Well, my 400th review is finally here. I decided about 10 days ago to make #400 a tribute to Jimmy Page, who turns 58 today. I myself am also celebrating a birthday today, as I turn 22. Yes, I expect gifts, expensive ones at that! Also, happy birthday to Dave Matthews. And, because God loves to mock me, today is also A.J. McLean's birthday. (He of drunken Backstreet Boy fame). Well at least someone will have more drinks than me tonight.

As I looked over the list of Led Zeppelin's albums, I was faced with making the decision of which one I should review as a birthday tribute to guitarist Jimmy Page. The body of work that Zeppelin put together is almost unmatched, except in rare cases by other bands who have their own claim to greatness. I thought about picking Led Zeppelin IV, but thought that too obvious. I thought about picking something like Houses of the Holy or even Presence, just so as not to be obvious. But even though this choice is kind of obvious as well, I decided to go with Led Zeppelin II. If no other album is a showcase for Page's immense talents, this one is.

Released in October of 1969, mere months after their self titled debut appeared on store shelves, Led Zeppelin II is more straight ahead rock and roll than the debut, which might be why most fans consider this, along with IV, one of the band's greatest works.

Of course, most Zeppelin "fans" aren't terribly familiar with much of the material after IV, mostly because not much of it got played on the radio, at least not in the doses that the first four albums did. There's nothing wrong with that. Led Zeppelin II is the band's most commercially appealing work, no questions asked.

It opens with the raucous riff that begins Whole Lotta Love, one of the band's signature songs. It might be the most famous riff in rock history, and with good reason. It's aggressive and sexual, which meant it complimented lead singer Robert Plant's sexual gyrations and yowls perfectly. Not to be outdone, John Bonham's drumming is powerful and extremely loud. With the exception of a young Keith Moon, no one can touch Bonzo in the history of drumming. If you haven't heard Whole Lotta Love, you've been living under a rock.

The second song, What Is and What Never Should Be, lulls you into a false sense of security with it's slow melodic opening. But when the band kicks in, you're rocked awake by Plant's rapid fire vocals and Bonzo's powerhouse drumming. My personal favorite part of the song however is Page's solo in the middle of the song. It starts off nice and bluesy, only to become much more of a hard rock solo, and then ends on a nice bluesy note again.

Another bluesy riff opens track three, The Lemon Song. And while Page's playing is superb, it's Plant who really takes center stage here with his very much over sexualized lyrics.

Squeeze me baby, till the juice runs down my leg.
The way you squeeze my lemon, I'm gonna fall right out of bed.

Not to be outdone, Page's playing is nothing short of superb. It's amazing how even when he isn't center stage, he still makes you take notice. And bassist John Paul Jones even throws in a bit of a funky bass line on the bridge which tops the song off beautifully.

Jones' best contribution though is on the next track, the powerhouse ballad number Thank You. His organ playing on this track gives it a nice layered feel. And to me at least, this shows how good of a lyric writer Plant could be when he wanted to. All the overbearing and overwrought sexual energy is thrown out the window on this song, as Plant sings passionately lines like:

And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one.

I love those lines, and I love this song. It may possibly be my favorite Zeppelin song.

It looks like the band only had one tender moment in them for this record, as the next song begins: Heartbreaker. If Whole Lotta Love is the best known riff in rock, then Heartbreaker just might be number 2. Lyrically, the song is another good example of Plant's talent. It's the exact opposite of Thank You. But let's face it. This song is made by Page's frantic guitar solo, and I do mean solo. The rest of the band sits down and just lets him and his fingers work their magic up and down the fret board.

Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) is a frenetic blues romp that's led by yet another great riff by Page and the driving drumming by Bonham. I think it's the only time I play "air-drums" instead of "air-guitar." =)

The next song is only oh so appropriate to be brought up right now, as lyrically it deals with the tale of the Lord of the Rings. The band, especially Plant and Page, was fascinated by Welsh culture, and loved the books by author J.R.R. Tolkien. Ramble On refers to the quest that the protagonists go on, although only these lines actually make it obvious what it's about:

T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.
But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her....yeah.

Moby Dick is an instrumental bluesy jam that has a cool riff by Page, but even more impressive drumming by Bonham, who just owns this song.

Closing the album out is the anthem Bring It On Home, which almost gives new meaning to the word "anthem." It starts off slow enough, with a soft blues riff from Page, harmonica and vocals from Plant. Before long however, Page rips into this unbelievable riff that truly brings it on home. It's bluesy, it's funky, and it rocks, all at once. Not bad for 1969.

While some people consider Page's defining moments to be Stairway to Heaven or even Kashmir, in my mind, this whole album is his greatest showcase. Thirty-three years later and it still sounds fresh. And I bet at 58, he can play these just as well as he could at 25. Happy Birthday Jimmy. You are the true king of rock and roll.





Recommended: Yes