Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Well the first two sides could be the best two the band ever recorded in the studio although that’s probably not a debate I’ll decide. But pieces like In My Time of Dying and Kashmir are essential Zep, there’s practically consensus on the latter, at least. In listening to this I was pretty transported, I probably enjoy this band more now than at any other time in my life, which probably speaks to my being way behind the curve. Anyway, the second disc is a bit weaker, which is probably why I haven’t given it the 12 yet even though it’s close. In the Light and Down by the Seaside are quite fine but by the fourth side, you’re wondering how great the album would have been as a single LP. I’d probably rather find a couple of these tracks as bonus tracks on the album!
Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow
This group has the intensity of extreme metal, but play the noise rock side of things. The first time I heard it months ago, it was about the last thing I wanted to hear, oppressive, intense, painful, headache-inducing, but this go around it doesn’t seem quite so offputting, although so limited in scope overall. It sounds something like Don Caballero with the amps turned up too high. Feels like the drums are a tiny bit back in the mix, giving it something of an electronic vibe despite the fact most of the electronics are in the effects. At least they decided to do the album at extreme metal length as well, because by the 30 minute mark I was remembering my original pain again. The kind of album the cliché “not for the squeamish” was written for.