Powerstars

Ah, Led Zeppelin. One of the single most influential hard rock groups of all time. This album was recorded a year after they'd changed their name from The New Yardbirds, which was a reference to Jimmy Page's old band The Yardbirds. While this album doesn't have any of the hits that Led Zeppelin became known for years later, it is considered important due to certain recording techniques, such as the backwards echo. And I must say, for 1969, that cover is ballsy. But does it hold up today?

1. Good Times Bad Times
Cool opening track. Jimmy Page's solo is quite good, as are Robert Plant's vocals, but I think my favorite part is the little bass grooves. This combines blues and hard rock in a good way.

2. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Ooh. A very nice acoustic song, right up my alley. Apparently, it's a cover, but I'm not familiar with the original. The guitar playing is emotional and done very well. When it picks up for a few bridges, we also get some fairly solid drumming and whatnot, I suppose to remind the listener that this is in fact a hard rock album. Also Robert Plant screaming is cool.

3. You Shook Me
Another cover, this time of a Muddy Waters song, and it shows. There's no doubt in my mind that some version of the song inspired AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long," lyrically at least. This one documents the blues rock side of them the best out of all the songs on the album in my opinion. Page's descending hold notes are perfect to go with Plant's amazing vocal performance. One complaint, Plant singing to the guitar at the end is freaking ridiculous.

4. Dazed and Confused
Probably the most famous song on the album, this one begins with some bass and guitar effects, followed by Plant blasting into his vocal performance. It also has something of a bluesy beat and some cool effects.

5. Your Time Is Gonna Come
Slash's favorite Led Zeppelin song opens with a nice organ, and then some acoustic guitar. It's fairly catchy with the chorus that has everything we need for the song: John Bonham drumming, Robert Plant singing, and John Paul Jones on keyboard. It's a cool little song which segues perfectly into...

6. Black Mountain Side
A cool little instrumental with some indian influence. Not terribly memorable, but it doesn't overstay it's welcome.

7. Communication Breakdown
Back to the hard rock. Fast-paced song, with a great chorus that has some fairly cool harmonies, and maybe the best vocal performance on the album. The solo is also pretty awesome, I must say.

8. I Can't Quit You Baby
Another cover, less blues rock this time, and more just blues. Without Page's little guitar bits, and the bridges with Bonham, I could easily say that it was just blues with no rock element. It's a pretty awesome song.

9. How Many More Times
For the longest song on the album, we got the most blues rocky song on the album with the most awesome effects. They really went all out for the final track, which, in my opinion, is the best on the album. It showcases everything the album is about in 8 and a half minutes.

Conclusion: Solid album, that doesn't drag and cuts straight to the punch. Solid first album from one of the most influential blues rock bands ever to ever to ever to EVER exist.

Final score: 90/100

__________________