Re: But...it just sucks

["Wyatt Brake" <wyattbrake@xxxxxxxxx>]

Can you say s-u-b-j-e-c-t-i-v-e?

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion.  I know I've certainly made
such declarative statements about rap and top-40 type pop music in the
past to all sorts of people, but I still realize that some people
actually like the stuff for whatever reason.

I fully admit that there a few things Robert's done in the intervening
years since Zeppelin crashed that have made me cringe (I'm thinking
the first half of Shaken n' Stirred, to start with), but the vast
majority of things I've really enjoyed.

A few factors come into play.  I can't listen to Zeppelin and JUST
Zeppelin all the time, even if I have access to a decent bootleg
collection.  The reason is mainly that it all just STOPPED in 1980 and
I was born in 1981 (26 years ago, as of yesterday).  I yearn to hear
what these gentlemen have produced during my lifetime.  I refuse to
believe they all ceased to grow as musicians.  They certainly went in
different directions, but I like to believe that the three of them are
exploring different avenues individually, just as LZ explored myriad
influences collectively during their existence.

I'm not going to offer up a track-by-track defense of RP's efforts
over the past ten years, but I think he's put out some very enjoyable
material - with Page on WIC through Mighty Rearranger.  Is it
Zeppelin?  No.  Does his voice sound the same, or does he have the
same range as he did during even the last years of Zep or the first
years with Robbie Blunt?  No.  Does that make the songs irrelevant or
unlistenable?  I don't think so.

I can definitely understand that not everyone is in love with the
Eastern tinge on much of what Robert does, or his 're-arrangements' of
Zeppelin tunes, but he's doing what appeals to him.  You know the
saying - that you can't please everyone all the time, so you might as
well please yourself...  I've also heard countless musicians say that
to be successful, one has to make something for yourself, rather than
trying to appease a segment of your audience or deigning to think that
one actually knows what everyone wants.

In short, if you cannot abide the man's musical output nowdays, then
by all means, do not go to his concerts, buy his releases, and make
sure that you switch the station if one of his newer songs makes its
way on to the radio.  But, do not tell anyone else that they are
missing something, or that their enjoyment of Plant's music is due
simply to their blind devotion to the former lead vocalist of Led
Zeppelin.  That's a pretty arrogant/elitist view.

If the question is:  "Would you be listening to RP's music if not for
Zeppelin?" then the answer is obviously "no."  But the same can be
said - for me - of the blues, or of music from many other cultures.  I
discovered the blues masters and bands like Turku by getting into
Zeppelin ten years ago, when I was 16.  For me, everything I've been
into since then has come about because of my interest in Zeppelin -
whether it's been Pearl Jam, Tool, Howlin' Wolf, or Albert King.

I think anyone involved in a band that can provide as much inspiration
to me as Zeppelin has deserves to have a little respect, and at least
a fair listen.  That is why I continue to follow the careers of Page,
Plant, and Jones.

*Rant Concluded*

-Wyatt
http://zepcowboy.blogspot.com


On 8/16/07, Michael Orzel <zephead62@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Everyone scratching for SOMETHING Zep..and the only
> member who's doing anything is Plant- well JPJ too,
> and he doesnt CARE who listens to him or not, he's
> having a good time!But as always, just cuz Plant does
> it, all these folks think its actually worth listening
> to...
> Well, fuck you all- I've been a Zep fan since
> 1970..and I think the last 10 years of Plant's stuff
> just plain SUCKS. I'm glad for Percy that he gets to
> be IN CHARGE, doing what he likes, and hooray for
> him.But as someone once said here, its like the
> emporer's new  clothes...do people actually MAKE
> themselves like it just cuz its Robert Plant????
> That's sick. It just sucks. Deal with it.
> Does he owe me anything after being the lead singer
> of the greatest band that ever existed??? Not at all!!
> I like plenty of his solo stuff too. But what he does
> these days....(Lurch going 'oooooooooooohhhhh.....')
> Kinda funny to think that..supposedly, HE was the one
> surviving member that was hurting for cash...
> I'm sorry if my patience runs short after hearing
> these folks kowtow to Plant, even when his stuff
> sucks, but as i said, if he never did anything again,
> he'd earned his place in my heart years ago....
> But dammit folks- call a spade, A SPADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> Michael O.
>
>
>
>
>
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