Page and Plant Critical Essay | Critical Essay by John Mendelsohn

Critical Essay by John Mendelsohn

Hey, man, I take it all back! [Led Zeppelin II] is one fucking heavyweight of an album! OK—I'll concede that until you've listened to the album eight hundred times, as I have, it seems as if it's just one especially heavy song extended over the space of two whole sides. But, hey! you've got to admit that the Zeppelin has their distinctive and enchanting formula down stonecold, man. Like you get the impression they could do it in their sleep….

"Whole Lotta Love," which opens the album, has to be the heaviest thing I've run across (or, more accurately, that's run across me) since "Parchmant Farm" on [Blue Cheer's] Vincebus Eruptum….

Anyhow … Robert Plant, who is rumored to sing some notes on this record that only dogs can hear, demonstrates his heaviness on "The Lemon Song." When he yells "Shake me 'til the juice runs down my leg," you...
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