Mothership (Remastered)

iTunes Review

Led Zeppelin were the definitive hard rock band of the 1970s. No single band encapsulated so many different musical styles, all while applying their own permanent and personal stamp. Blues, rock, heavy metal, reggae, ‘50s retro, classical experimentation, middle eastern grooves, the band covered it all and their mega-success flew in the face of all entertainment convention. They rarely released singles and preferred obscure song titles and artwork to the expected user-friendly images of the day. That mystic quality can be heard throughout their eight official studio albums (with 1982’s Coda an outtake collection added later). Mothership features 24 remastered gems, the crème de la crème. Every aspect of the group comes to life: the stoned blues of “Dazed and Confused,” the raucous punk attack of “Communication Breakdown,” the heavy metal prototype of “Whole Lotta Love,” the ascending lyrical and musical grace of “Stairway to Heaven,” the middle-eastern tension of “Kashmir,” the epic shaking rhythms of “Achilles’ Last Stand,” the swooning heartbreak of “All My Love.” As perfect a collection as you’re likely to find — without springing for the complete works, that is.