Classic Rock Album of the Day- Led Zeppelin- In Through the Out Door (1979) ****
Kind of mixed emotions today with this review. This one had previously completed my review of the LZ discography, and of course was the last studio effort by one of the all time greats. I had previously panned (wrong word- maybe docked) the band for a lot of the provocatives toward the experimental. There is no doubt that under Led Zeppelin standards, Presence was an utter disaster, and since the band had such a short time left, this is and was travesty of waste of vinyl of what could be, in terms of their standing among the all time greats.
Well, LZ did it again with their 8th and final effort, In Through the Out Door. But instead of making the experimental feel forced, and funky, the band almost hit a Home Run. The eccentricities of this album though not mainstream Zep, did a great job of cutting a notch in the fabric rock, that LZ was not a bit a one dimensional hard rock/blues behemoth. This album is a lot of ways is even more off the rails than Presence, but without it sounding almost like an off-cranked genre parody. What many fail to realize that even in a lot of this genre bending, is not only a band that exceeds the stuff they are emulating, it is an exercise....wait a better word is "lesson" of what happens when you gather a group of talent that is so good at their craft they can send "smack" to the industry, and say.... 7 great..... now it is time for us have a good time showing off a bit.
A lot of rock pundits have claimed that Page's influences and efforts were minimized on this LP. I really think that it more was an industry trend of adding synth to the equation. Example? This is about the same time that Rush did the same. And Yes, too from a volume perspective. No, LZ was not Prog, but '70's sternum rattling 4/4 rock and roll had changed in deference to New Wave influences. Yeah, that sucked... I know.
With all the accolades, this is still not a perfect album, like most of their discography of their first 4. There also is not what I would call an epic Classic Rock standard song that lives in perpetual greatness. Back in '79 when I first unwrapped this LP, I was at first in the same opinion I had with Presence. More stuff that was not what made the band great. But unlike Presence, this one gradually grew on me, with the realization that this had some really innovative undercurrents that not as much as that the 1970's were dead, the album was a testament an event of branching out from the base rock/blues into somewhat of alter-ego of a band that rightfully called themselves the best. Funny... I always wondered if the band would have taken this direction if had known this was their last.
Not that history as treated post Physical Graffiti LZ well. To a great majority of the hard core fans, the band had drifted off to a narrow dark corridor of experimentation, and fear that the critics would call them stale and dated. I'll grant that as accurate representation for Presence, but with a deep enough thoughtful listen, you can tell that there is a lot going on behind the mic and amps here. And I think a lot of it kind of self manifested in some of the better later solo work from Plant, and Page with his time with the Firm. Was it commercialization based? Was it rebranding? Was it an effort to expand fan base? Sadly, with Bonham's and Led Zeppelin's death in 1980..... We will never know.
Fun Fact: John Paul Jones has credits on 6 of the 7 songs. Impact on quality? From my POV, yes and no. Seems we got the best and worst of the 3rd wheel of the Led Zep song writing locomotive.
Side 1-
-----------
In the Evening- Zep starts the show with one of their better latter career efforts. Eastern influenced instrumental breaks out into an all hell breaking loose rocking number. I love how the understated synth on this one is a great add, than a distraction. There are even parts that this thing almost breaks into a 3 part melodic bluezy mash. Classic Zep. 2
Southbound Suarez- Barrel Roll rocker, I guess the intent was right. But again, not a reason I plunked $6.99 on the record counter in 1979. Not a bad tune, by any means, but more is expected from Zeppelin. Searing solo does help save some, but by this time we again realize that 1971 was a heck of a long time ago. 6
Fool In the Rain- Originally I hated this song. Talk about ultimate rock parody. The greatest hard rock band of all time had declined into a latin salsa band. BUT.. after a few thousand more listens, you come to realize that the musical chops on this one is genius. The slow genre morphing and phasing of the tune is unique. And if you listen closer, from a musical difficulty point, this is pretty complex. And when the whistle sounds? Besides a "WTF" and again a few thousand listens, you realize that this is Zeppelin at their utter most Avante Garde. Can you imagine Page playing this in 1970? That's growth folks. 1
Hot Dog- Another barrel house almost country effort. Again not bad, but .... Oh and bonus points for using dungarees in a song.
5
Side 2-
----------
Carouselambra- Awesome use of synth and guitar. So strange to hear Page's licks support a synth line. Song had a great degree of complexity within the simple repetitive riffs that strike the listener. This is also the one on the LP that has some of Bonham's best drum work. Low key, but fine way to allow the main strengths of the band (drum/ax solos) outright provide a foundation, for the ridiculously silly and repetitive synth rolls. The mid song transition into a standard rock/blues rolling thunder does a nice job of contrast. Then listening to it as an exercise of dueling synth? 11 minutes well spent. 3
All of My Love- The hit, and most recognizable one of an album that has faded from view. Very mainstream from LZ standards, and enough hooks to lure the listener. Song also has maybe what may be the only pure synth solo in the band's career. Song in a lot of ways is kind of a cumulative sum of the entire intent of the LP. Synth, Weird, and absent Page. 4
I'm Gonna Crawl- Hate to say, but this one song may be the worst songs in Led Zeppelin's history. Everyone knows that Page had to have one obligatory hard bluez number. This one has no sound of inspiration, and the cringe-worthy added synth almost makes it a joke. Contrast this with "Since I have Been Loving You" to amaze you that this is the same band. It's a crime that one of the greatest rock bands of all time ended their career with this one, but it is, what it is. 7
Kind of mixed emotions today with this review. This one had previously completed my review of the LZ discography, and of course was the last studio effort by one of the all time greats. I had previously panned (wrong word- maybe docked) the band for a lot of the provocatives toward the experimental. There is no doubt that under Led Zeppelin standards, Presence was an utter disaster, and since the band had such a short time left, this is and was travesty of waste of vinyl of what could be, in terms of their standing among the all time greats.
Well, LZ did it again with their 8th and final effort, In Through the Out Door. But instead of making the experimental feel forced, and funky, the band almost hit a Home Run. The eccentricities of this album though not mainstream Zep, did a great job of cutting a notch in the fabric rock, that LZ was not a bit a one dimensional hard rock/blues behemoth. This album is a lot of ways is even more off the rails than Presence, but without it sounding almost like an off-cranked genre parody. What many fail to realize that even in a lot of this genre bending, is not only a band that exceeds the stuff they are emulating, it is an exercise....wait a better word is "lesson" of what happens when you gather a group of talent that is so good at their craft they can send "smack" to the industry, and say.... 7 great..... now it is time for us have a good time showing off a bit.
A lot of rock pundits have claimed that Page's influences and efforts were minimized on this LP. I really think that it more was an industry trend of adding synth to the equation. Example? This is about the same time that Rush did the same. And Yes, too from a volume perspective. No, LZ was not Prog, but '70's sternum rattling 4/4 rock and roll had changed in deference to New Wave influences. Yeah, that sucked... I know.
With all the accolades, this is still not a perfect album, like most of their discography of their first 4. There also is not what I would call an epic Classic Rock standard song that lives in perpetual greatness. Back in '79 when I first unwrapped this LP, I was at first in the same opinion I had with Presence. More stuff that was not what made the band great. But unlike Presence, this one gradually grew on me, with the realization that this had some really innovative undercurrents that not as much as that the 1970's were dead, the album was a testament an event of branching out from the base rock/blues into somewhat of alter-ego of a band that rightfully called themselves the best. Funny... I always wondered if the band would have taken this direction if had known this was their last.
Not that history as treated post Physical Graffiti LZ well. To a great majority of the hard core fans, the band had drifted off to a narrow dark corridor of experimentation, and fear that the critics would call them stale and dated. I'll grant that as accurate representation for Presence, but with a deep enough thoughtful listen, you can tell that there is a lot going on behind the mic and amps here. And I think a lot of it kind of self manifested in some of the better later solo work from Plant, and Page with his time with the Firm. Was it commercialization based? Was it rebranding? Was it an effort to expand fan base? Sadly, with Bonham's and Led Zeppelin's death in 1980..... We will never know.
Fun Fact: John Paul Jones has credits on 6 of the 7 songs. Impact on quality? From my POV, yes and no. Seems we got the best and worst of the 3rd wheel of the Led Zep song writing locomotive.
Side 1-
-----------
In the Evening- Zep starts the show with one of their better latter career efforts. Eastern influenced instrumental breaks out into an all hell breaking loose rocking number. I love how the understated synth on this one is a great add, than a distraction. There are even parts that this thing almost breaks into a 3 part melodic bluezy mash. Classic Zep. 2
Southbound Suarez- Barrel Roll rocker, I guess the intent was right. But again, not a reason I plunked $6.99 on the record counter in 1979. Not a bad tune, by any means, but more is expected from Zeppelin. Searing solo does help save some, but by this time we again realize that 1971 was a heck of a long time ago. 6
Fool In the Rain- Originally I hated this song. Talk about ultimate rock parody. The greatest hard rock band of all time had declined into a latin salsa band. BUT.. after a few thousand more listens, you come to realize that the musical chops on this one is genius. The slow genre morphing and phasing of the tune is unique. And if you listen closer, from a musical difficulty point, this is pretty complex. And when the whistle sounds? Besides a "WTF" and again a few thousand listens, you realize that this is Zeppelin at their utter most Avante Garde. Can you imagine Page playing this in 1970? That's growth folks. 1
Hot Dog- Another barrel house almost country effort. Again not bad, but .... Oh and bonus points for using dungarees in a song.
5Side 2-
----------
Carouselambra- Awesome use of synth and guitar. So strange to hear Page's licks support a synth line. Song had a great degree of complexity within the simple repetitive riffs that strike the listener. This is also the one on the LP that has some of Bonham's best drum work. Low key, but fine way to allow the main strengths of the band (drum/ax solos) outright provide a foundation, for the ridiculously silly and repetitive synth rolls. The mid song transition into a standard rock/blues rolling thunder does a nice job of contrast. Then listening to it as an exercise of dueling synth? 11 minutes well spent. 3
All of My Love- The hit, and most recognizable one of an album that has faded from view. Very mainstream from LZ standards, and enough hooks to lure the listener. Song also has maybe what may be the only pure synth solo in the band's career. Song in a lot of ways is kind of a cumulative sum of the entire intent of the LP. Synth, Weird, and absent Page. 4
I'm Gonna Crawl- Hate to say, but this one song may be the worst songs in Led Zeppelin's history. Everyone knows that Page had to have one obligatory hard bluez number. This one has no sound of inspiration, and the cringe-worthy added synth almost makes it a joke. Contrast this with "Since I have Been Loving You" to amaze you that this is the same band. It's a crime that one of the greatest rock bands of all time ended their career with this one, but it is, what it is. 7
