Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 09/10/2008
Run Time: 42:25
Somewhere between
Presence and
In Through the Out Door,
disco,
punk, and
new wave had overtaken
rock & roll, and
Led Zeppelin chose to tentatively embrace these
pop revolutions, adding synthesizers to the mix and emphasizing
John Bonham's inherent way with a groove. The album's opening number,
"In the Evening," with its stomping rhythms and heavy, staggered riffs, suggests that
Zeppelin haven't deviated from their course, but by the time the rolling shuffle of
"South Bound Suarez" kicks into gear, it's apparent that they've regained their sense of humor. After
"South Bound Suarez," the group tries a variety of styles, whether it's an overdriven homage to
Bakersfield county called
"Hot Dog," the layered,
Latin-tinged percussion and pianos of
"Fool in the Rain," or the slickly seductive
ballad "All My Love." "Carouselambra," a lurching, self-consciously ambitious synth-driven number, and the slow
blues "I'm Gonna Crawl" aren't quite as impressive as the rest of the album, but the record was a graceful way to close to
Zeppelin's career, even if it wasn't intended as the final chapter.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
;)
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