157. Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin II (1969)

How’d that band get there??

1. You can tell Led Zeppelin wanted to make a splash with their second album from the initial guitar riff on “Whole Lotta Love.” It’s the kind of opening track that announces: yes, we’re here to stay, and if you can stop yourself from dancing, you might want to sit down when listening because we’re going to knock you over if you don’t. John Bonham’s drums pour in once the chorus hits, before setting the tone for a waving soundbath halfway through, and when Robert Plant’s wail returns, it’s the sound of a tsunami fast approaching. That’s a metaphor for the middle third of this song, but also for this album as a whole and Led Zeppelin’s emerging dominance over pop music.
2. This album was frantically recorded while touring Led Zeppelin I. On the one hand I can tell how this might have played to their advantage —on songs like “Whole Lotta Love” and “Heartbreaker” you can get a sense of what live performance brought to the table, and the band leans on classic blues riffs frequently. At the same time, what I find impressive is the band’s ability to expand sonically without the time to experiment in studio or at home. “Thank You” is a major point of growth, a hint at the more acoustic sound they’d bring to Zep 3 and a shift from the hard rock they came up with. It’s a gorgeous song, with Jimmy Page’s guitar work shining through just as well unplugged. One of my favorites. “Ramble On” is another undeniable classic, featuring an all-time bassline by John Paul Jones with loud-soft progressions that set the standard for later rock and roll.
3. That’s not to say that they don’t rock hard when they rock, of course. “Heartbreaker” is an epic rocker. “The Lemon Song” is similarly excellent. Arguably the worst song on the album (“Living Loving Maid”) is still fantastic, a driving tune that could’ve caught on the same as any other.
4. I’ll likely end up ranking this album just ahead of Zep 1, and they’re still just scratching the surface. If you can’t tell: I’m excited for more Zep to continue making the list.

Next Up: MC5 abbreviates their way into the list

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