•
Rating:
First of all, to truly appreciate 'In Through The Out Door', one must forget or at least avoid comparisons with previous albums (masterpieces) like 'III', 'IV', 'Houses', and any others you wish; as it would be embarrassing and also quite useless. We are talking about an LP released in 1979, a year marked by numerous changes and discoveries in the artistic-musical field.
The album opens with "In the Evening", a well-crafted piece; the beginning already evokes typical Zeppelin atmospheres, bordering on the mysterious. When the actual song starts, it's clear there's something different: the sound of a synth almost never used before by the band, which will accompany the entire album with unfortunately predominant roles. However, the song is brilliant, with a nice chorus that reminds us of the 80s style and suddenly, a guitar solo, a sort of bubble that seems to stop time. Then it picks up again. In my opinion, a great idea showing that Led still haven't stopped experimenting, even with good results.
The second piece is "South Bound Saurez", a kind of boogie-rock introduced by Jonesy's pounding piano (also rarely used before). The piece is certainly interesting, fun, and has good ideas. In any case, nothing special. The third is "Fool in the Rain", and hats off to Mr. John Bonham for the brilliant invention (Jeff Porcaro of Toto admitted to being inspired for the riff of Rossana by Bonzo). The "Caribbean" setting with an interlude like a Rio carnival may understandably be unappealing. Undoubtedly, the virtuous rhythmic section throughout the track is brilliant (let's say Bonzo is the one who saves the entire album, always showcasing great sound and great technique matured over time). Another great track.
Here are the sour notes: "Hot Dog"; a silly country parody, complete with Honky Tonk played by J. Paul Jones, entirely useless and trivial; perfect for entertaining drunk cowboys. Plant, in my opinion, perfectly fits the role but Page is a caricature of himself. Here the Led Zeppelin seem to be mocking their most devoted fans. "Carouselambra"; what to say?! Jonesy's sounds are terrible, although the means were those (the synths back then weren't today's Korgs). However, the variations, the tempo changes within the piece are "rays of sunshine", often brilliant. The main theme with which the piece starts and ends may, however, today, but even then, seem a little significant race against time precisely because of the keyboards, used to exhaustion. A 10-minute marathon that can appear just a pathetic attempt to stay trendy, but which still doesn't hide once again beautiful and interesting new touches, thanks to Page's guitar, the best element of the piece. Here comes the much-hated "All my Love". A pop-melodic classic. However, I consider it a very nice piece. Page's very bright electric guitar accompanies it very well, and even here interesting aspects are not lacking. Bonzo perfect as always, but John Paul Jones limits himself to few ideas, only to ruin everything with a sort of synthesizer solo (our genius, in this album, shows an inexperience towards instruments different from the old mellotrons). Robert Plant is very inspired, in fact, the piece is dedicated to his son Karac who died shortly before.
The last track, a rather depressing way to close the official Zeppelin repertoire, as well as their last album (but they couldn't have known it was the last, right?). "I'm gonna Crawl" which starts with a passionate intro of synthesized strings, evoking the atmosphere of an old romantic film of the time. Then it begins with Bonzo's riff. Plant stated that it was an attempt to recreate certain soul atmospheres present in the 60s recordings of Otis Redding. It is undoubtedly a sad piece (the Zeppelian swan song: a term that hurts, but unfortunately, it fits quite well) but enjoyable, like the entire album: enjoyable, nothing more.
Thus ends the journey of the Zeppelin, started in the distant '68 and finished on September 25, 1980. A journey together with a group that made us explore new sounds, new atmospheres, which told us ancient Celtic legends but also mysterious, romantic, scandalous, and moving stories, that accompanied us, from the lands of ice inhabited by ruthless Vikings (Immigrant Song), to the hot Middle Eastern deserts (Kashmir). 'In Through The Out Door' is the last stage of the journey; an experimental work that leaves us a bit puzzled but certainly signals an artistic and concert rebirth of the Led Zeppelin; which could have materialized in subsequent other great albums, why not? For this, I do not hesitate to state that, after the painful dark period, they were reborn.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 In the Evening (06:50)
In the evening, When the day is done
I'm looking for a woman, but the girl don't come
So don't let her, Play you for a fool
She don't show no pity baby, she don't make no rules
*Chorus: Oh, oh, I need your love, I need your love
Oh, I need your love, I just got to have
So don't you let her, Oh, get under your skin
It's only bad luck and trouble, From the day that you begin
I hear you crying in the darkness, Don't ask nobody's help
Ain't no pockets full of mercy baby, Cause you can only blame yourself
Chorus
Oh it's simple, All the pain that you go through
You can turn away from fortune, fortune, Cause that's all that's left to you
It's lonely at the bottom, Man, it's dizzy at the top
But if you're standing in the middle, Ain't no way you're gonna stop
Chorus
Oh whatever that your days may bring
No use hiding in a corner, Cause that won't change a thing
If you're dancing in the doldrums, One day soon, it's got to stop, it's got to stop
When you're the master of the off-chance, When you don't expect a lot
Chorus
02 South Bound Saurez (04:14)
Baby, when you walk that sweet walk
Oh, you walk it good, yes you walk it good
Baby, when you talk that sweet talk
Oh, it sounds so good, oh so good
With a little bit of concentration
And a little bit of helpin' hands, yeah
And a little bit of raving madness
You know it makes me feel, baby
Both my feet are back on the ground
And when the rhythm takes me
It feels so good, oh so good
Baby if it keeps a-shaking
It will do you good, oh so much good
With a little bit of stop-a-shakin' shakin'
And a little bit of ?fly right down?
And a little bit of sweet con-carne
It makes me feel, makes me feel
I got my feet on the ground
Ooh now baby, when you move it makes me
Really feel so good, oh so good
And I'm so glad, so glad, so glad, so glad
And I'm good, oh, so good
With a little bit of concentration
And a little bit of helping hand
And a little bit of ?saving madness?
You know it makes me feel, baby
I'm back on the ground oh yes, sure does
It makes me feel back on the ground.
I'm feelin' good child!
Down on the ground.
Sha la la la...
05 Carouselambra (10:34)
Sisters of the way-side bide their time in quiet peace,
Await their place within the ring of calm;
Still stand to turn in seconds of release,
Await the call they know may never come.
In times of lightness, no intruder dared upon
To jeopardize the course, upset the run;
And all was joy and hands were raised toward the sun
As love in the halls of plenty overrun.
Still in their bliss unchallenged mighty feast,
Unending dances shadowed on the day.
Within their walls, their daunting formless keep,
Preserved their joy and kept their doubts at bay.
Faceless legions stood in readiness to weep,
Just turn a coin, bring order to the fray;
And everything is soon no sooner thought than deed,
But no one seemed to question in anyway.
How keen the storied hunter's eye prevails upon the land
To seek the unsuspecting and the weak;
And powerless the fabled sat, too smug to lift a hand
Toward the foe that threatened from the deep.
Who cares to dry the cheeks of those who saddened stand
Adrift upon a sea of futile speech?
And to fall to fate and make the 'status plan'
Where was your word, where did you go?
Where was your helping, where was your bow? Bow.
Dull is the armour, cold is the day.
Hard was the journey, dark was the way. Way.
I heard the word; I couldn't stay. Oh.
I couldn't stand it another day, another day,
Another day, another day.
Touched by the timely coming,
Roused from the keeper's sleep,
Release the grip, throw down the key.
Held now within the knowing,
Rest now within the peace.
Take of the fruit, but guard the seed.
They had to stay!
Held now within the knowing,
Rest now within the beat.
Take of the fruit, but guard the seed...
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By Antonino91
If someone knows Led Zeppelin meaning "Stairway To Heaven", surely when they listen to this mess, they won’t say it sounds like Led Zeppelin.
"I'm Gonna Crawl" represents one of the very few interesting episodes, a heartfelt blues for guitar and strings, sung by Plant with grit and participation.
By Miki Page
It’s regrettable that the Zep left us with such an awful album (definitely the worst in their discography), at times even embarrassing.
When I listen to ‘All My Love’ I think: it’s not us, it’s not us.
By claudio carpentieri
The smoky introductory keyboards and Plant’s warm vocal lament are enough to launch 'In The Evening', a solid blend of sounds that makes everything majestic and imposing.
A record, therefore, that certainly does not disgrace itself if placed alongside the numerous masterpieces that preceded it.
By Randall
Jimmy Page delivers one of his most incisive riffs and an excellent solo; Robert Plant’s outstanding vocal performance imparts an almost epic tone.
'All My Love' is probably the emotional peak of the album, a poignant tribute to Plant’s late son, with impactful music by John Paul Jones.
