Here’s the deal: Led Zeppelin is essentially sacred to my father. They are untouchable and infallible in his eyes. That’s why I’ve been dreading this particular Dad-Rock Tuesday for a while. What if I didn’t like this album? I’ve listened to IV a few times, and I’ve been on the fence about it. I also knew that if I spoke poorly of Led Zeppelin, I would be in ill favor in my household for the rest of eternity; so there was a bit of pressure on me to like this record.
Once I was able to get past the ’60s sound that this album has to it, I was able to see its merit. Check out Dazed and Confused, and you’ll understand what I mean. I’ve never been a huge fan of psychedelic, dreamy guitars—I feel that they’ve been completely worn out by now, nothing more original can come from them—but then I remembered that Led Zeppelin pretty much invented this style of music. Once I started listening with that lens, I definitely started getting more into the album.
Led Zeppelin fared better with me than most of the other Dad-Rock Tuesday records so far. When I listened to this record, I could just tell that there was something important, something game changing, about it. Led Zeppelin, specifically Jimmy Page and his ridiculous guitar work, has a sound that’s been imitated countless times, but never duplicated. I definitely have a ton of respect for Led Zeppelin (the band, and the record.)
Swole Ear 