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Rating: I admit that it's a difficult CD to review, but I'll give it a try anyway, even if I won't be too exhaustive.
The album in question is "Physical Graffiti" by Led Zeppelin, released in 1975, about two years after the previous "Houses of the Holy". This album sits between the band's flourishing peak and its decline (which began with "Presence"). And it's completely different from what a listener might expect from the Zepp.
The first disc consists of 6 tracks, all with terrifyingly catchy rhythms that instantly get stuck in your head (the first is Custard Pie, where the riff hardly ever changes, but immediately sets an active tone for the work). Second track: The rover: another great song of pure rock (there was also a cover made - unfortunately - by Dream Theater, a band known for overdoing it with covers - see "Master of Puppets" and "The Dark Side Of The Moon").
The third track can be considered the expressive peak of this first disc: In my time of dying, which is divided into two parts. The first is relaxed, introducing a mortuary atmosphere, as the title suggests. The second part is an explosion of life, one of the group's most powerful songs: the guitar feels insane, the voice is strained, and the old "Bonzo" Bonham delivers one of the most significant performances of his career. The track brims with energy, and is hard to forget (especially for its well-deserved duration of 11 minutes).
The fourth track is Houses of the holy, which, in my opinion, contains a wonderful phrase: "Let the music be your master". Fourth track: Trampled Under Foot, another strongly energetic song, repetitively chanting "Let's talk about love. . .". Last track of the first disc: Kashmir, another peak of the album, with the presence of various strings and clearly eastern music (also lasting more than 8 minutes). By this point, at least 90% of you will be eager to hear the continuation of such a rock masterpiece. And rightfully so!
Because the second part starts with one of Zepp's most controversial tracks: In the light, a track closest to progressive, of considerable beauty. It continues with a great solo: Bron-Yr-Aur (not to be confused with Bron-Yr-Aur STOMP, from the third album - also because I prefer the former! But that's just personal taste). Third and fourth tracks of the second part: Down by the seaside and Ten years gone, one of the most beautiful songs on the entire Physical Graffiti. From here on, after these great tracks, the album takes the liberty to slightly fall off, with somewhat weaker, yet still valid tracks. They follow with Night Flight, The Wanton Song, Boogie With Stu (primarily written by Bonham), Black Country Woman, and Sick Again.
Thus we reach the end of a rather comprehensive work, but unfortunately, it marks the end of the era of great creativity that characterized the Zepp until this point. It's worth mentioning, though, that they couldn't have concluded it better than this, with 5 more than excellent albums already behind them. Some might say: "Yes, but the Pink Floyd, after 5 albums, created their most committed and significant albums!!!". Yes, but here we're talking about the Zeppelin, if that's not enough for you, it's your loss. : )
Note on the rating: 4 and a half stars (maybe not five, but what an album, folks!)
PS: a small appeal - I highly recommend listening to all the previous albums, each more beautiful than the last, even if this comment might seem obvious and unnecessary to some. But it's always better to clarify. . .
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Custard Pie (04:13)
Drop down, baby, let your daddy see.
Drop down, mama, just dream of me
Well, my mama allow me to fool around all night long
Well, I may look like I'm crazy, I should know right from wrong
See me comin', throw your man out the door
Ain't no stranger, been this way before
See me comin', mama, throw your man out the door
I ain't no stranger, I been this way before.
Put on your night shirt and your morning gown
You know by night I'm gonna shake 'em down
Put on your night shirt Mama, and your morning gown
Well, you know by night I'm gonna shake 'em down
Your custard pie, yeah, sweet and nice
When you cut it, mama, save me a slice
Your custard pie, I declare, it's sweet and nice
I Like your custard pie
When you cut it, mama... mama, please save me a slice.
Save me a slice of your custard pie.
Drop down
02 The Rover (05:37)
I've been to London, seen seven wonders. I know to trip is just to fall
I used to rock it, sometimes I'd roll it. I always knew what it was for.
There can be no denyin' that the wind 'll shake 'em down
And the flat world's flyin'. There's a new plague on the land
If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands
Traversed the planet when heaven sent me. I saw the kings who rule them all
Still by the firelight and purple moonlight. I hear the rested rivers call
And the wind is crying, from a love that won't grow cold
My lover, she is lying, on the dark side of the globe
If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands
You got me rockin' when I ought to be a-rollin'
Darlin', tell me, darlin', which way to go
You keep me rockin', baby, then you keep me stolen
Won't you tell me, darlin', which way to go... that's right
Oh how I wonder, oh how I worry and I would dearly like to know
I've all this wonder of earthly plunder will it leave us anything to show
And our time is flyin' see the candle burnin' low
Is the new world rising, from the shambles of the old
If we could just join hands.
04 Houses of the Holy (04:02)
Let me take you to the movies. Can I take you to the show
Let me be yours ever truly. Can I make your garden grow
From the houses of the holy, we can watch the white doves go
From the door comes Satan's daughter, and it only goes to show. You know.
There's an angel on my shoulder, In my hand a sword of gold
Let me wander in your garden. And the seeds of love I'll sow. You know.
So the world is spinning faster. Are you dizzy when you're stoned
Let the music be your master. Will you heed the master's call
Oh... Satan and man.
Said there ain't no use in crying. Cause it will only, only drive you mad
Does it hurt to hear them lying? Was this the only world you had? Oh-oh
So let me take you, take you to the movie. Can I take you, baby, to the show.
Why don't you let me be yours ever truly. Can I make your garden grow
You know.
05 Trampled Under Foot (05:36)
Greased and slicked down fine, groovy leather trim
I like the way you hold the road, mama, it ain't no sin
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Trouble-free transmission, puncture will explode
Mama, let me pump your gas, mama, let me do it all
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Dig that heavy metal underneath your hood
Baby, I could work all night, believe I've got the perfect tools
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
A model built for comfort, really built with style
Specialist tradition, mama, let me feast my eyes
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Factory air-conditioned, heat begins to rise
Guaranteed to run for hours, mama it's a perfect size
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Groovin' on the freeway, gauge is on the red
Gun down on my gasoline, I believe I'm gonna crack a head.
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
I can't stop talkin' about...
Come to me for service every hundred miles
Baby, let me check your points, fix your overdrive
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Fully automatic, comes in any size
Makes me wonder what I did, before we synchronized
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Feather-light suspension, coils just couldn't hold
I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Talkin' 'bout love
Oh, I can't stop talkin' about love.
06 Kashmir (08:28)
Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed
Talk and song from tongues of lilting grace, whose sounds caress my ear
But not a word I heard could I relate, the story was quite clear
Oh, oh.
Oh, I been blind... mama, there ain't no denyin'
I've been blind, ain't no denyin', no denyin'
All I see turns to brown, as the sun burns the ground
And my eyes fill with sand, as I scan this wasted land
Trying to find, trying to find where I've been.
Oh, pilot of the storm who leaves no trace, like thoughts inside a dream
Heed the path that led me to that place, yellow desert stream
My Shangri-La beneath the summer moon, I will return again
Sure as the dust that floats high in June, when movin' through Kashmir.
Oh, father of the four winds, fill my sails, across the sea of years
With no provision but an open face, along the straits of fear
Ohh.
When I'm on, when I'm on my way, yeah
When I see, when I see the way, you stay-yeah
Ooh, yeah-yeah, ooh, yeah-yeah, when I'm down...
Ooh, yeah-yeah, ooh, yeah-yeah, well I'm down, so down
Ooh, my baby, oooh, my baby, let me take you there
Let me take you there. Let me take you there
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Other reviews
By Antonino91
"Despite having some lazy and unremarkable moments, 'Physical Graffiti' is a very enjoyable album."
"Kashmir, where stunning hard sounds are intertwined with sounds with a decidedly Indian flavor, 8 minutes and 30 of great spectacle."
By Miki Page
"Physical Graffiti captures Led Zeppelin at the height of their career, in the prime of their strength."
"Kashmir is a mystical journey through oriental sounds, giving it a high level of expression and emotion."
By claudio carpentieri
"With the listening of ‘In My Time Of Dying’ one can say it’s witnessing one of the band’s absolute masterpieces!"
"A double release that once again confirms the graceful state of the four members of the dirigible, always capable of creating music worthy of the noblest meaning of this term."
By Rax
"Double albums are always bad records and Physical Graffiti is no exception."
"'Kashmir' is a real work of art with its memorable riff and oriental atmospheres."
