get the ‘Led’ out

Dinosaurs can sometimes be re-animated, but I doubt Michael Crichton’s sense of humor would be adequate enough to do for Led Zeppelin what he did for Tyrannosaurus Rex in “Jurassic Park”. Leave that to a group of crack(ed) players, fronted by an Elvis impersonator (aka ‘Tortelvis’), who seem to prefer reggae music and call themselves “Dread Zeppelin”.

Dread Zeppelin demonstrates the psychic connection between “Black Dog” and “Hound Dog”, “Heartbreaker” and “Heartbreak Hotel” all channeled via the spirit of Bob Marley. When you begin hearing the original text by Herman Melville inserted into the drum solo of “Moby Dick” the CD takes on a surreal quality. Dread Zeppelin either trashes or pays the highest tribute (your choice) to the gods of heavy metal.

In their time, many critics blasted Led Zep for heavy handedly destroying the blues. In retrospect they treated any form of music they touched with care and skill being the craftsmen they were, unlike the legion of imitators who tried (and failed) to follow in their footsteps. Then along comes Dread Zeppelin with their CD “Un-Led-Ed” to expose additional nuance, style and humor in Led Zep’s songs many of us missed the first time around.

I’m somewhat suspicious of “tribute” albums produced as if the covering artists were too in awe or respectful of the original material to give us their uninhibited interpretation but this album is an exception.

About Marcus

Who me? Introverted, neurotic, self-absorbed, increasingly cynical observer of human nature and part time social critic in hiding. Most of my life spent avoiding growing up. The naive idealistic passions of youth have evolved into the eclectic eccentricities of adulthood. Northeast Florida small-town native, related to people I can't relate to. Simultaneously my own best friend and worst enemy. Politically and spiritually unaffiliated, my personal ideologies put me all over the map or off it completely.
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3 Responses to get the ‘Led’ out

  1. felixwas says:

    Yeah, I missed all the nuances in “Kashmir.”

  2. Where do you find this stuff? Sounds like fun.

    • marcsuttle says:

      Recommendations from others, finding something interesting in a used CD store and giving it a listen, various music review sources but mainly just keeping my ears open. Come on over some time and we can sit around like a bunch of teens listening to records, eat some junk food and gossip.

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