tracks, covers the sounds of funk, reggae, riff rock, synthesizers, acoustics to name but a few. Plus this is all in 40 minutes. I've never heard an album quite like this one. True, it is not as all round consistent as LZ IV but it is in diversity that makes HOTH (the first album the band gave a true name to) a winner of an album. 'Houses Of The Holy' is ingenuity and creativity but at the same time is the band truly enjoying the music their playing and you can sense this in all the albums songs. Plant's vocal range and different styles of delivery are evident through the album, Page's guitar play cleverly changes gears through the album, JP Jones' contribution is invaluable (especially on the keyboard) and Bonham's drumming is first rate. The band opened loads of new avenues in rock music with this album; its impact has been subtle but downright effective. Ironically, the album was released in exactly the same week as Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon'. Two classics like these in one week is staggering and seldom ever seen. The faxt that the band recorded a title track for this album which didn't make it to the final song list shows howe good the work. 'Houses Of The Holy', the song which appears on 'Physical Graffiti', is awesome and the fact that it was deemed too inferior for this album shows the musical quality within. The album will probabaly not strike you as being that great during the first few listens - I personally was disappointed with it at first; but this album gets better and better with repeated listens and the experimetal songs really grow on you.
A Led Zeppelin fan favourite, 'The Song Remains The Same' opens the album. This is a 5 minute, upbeat rock song with some amazingly adept guitar work from Page. Plant's high register singing to a fast rhythm works very well. Following this is a true masterpiece and sadly one that often gets underappreciated. 'The Rain Song' is the band's search for a song in the vein of 'Stairway To Heaven'. The slow, mellotron-based melody in this song is awesome. The acoustic sections are moody and the end climax is thrilling, with Plant crying out for 'Just a little rain!' A relaxing song; and it cheers you up on a rainy day too! An acoustic opening follows in 'Over The Hills And Far Away'. The build up into the rocking part of the song is legendary. The song fades out with a dreamy guitar/keyboard section which really cool. Finishing the first half of the album is 'The Crunge'. This is perhaps the most experimental song on the album an I personally think it works really well; although some may disagree, finding this track annoying. Plant half sings/half talks on the vocals to a song with a funky beat. Theres a lot going on in this song, so give it plenty of listens; at the least its a funny listen.
'Dancing Days' opens the second half of the album. More great riffs from Page supplement some almost chanted Plant vocals. The instrumentals at the end build a great climax and overall the song is a really catchy listen. 'D'yer Mak'er' is next; this is Led Zeppelin successfully experimenting with reggae. The beat is cool and Plant's vocals capture the song style very well. Then we have the next epic of the album; 'No Quarter' is another masterpiece. This is Led Zeppelin's eeriest and most captivating song. Plant's vocals are chilling and give the song a suspicious aura. The song is on of John Paul Jones' finest hours. His keyboard/synth part is awesome and captures the nature of the song and his bass solo mid-way through the epic is timeless. After this song fades out, we come to the classic finish with 'The Ocean'. The hard rocking riff to this song is vintage Zeppelin, supplemented by pronounced drumming. This is a very strong finish. The racing guitar section at the end is a great way to end a unique album.
There was never an album quite like 'Houses of the Holy' before it and there has never been on like it made since. This is Led Zeppelin at their most creative and able, showing really how genius their music could be. Led Zeppelin IV might be the band's most consistent and popular album, Physical Graffiti might be their epic and Led Zep I and II might be the hard rock gems, but it is in 'Houses Of The Holy' that you have the great band demonstrating their utmost ability and at the same time giving it their greatest passion and energy. It is a sin not to own this album!!!
MY RATING: 10/10; a classic that rises above the rest
Houses of the Holy (Dig) (Mlps) Poster
UK reissue of 1973 album, packaged in a limited editionminiature LP sleeve. Warner. 2003.Buoyed by the runaway commercial success of Led Zeppelin IV, Jimmy Page used this 1973 follow-up to hone his already impressive production skills, and the result was a collection sporting an impressively expansive sound. Benefiting--especially on tracks such as "Dancing Days Are Here Again," "The Crunge," and "Over the Hills and Far Away"--was Zeppelin's always underrated rhythm section: thunder-fisted drummer John Bonham and rock-solid bassist John Paul Jones. Jones also emerged here as a secret weapon on keyboards with his subtle work on more pensive fare such as "No Quarter" and "The Ocean." And the goofy "D'yer Ma'ker" showed that Zeppelin had more of a sense of humor than most people ever gave them credit for. --Billy Altman
Robert Plant once said that a chunk of the Zep catalog was "music for hippie bookstores." While much of Houses of the Holy thumps hard enough to knock the incense holders off the speakers, the generally upbeat vibe makes this a great choice for playing on the first (dancing) day of spring, windows flung wide open as Jimmy Page's lead lines soar out over the neighbors' rosebushes. Plant is at his most lovey-dovey here, whether updating Chuck Berry on "The Ocean," extolling the virtues of his Page 3 girl on "The Crunge," or writing greeting cards for that patchouli-scented side-street shop on "The Rain Song." In a word: grand. --Rickey Wright
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