The Crunge should definitely be higher. The reviewer didn’t pick up that it’s meant to be a James Brown parody, and yet it’s in 5/4 time, which JB song would ever be in. It’s still funky, though, and pretty funny – “Where’s that confounded bridge?”.
I’d say that I disagree in many other places with this writer. Although I don’t know III or Presence at all (other than the excellent Immigrant song), I know In Through the Out Door pretty well, and there is some pretty crappy stuff on that album. South Bound Suarez is pretty bad, and may have the sloppiest guitar solo of any song. Carouselambra is also pretty awful. Definitely worse than Moby Dick or I Can’t Quit You Baby. No Quarter should be much lower, too – jeez, I can’t stand that song. The Ocean at 44? Give me a break – it’s one of their best.
The top 10 isn’t bad, though. I’d move The Ocean in there, probably Dancing Days, too, and Trampled Under Foot. I’d move out The Song Remains the Same, Over the Hills and Far Away, and All My Love.
I don’t agree with this list at all. A few examples for the heck of it: I would definitely not have All of My Love, Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You and Over the Hills and Far Away in top ten. A few others I probably would not either. The Lemon Song (65!), Since I’ve Been Loving You (60) and In My Time of Dying (42) would be in top ten. And then there would be a general shuffle. – I don’t think the writer is very convincing either, at least I went :dubious: rather than when reading most motivations for why this or that song deserved this or that ranking. Nope, “dumb”, as someone upthread said.
I didn’t get that sense at all. I felt like he was clearly writing it as “one man’s opinion.” Obvious jokes like putting Moby Dick at the end because of a kick to the balls, and statements like “there are some who insist that Presence is a good album, but they’re wrong” tell me he isn’t taking it too seriously. He clearly isn’t asserting he has some objective criteria that holds true for anyone but himself.
That said, he is clearly and objectively wrong about the Ocean being so low.
It’s not in 5/4, but it’s all over the place in terms of the meter. (The bulk of it is a mix of 9/8 and 4/4.) I thought the reviewer clearly saw it was a James Brown parody/pastiche. Terrible song, IMHO, and #70 sounds just about right for it.
I’m talking from an album, not song, perspective. IV starts out with a bang on the first 2 tracks, and then just never recovers the energy. It leaves me with the impression of being an out-takes collection instead of a dedicated album.
I’d serve it up this way:
Side 1:
Rock & Roll (punchiest. opening. ever.)
Misty Mountain Hop (energy, with a sign of even more avant garde creative tracks waiting)
Going To California (change-up, a simple short break, then back to the action)
When the Levee Breaks (close out side 1 with Zep doing their Zep best)
Side 2:
5. Black Dog (really, someone really thought MMH was the best side 2 lead-in?)
6. Four Sticks (solid Zep again, hold the energy)
7. Stairway to Heaven (near the end of the album filler? No, we’re going to be blowing your minds, muahahah)
8. Battle of Evermore (experimental fluff that doesn’t fit in and otherwise destroys the energy of the album. Saves forcing people off the couch to move the record needle).
Actually the times I tune out this band are when they are doing generic Zeppelin. It gets way repetitive and hammer over the head. Ask Robert Plant.
The acoustic stuff was Jimmy Pages and Plants baby and totally integral to their intent. BOE fluff? Wow. Ever think that the artist made it to follow into Stairway on purpose? MMH Avant Garde? Wow. I thought it went Duh Duh Duh…
I actually like the order exactly how it is. Start out kickin’ with Black Dog and Rock and Roll, slow it down a bit with the gorgeous Evermore (“experimental fluff?” It’s one of their best songs, IMHO–ETA: And apparently in the opinion of the listwriter in the OP, placing it at #12) and Stairway, middle set/opening side 2 with the fun and bouncy Misty Mountain, another couple mellow ones, and end with the powerful Levee. The order is exactly perfect to me. I really can’t see changing it in any way.
I certainly enjoyed the historical information I could glean from the fairly-biased text, but the top ten seem a bit out of place. Maybe something like this?
The Song Remains the Same
Stairway to Heaven
Good Times, Bad Times
The Rain Song
Whole Lotta Love
Dazed and Confused
Immigrant Song
Kashmir
When the Levee Breaks
Black Dog
Although, to be fair, I bet I would make this list a fair bit differently two or three years from now. Ah well, it was a good read overall.
Since I’ve Been Loving You
Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
Stairway to Heaven
Whole Lotta Love
Dazed and Confused
The Battle of Evermore
Going To California
Immigrant Song
Black Dog
Kashmir
That The Ocean is not in the top 5 puts into question the entire list. It could be #1. And Kashmir? About four minutes too long. Doesn’t belong in the top 10.
Kashmir is an interesting one for me. It’s a boring-ass song on its face, but somehow, Bonham makes it swing. Still, not top ten material for me, but a great example of Bonham making a shitty song interesting.
One of my favorite Bonham drum parts. If I were ranking songs according to drums, then “Fool in the Rain,” “Good Times Bad Times,” and “Kashmir” would be top three for me, I think. As songs, though, I’d only put “Good Times Bad Times” of that bunch on my top ten.
when reading most motivations for why this or that song deserved this or that ranking. Nope, “dumb”, as someone upthread said.
