Houses Of The Holy [Original recording remastered]

 

 

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This is one of my favorite Led Zeppelin CDs of all time. "The Song Remains the Same", "The Rain Song", "Over the Hills..." are my favorites by far. The Song... is one of their funner songs. No Quarter is a GEM, probably their best song on this album!
It's totally worth owning! Some of their best stuff is on this one!

Following up on "Led Zeppelin IV" would defiantly be a hard task, but in my mind they not only matched the quality of "IV" with "Houses of the Holy", but they surpassed it also. Jimmy's album production is brilliant, the many layers and texture's of sounds create a very full but not overblown feel. Plant's vocal range's would never shine like they did here again, John Paul Jones score's his most memorable Zep moment with "No Quarter", and Bonzo is consistent throughout.

"The Song Remains The Same" kicks the album off in full gear, but it's certainly not the finest moment on "Houses of the Holy". The track is a fastly paced with lot's of overdubbed guitars. An essential track to the album, but again, not the best.

The album follows with the melodic and rather romantic, "The Rain Song". This one of Zeppelin's most beautiful and underrated piece's of music, I feel as though Im running down the beach's of Mexico while listening to this one. Great acoustic guitars, dreamy vocals, check it out.

Track 3, "Over the hills and far away", contains one of zeppelin's best riffs. It's got a slow acoustic start (worth listening to by the way) and 1:25 in kicks into the crunching and catchy riff. Robert Plant's signature howl is in full form on this one adding to the great feel the song delivers.

"The Crunge" is next. This is definatly the worst of the 8 tracks, and I feel the album could have easily survived without it, but nevertheless, the beat is good and it might grow on you. Zep may have try'd to hard for that funk sound on this one.

Next up is "Dancing Days" which put's the album right back into A+ form. It's got a very interesting riff sound and is probably the catchiest number on the album. Very good, top 25 zep for sure (That's pretty good considering all the fantastic songs they did!).

"D'yer Maker" is my favorite on the album. I love the reggae guitar licks, I love the lyrics, I love everything about this one. Plant's emotional cry's of "Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Ohhhhhh, You don't have to go" are in my mind only second to those of "All My Love". Very well done!

A close second to "D'yer Maker" is track 7, "No Quarter". This is the best example of Jimmy's fine production skills and John Paul Jones's keyboarding talents. Great song, some good guitar work, everything's there.

"The Ocean" closes the album off with a "Led Zeppelin II" style riff, and that's not a bad thing. This would be the last time we'd her Plant reach such high ranges. The amazing cheery ending should also be mentioned. Pure Z E P P E L I N!

Alot will claim that "Physical Graffiti" was there creative high point, but let's face it, that album was more of a compilation of older demo's from previous albums then newly written material. That's not to say Physical was a bad album, it's filled with great stuff.

Anyway's, I shouldn't be giving this one 5 stars, it's got one non five star track, but just listening to it all the way through gives it a great feel. You'll like it or ya won't, simple as that.

Enjoy, and....

CHEERS!

Houses of the Holy follows the same basic pattern as Led Zeppelin IV, but the approach is looser and more relaxed. Jimmy Page's riffs rely on ringing, folky hooks as much as they do on thundering blues-rock, giving the album a lighter, more open atmosphere. While the pseudo-reggae of "D'Yer Mak'er" and the affectionate James Brown send-up "The Crunge" suggest that the band were searching for material, they actually contribute to the musical diversity of the album. "The Rain Song" is one of Zep's finest moments, featuring a soaring string arrangement and a gentle, aching melody. "The Ocean" is just as good, starting with a heavy, funky guitar groove before slamming into an a cappella section and ending with a swinging, doo-wop-flavored rave-up. With the exception of the rampaging opening number, "The Song Remains the Same," the rest of Houses of the Holy is fairly straightforward, ranging from the foreboding "No Quarter" and the strutting hard rock of "Dancing Days" to the epic folk/metal fusion "Over the Hills and Far Away." Throughout the record, the band's playing is excellent, making the eclecticism of Page and Plant's songwriting sound coherent and natural

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5.0 out of 5 stars My Personal Favourite
I just have to say that as a whole album this one ranks as number 1 for me. I love everything Led Zep put out, perhaps leaning a bit towards everything up till this album as my... Lisez davantage

Published 16 months ago by Kwazy Wabbit

4.0 out of 5 stars "Singning In The Sunshine,Laughing In The Rain"
In 1973 Led Zeppelin released their fifth album "House Of The Holy" and the first of all their albums to have a proper title instead of a number like their previous... Lisez davantage

Published on Dec 16 2007 by Tommy Morais

1.0 out of 5 stars painstakingly boring to listen to
this cd has not one good song but zero! none are good, even the one ones. led zeppelin might be the worst band in history but this is the worst cd in history regardless. Lisez davantage

Published on July 23 2005

1.0 out of 5 stars One star
This CD just not good. Man who sing songs look a like a man and sound like woman, like woman feeling painful too much, guitar player use guitar that sound cheap, just loud and... Lisez davantage

Published on July 17 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars To music fan from Houston
Ok, ok I not review this CD again. I just try and warn people before they spend their good earned money on strange CD. Maybe they be sorry they buy it! Lisez davantage

Published on July 15 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey...Music fan form Chicago!
Music fan form Chicago shows the intelligence level (or lack there of) of your typical Madonna / Britney Spears fan. Do us all favor ... Lisez davantage

Published on July 13 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars A softer side of Led Zeppelin
I was initially disappointed when I first listened to this album. It was softer and more acoustic than Zoso or Led Zeppelin II. Lisez davantage

Published on July 12 2004 by Led Zep Fan

5.0 out of 5 stars an underrated led zep classic
houses of the holy was the fifth led zep album which followed the massively succesful fourth album and though it was good but it could not match up to the greatness of its... Lisez davantage

Published on July 12 2004 by sanjay verma99

1.0 out of 5 stars Not good!!
More CD from strange band. Man who sing songs look like a man but still sound like woman. Most song sound like hippie write them. Lisez davantage

Published on July 11 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Their Best Albums
This is definately one of the best albums of the best band in history. There are no bad songs, and every song is very cool in its own different way.

1. Lisez davantage

Published on July 2 2004

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