There are very few bands whose name in itself represents all that is legendary about music.
There are very few bands who have been able to release nine ground-breaking studio albums in just over a decade while touring and constantly writing innovative music.
There is something about a Led Zeppelin song that no other band throughout music history has been able to duplicate. Robert Plant’s amazing vocals on top of Jimmy Page’s innovative guitar work, coupled with the solid bass work of John Paul Jones and the intensity of John Bonham’s drumming, is a combination that simply cannot fail.
Through the years, Led Zeppelin has remained one of the most influential bands, impacting music of numerous genres from the 1960s to today.
As a tribute to their success, Atlantic Records has released a two-volume set, including highlights from their career. Latter Days is the second installment of the series, following 1999’s Early Days.
As the title suggests, this album focuses on material from the bands later albums, including Physical Graffiti and In Through the Out Door.
Simply put, there is not a bad minute of music on the album. From one track to the next, anyone listening to the album will want to hear it over and over again.
Perhaps, the only disappointing aspect about this album is the fact that only 10 songs were included on the compilation.
However, Led Zeppelin has already released two box sets containing all of their material, so perhaps a more cost-effective compilation was in order.
In my opinion, one of the stand-out tracks is “No Quarter.” There is something mysterious and dark about the song, something that only Led Zeppelin could pull off successfully. “Kashmir” also peaks out above the rest of the songs, reeling in listeners. Unfortunately, this song has been most commonly associated with Puff Daddy as a result of his recent sampling of the track.
Another classic track, and one frequently heard on any classic music radio station, is “All My Love.” This classic Robert Plant/John Paul Jones collaboration is the finishing touch to an already great album.
In addition to the fantastic musical experience, this compilation is full of all sorts of surprises.
The liner notes are packed with color photos from the many years of touring and recording. The compact disc also includes a bonus video for the song “Kashmir” that plays in any computer CD-Rom drive.
In all, this is a great album from a great band.
If you do not own any Led Zeppelin albums, this two-volume set is a must for any music collection.
Grade: A
