Throwback Thursday: Led Zeppelin II, by Led Zeppelin

In late 1969 English heavy rock titans Led Zeppelin put out their landmark sophomore album Led Zeppelin II. Even though their previous album Led Zeppelin had only been out a few months they wasted no time getting back into the studio and working on a follow-up. Led Zeppelin definitely did NOT disappoint all of the fans whose attention they had garnered in such a short amount of time. Led Zeppelin II was bigger, better, and showed more of what the band was capable of.

Led Zeppelin II is where Led Zeppelin started veering a little bit away from the straight up blues approach they had taken on their first album and crafting the straight up hard rock style that they would become famous for and have countless bands in the decades to come copying. Almost the entire album is made up of hits that I have heard on the radio countless times since I was a lad. That is a true testament to how much Led Zeppelin knew what they were doing and how on fire they were at the time.

The Lemon Song has always been one of my favorite tunes from Led Zeppelin II. The way that main riff just grinds in that perfect way and how sexily it climbs up and down just hits me in all the best ways. It's straight up blues in terms of the technique and construction of it, but it's so big, pounding, and loud that it couldn't be anything else but rock n' roll. It's easily one of the catchiest songs that Led Zeppelin ever penned and recorded to say the least.

Moby Dick in my opinion is one of the coolest things any band has ever done. It's essentially just a drum solo (though with the whole band playing in certain places). However, it's so well constructed and paced that it really does feel like an actual piece of music. This of course was back during a time where mainstream bands were allowed to be experimental and do extended jams/odysseys that could go on for an indefinite amount of time. These days you can't really get away with that, sadly.

I don't know if I would consider Led Zeppelin II the band's best record, but it is definitely in the top few. There isn't a single bad track on it. Whether you've been listening to Led Zeppelin for decades or are brand new to their glorious music you will be jamming and singing along song after song until it wraps up, especially if you play it at the proper maximum volume that it should be played at. This is for sure a must have.

Led Zeppelin II, by Led Zeppelin receives 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Whole Lotta Love
2. What is and What Should Never Be
3. The Lemon Song
4. Thank You
5. Heart Breaker
6. Living Loving Maid
7. Ramble On
8. Moby Dick
9. Bring it on Home

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Led-Zeppelin-II-Deluxe/dp/B00IZ6BF5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491546266&sr=8-1&keywords=Led+Zeppelin+II