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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Presence is one of Led Zeppelin's more overlooked albums, languishing in the monstrous shadow of its predecessor, Physical Graffiti. It's more noted in Zeppelin mythology for the circumstances in which it was recorded, in double-quick time with vocalist Robert Plant's leg in plaster after a car accident. The lack of time does show--much of the album feels like generic heavy rock, bigger on volume than variety. It's worth the price of the album, however, for the ten and a half minute long "Achilles Last Stand", a crashing, galloping epic with John Bonham sounding like he's eschewed drumsticks in favour of tree trunks--and "Nobody's Fault But Mine", a Blind Willie Johnson blues standard regenerated with a 3000-watt boost by Jimmy Page. Led Zeppelin's contribution to rock was primarily physical--raising its heat and density levels, heightening its sensual force. --David Stubbs
Product Description
Remastered follow-up to Physical Graffiti - rhythm section ROCKS !!!!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This in my view is one of the most underrated Led Zep albums. There are no acoustic sets to balance the hard driving rock, apart from perhaps the blues 'Tea for One' (an 'electric' acoustic blues) and the feel throughout is dark and subdued (despite the very heavy dense sound). There is little of the varied texture of their earlier albums here - each track seems to be characterised by the band playing at full volume together as a unit. The standout track is obviously Achilles Last Stand, a rock song of almost operatic proportions with a full and slightly unearthly sound from Page's guitar.
I would urge listeners new to Zep (there must be some?) to check this album out. Considering what was going on musically at the time of its release (1976 - funk/disco and very early punk) this now stands the test of time. Try and approach the album without any of the preconceptions associated with this band (heavy metal? - never been sure what that means). To me this album has always sounded like what Led Zep would have become if we had not tragically lost Bonzo and the band had continued into the 1980s. Listen to some of the riffs on Nobodys Fault But Mine and you hear Nirvana with a blues guitar; very definitely a looking ahead album despite all the sorrow surrounding its release.
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
On the majority, Zeppelin aficionados will forever single out "IV" and "Physical Graffiti" as being the landmark Led Zeppelin albums. Indeed they are, but "Presence" is my personal favourite. OK, it doesn't have the musical range and diversity of "Physical Graffiti" but I feel this Zep album is the most consistent in content. It is a true hard rock album with no frills - every member plays a blinder (as per usual), but most notably Page and Bonham. "Achilles Last Stand", "For Your Life", "Nobody's Fault But Mine" and "Tea For One" (chilled blues at its best) are the absolute stand out tracks for me. "Presence" is the true back-to-basics Zeppelin. I highly recommended this album to anyone.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Stuie
Format:Audio CD
If its successor could arguably be the John Paul Jones album, then 'Presence' is the Jimmy Page album. Plant, Jones and Bonham perform to their usual high standards, but it is the guitar work which dictates the pace and direction of this often overlooked Zeppelin album. Zeppelin fans were used to Plant's vocals duelling with Page, as in the thrust and counter-thrust of 'Black Dog', or dominating songs as in 'Since I've been loving you'. On 'Presence', however, the contributions of Plant et al comply with (and wonderfully, too) the riffs and sequences that Page drives this album with. The opener, 'Achilles Last Stand' is a monumental track, Plant's vocals sitting comfortably atop the fluent and galloping guitar patterns. The stand out track is 'Nobody's Fault But Mine'. The riffs are evocative, punctuated by the pounding, tightly played rythms and interwoven with Plant's vocal. Zeppelin as a unit do not get much better than this. The closing track, the beautiful 'Tea for One' has all the ingredients to be a show-stopper, but once or twice just seems to drift and lose its way a little. 'Presence', while not as diverse in its content as other offerings, is a consumate piece of work and worthy of its place in the Led Zeppelin legacy.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
PRESENCE - my least fave Zepp LP and still it's a "Must Have" from the...
7 tracks, of which I love just 3 of them. I won't say which 3 because almost all other Zepp fans love this LP.
It's rock with much less noticeable blues and funk. Read more
It's rock with much less noticeable blues and funk. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Mr Paul Savory
4.0 out of 5 stars
In the presence of greatness
'Presence' was Zeppelin's 7th studio album, recorded in Munich in just two weeks in November 1975 and released on 31 March 1976. Read more
Published 9 days ago by The Guardian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Presence
I chose the 5 star rating as i believe it warrants it. Led Zepplin again is one of my favourites
Published 1 month ago by paul harriss
4.0 out of 5 stars
Presence - Zep
Came on time.
Not an album I knew we'll and I'm enjoying getting into some Zep material again.
. .
Not an album I knew we'll and I'm enjoying getting into some Zep material again.
. .
Published 3 months ago by F. Twyning
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad
Obviously not their best work but sound quality better than the earlier albums. Got it to replace a tape of the original vinyl, which I should have kept!
Published 3 months ago by Albo
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best band ever
Following this purchase, I now own everything on CD and DVD this band have put out. Obviously, they were my favourite band of all time
Published 4 months ago by Paul
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest Zep Album
Forget your Whole Lotta Loves, Stairways to Heavens and all the other get on the bandwagon type classics. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Millwall Dave
4.0 out of 5 stars
hard rockin' blues
Led Zeppelin are one of those big bands whose albums transcend the music itself; so much so that on some levels it doesn't matter what's on the CD, if it says Led Zeppelin it must... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Anoosh Falak Rafat
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 Star Album By The Ultimate 5 Star Rock Band
Writing objective reviews of albums by such an iconic and immensely infulential band as Led Zeppelin is never easy. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Steve C
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of their Best, For Me...
Without a doubt, this is one of Led Zeppelin's best albums, for me! Basically, while reviewing their work, I have spoken about some albums that clearly define their sound as good,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Fox in the Box
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