Mothership

Last fall I was in Borders, and they had all of the studio albums on sale, and I really though about it, and then I tried to justify it financially, and that day I couldn't make it work out in my mind that I deserved to buy them all, and I didn't want to get just one, although I did have Zorso in my cart, I put it back.

Then around the end of the year, the week before the big concert I saw this set, and couldn't resist. When I opened it, I saw the sweepstakes ticket for a chance to see the show in London, and again tried to think if I could even get my passport up to date... I just decided to settle for listening non stop for a week and reminisce about the old High School Parties that all of this music was a soundtrack for during the Mid 70's.

Truly, although we had a lot of other favorites, in those days, when Led Zeppelin was still making music it always had the heaviest rotation on our turntables and 8trac's.

Listening to these CD's after all these years, it reminded me how on the Vanguard these guys were, innovative and memorable. These songs set the standard for what is Classic Rock

If you (like me) haven't had this music since your 8-trac died, this set will take you satisfyingly down memory lane like it did me.

I have owned several Led Zeppelin albums in various incarnations. I have never bought any of their greatest hit compilations, however. Mothership has great graphics and some of the best tracks, but I was hesitant to buy it because of the likelyhood that it would be only the latest victim in the "loudness wars", and worse in sound quality than anything previously released. I was surpised to find that Mothership sounds pretty good. It's definitely loud, there is some use of dynamic compression. But overall, I think Page and company have done a fairly good job of bringing out greater detail (and therefore justifying the purchase) than any previous issue. Mothership is packaged in an SACD jewel-box; too bad we didn't get an SACD or MVI release.

Actually, Robert's voice sounds pretty good, too... So maybe I should rephrase it like this: I never had to hear so much of Jimmy Page's guitar! Since I am not a big fan of his playing and believe everything that I like in LZ music was coming from Robert Plant, you'll understand I was not particularly thrilled, and up until the last moment was going to give this release 3 stars. But then... - hey, these are some great songs, an excellent collection!

Which brings me to address the younger audience, those curious about LZ and considering Mothership as a way to sample the music: *buy it*! Don't listen to the reviews here critisizing the sound. Because you haven't heard the old versions, they won't be in your head to spoil the impression. And the music is great. It is unique and has influenced many, many of the later bands and artists.

Now to the old-timers, my age (I'm 39) and older, those wondering whether this new remaster indeed sounds as horrible as some describe: well, it is not disastrous, but it does sound kinda loud. I honestly thought this wouldn't be an issue with me, and perhaps I wouldn't even notice, but I did notice. There is an excellent earlier review here, describing how the reviewer compared this remaster to the older one by bringing the loudness of Robert's vocal to the same, comfortably loud, level. As a result, everything else on the new remaster got overpowering, in-your-ear loud. I confirm that, and I wholeheartedly join those who disapprove. On the other hand, isn't that what the band themselves wanted?.. Isn't this *their* own remaster?.. And I do have two good guesses why they would have wanted it this way:
(1) Our 60-year old gods want to be liked by the younger audience. Nothing wrong wih that, who are we to judge.
(2) Wasn't LZ always a loud band? I was born in '68, but those older will perhaps remember, what were the early audiences impressions of their playing? - Loud! I really believe they would've likely be recording just like this in their days, had it been technically possible. Annoyingly loud.

My favorite LZ song, if I had to pick just one, has been Since I've Been Loving You. Listening to the Mothership version, I do hear quite a bit more detail. It does not, however, breathe with nearly as much emotion as the much rougher Since I've Been Loving You on my old LZ III vinyl LP.

ADDED 4/6/08: this album really *is* louder than others! I recently bought wonderful AKG K701 headphones AKG K701 Open-Back Studio Headphones with Flat-Wire Voice Coil , and these require long burn-in for their sound to fully develop. So I made a long playlist, set it on repeat, and have been playing it through the headphones the last several days. Because K701s are open design, you can hear the music very well across the room. Whenever Mothership's turn comes, it is *significantly" louder than the rest, including Metallica, recent live Black Sabbath album (just to give you an idea the rest is not all Mark Knopfler). Nothing subtle in this album, unlike so many of the Robert's tracks I love.

I own the ten disc box set and live far from my home, on a temporary basis of course. This set includes all the hits I love, except one. BUY IT !

A remastered greatest hits led zeppelin album has been log overdue, and I'm glad that it is finally here. Considering this has two cds and a dvd, this is an incredible bargin of a price. You will listen to this album for weeks straight.