Jonny Come Lately
The New Kid In Town
Just wanted to bump this to post my thoughts, I finally got round to downloading it and listening to all the songs together (although I had heard all of them separately beforehand).
I was curious about this album because I knew it was the first album my dad ever purchased on vinyl back in the day (I know his older brother had I, II and IV - not III, interestingly). Having being introduced to the band via IV, the only Led Zeppelin CD in my parents' collection, this is the third album I've come round to, after IV and I. I've heard all of II and III but intend to pick up the new remasters, and also want to acquire Graffiti soon, but anyway, onto Houses Of The Holy.
My favourite track on this album is Over The Hills And Far Away which I consider to be one of the band's finest compositions, an excellent demonstration of Page's 'light and shade'. It would certainly make my personal top ten Led Zeppelin songs, and even possibly my top five. I also think No Quarter and The Song Remains The Same are first rate, I can forgive the tweaking of Plant's voice in the latter as the guitars are so good. I like The Rain Song and Dancing Days too, but I have a certain fondness for The Ocean (the closest song to the sound of I and II here, I think).
I actually asked my dad what he thought of the two most controversial tracks on the album, The Crunge and D'yer Mak'er - he says he was never much of a fan of the former but liked the latter. I tend to agree with him, D'yer Mak'er isn't a classic but it is a good fun song (as an aside I love the reggae bit around 4:07, makes me smile every time), although I don't mind The Crunge - the riffs are quite cool and the 'where's the confounded bridge' part amuses me.
All in all I think it's a very good album, I can certainly listen to and enjoy all eight tracks even if the two humorous songs aren't strictly up to the band's usual (very high) standards.
I was curious about this album because I knew it was the first album my dad ever purchased on vinyl back in the day (I know his older brother had I, II and IV - not III, interestingly). Having being introduced to the band via IV, the only Led Zeppelin CD in my parents' collection, this is the third album I've come round to, after IV and I. I've heard all of II and III but intend to pick up the new remasters, and also want to acquire Graffiti soon, but anyway, onto Houses Of The Holy.
My favourite track on this album is Over The Hills And Far Away which I consider to be one of the band's finest compositions, an excellent demonstration of Page's 'light and shade'. It would certainly make my personal top ten Led Zeppelin songs, and even possibly my top five. I also think No Quarter and The Song Remains The Same are first rate, I can forgive the tweaking of Plant's voice in the latter as the guitars are so good. I like The Rain Song and Dancing Days too, but I have a certain fondness for The Ocean (the closest song to the sound of I and II here, I think).
I actually asked my dad what he thought of the two most controversial tracks on the album, The Crunge and D'yer Mak'er - he says he was never much of a fan of the former but liked the latter. I tend to agree with him, D'yer Mak'er isn't a classic but it is a good fun song (as an aside I love the reggae bit around 4:07, makes me smile every time), although I don't mind The Crunge - the riffs are quite cool and the 'where's the confounded bridge' part amuses me.
All in all I think it's a very good album, I can certainly listen to and enjoy all eight tracks even if the two humorous songs aren't strictly up to the band's usual (very high) standards.