I think it's interesting the number of people who have said "I know A is better, but I enjoy B more". Your brain says one thing but your habits tell you something else.

Anthony Flack wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:39 pm I think it's interesting the number of people who have said "I know A is better, but I enjoy B more". Your brain says one thing but your habits tell you something else.

While the vote is 85% LZ, 15% VH, it's a passionate 15%. The LZ fans seem more interested in bashing VH than in celebrating their band.

MoreSpaceEcho wrote: Mon Jun 05, 2023 11:10 am The fun is kind of the key. There just aren't very many rock records where you can hear the whole band just throwing it down and obviously having a ball. Combine that with stellar musicianship and catchy songs with spot-on 3 part harmonies and c'mon.

I'm sure I'll be pilloried for this, but I think I actually prefer Al's drumming to Bonham's.

It is all about the fill that starts at about 2:44 -



Never mind that this is one of THE drum parts...

(Hell, THE tunes...)

Never mind that the tune that slides in after "In A Simple Rhyme" closes("Growth" for anyone keeping score...) was supposed to fade back in and start off the album Fair Warning.

That is what I am talking about.

This thread has got me thinking of an interesting minor trend in the late 80s when several hardcore guitarists were openly imitating EVH


Life but How to Live It

Bold

ChudFusk wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 6:26 pm

Anthony Flack wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:39 pm I think it's interesting the number of people who have said "I know A is better, but I enjoy B more". Your brain says one thing but your habits tell you something else.

While the vote is 85% LZ, 15% VH, it's a passionate 15%. The LZ fans seem more interested in bashing VH than in celebrating their band.

I see your point.

The first six VH records are absolute pure joy to listen to, I cannot deny that. There's nothing better than fun, upbeat rock & roll done well. The problem for me is that half of their career, post 1984, was either not fun or not done well. At least to my ears. Whereas LZ was solid all the way through to the end of the band. And their bass player may be the most underrated musician of all time.

<cue FM numberthirty posting a video refuting me>

^^^^ I don't think there's anything there to argue with, post-DLR VH is....just ugh. All the fun left with Dave.

My favorite Al moment for FM numberthirty:



Funkiest drum break on a rock record ever. Also the rhythm guitar behind the solo, goddamn that is some tone.

Van Halen sounds like music made to impress you with its pyrotechnics. The bland rhythm section is a foil to EVH going wild with chunka chunka metal riffs and flashy solos. It's perfectly enjoyable radio rock for when you're driving around but has little emotional significance, to these ears.

Led Zep's music is a journey. Every instrumentalist is at the top of the game, and the music is shared and passed around as a communal experience. I listen to Houses of the Holy and am just floored by how every song is filled with so many engrossing touches, and no song sounds like any other. Plant's vocals are much more musical than Roth's. Roth is basically a shouter. Plant's vocals are another excellent instrument, subtle in shading and emphasis.

Zep also excelled in so many different styles: blues, Eastern tunings, heavy metal, English folk ballads, reggae, etc. This was a band that simply loved music. Van Halen is one dimensional. I will admit that EVH's tone is pretty great. Not so hot on the misogynistic lyrics of Roth.

LZ, WF 0.

This may be the first documented instance of someone claiming that Led Zeppelin excelled at reggae.

Anthony Flack wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2023 4:29 pm This may be the first documented instance of someone claiming that Led Zeppelin excelled at reggae.

"D'Yer Maker" is great!