Led Zeppelin's seventh album, PRESENCE, is a straight-ahead rocker, that has much more of a "live" feel than some of their previous recordings. Gone are most of the big production flourishes, and in their place the big power trio + vocals sound that made Led Zeppelin such a popular concert band.
The opening "Achilles Last Stand" is a driving, up-tempo rocker, while the closing "Tea For One" is a slow, Chicago-style blues, featuring Plant's moaning vocals and Page's alternatingly sweet, and frenetic solos. Elsewhere, "Royal Orleans" mixes delta blues with Indian music, "Hots On For Nowhere" is a stop-time boogie, and "Candy Store Rock" is heavy metal rockabilly.
Recorded at Musicland Studios, Munich, West Germany.
Personnel: Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica); Jimmy Page (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John Paul Jones (keyboards); John Bonham (drums).
Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica); Jimmy Page (electric & acoustic guitars, background vocals); John Paul Jones (bass, keyboards, background vocals); John Bonham (drums).
Q (11/94, p.143) - 3 Stars - Good - "...kind of PHYSICAL GRAFFITI, part two, though not quite essential..."
ZEP'S UNDERRATED ALBUM IT SEEMS MOST ZEP FANS EITHER LOVE OF HATE PRESENCE. IN MY OPINION, ITS NOT THEIR GREATEST EFFORT, BUT THIS ALBUM STANDS ON ITS OWN. IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANY OTHER ALBUMS. IN FACT, ITS THE MOST UNIQUE FROM THE OTHERS. THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM AND THE REMASTER IS DEFINITELY WORTH PURCHASING THE ALBUM AGAIN (WHAT'S WITH THOSE MID 80'S ISSUES OF CD'S? WHY DO REMASTERS SOUND SO MUCH BETTER?) Submitted by a reviewer (concord, ca, usa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 2 found this helpful.
THE OBJECT. Why underrated?.This record is one of the most powerful,honest and well-recording in the history of Hard-Rock."Achilles Last Stand" is one of the most brilliant,creative and explosive songs ever,the guitar-drumm coordination is unique,the track is a "crescendo" with an epic lyrics.Masterpice."For Your Life",also,is a powerful track featuring superb drumming from Bonzo and great guitar from Jimmy,the rythm is sensual,erotic,unique."Tea for One" is a slow blues and the other tracks are wonderful.When "Presence" was recorded the band has a "dark period",however,The Group was excellent in this albumn.On other hand,for you,What represent THE OBJECT?,-Do you remember to Aleister Crowley and Astrum Argentum?-.I love it. Submitted by ralp666 (Jalapa,Equz.VERACRUZ,MEXICO) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
In The Presence Of The Obelisk "Presence" is a brutal electric album..no acoustic pieces or keyboard...and is perhaps the last truly classic Zep album. "Achilles Last Stand" launches the proceedings on a formidable note, featuring incendiary guitar and drum; a notable anthem following on the heels of "Stairway To Heaven" and "Kashmir". Other potent tracks include "Nobody's Fault But Mine", Zep's "Hellhound On My Trail" , containing a frenzied blues-rock beat as well as a mercurial blasty harmomnica break and "Tea For One', a slow lengthy blues about the dark side of fame and success. An underrated album, "Presence" is a definite must-have, and be careful not to rouse that sleeping Albion. Submitted by Will-T (Lawrenceburg IN) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Brilliance By 1976 the best years of Rock were coming to an end (67-77). The truth is that this album may have been made to quickly. Tea for One reflects that and is in many respects a weaker version of Since I've Been Loving You. But, Achilles still stands as probably Zep's greatest triumph. This is far and away Page's best guitar solo, and as he did consistently throught the 70's he dwarfs any and all guitarists that came before or after him. Clapton, Beck and even Hendrix himself cannot touch the man. Songs like Royal Orleans, Candy Store Rock, and Hots on for Nowhere are sensational. This is probably the last true great album of the 70's. It is especially true with the farce that punk would pull on London around this time that really did not change rock at all, but over time did change people's perceptions of what really did happen. Truth is that real zeppelin fans understand the levels that the band was ascending to (again)! The rest of you probably will not get it. Quickly made or no, it does not matter. Another master stroke by the most prodigious music makers ever. Submitted by Michael (Des, Moines, IA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
One of the most unknown Master Peices out there!!! Its sad to see that so many people dont like this great work of art. I think its funny when someone says that In Through The Out Door is better then this because its not even close. In Through the out door is full of keyboards. fans never got on Zep for using keyboards which is funny because when Van Halen started using em many fans hated it. This album is a master Peice. Why? Well, first off the guitar work is some of the best ever. Achiles Last Stand has some of the best guitar and drumming effort ever put out by any band. No Bodys Fault But Mine is another Classic. Tea For One is a blues song with a simular feel to early Zeppelin. The other songs are all classics too. This album is right up there with the first 6 albums. Its also the bands favorite work. Submitted by austin (Martinez,CA,USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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