Led Zeppelin IV

Review

Common Sense Media says

"Stairway" and more classics on Led Zep masterpiece.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
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Kids say

AGE
10
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Britain's Led Zeppelin pioneered the hard-rock genre, and Led Zeppelin IV contains several of the band's most memorable classics: "Stairway to Heaven," "Rock and Roll," "Going to California," "When the Levee Breaks," and "Black Dog." There's some raunchiness here, but it's confined to opening track "Black Dog," which includes sexy metaphors and Robert Plant's moaning, grunting, and screeching. Other than that, there's nothing really problematical, though younger kids may find this music a bit intense.

  • Positive messages4
    Some of the bluesier lyrics come from a dark, if pragmatic, place, especially in "When the Levee Breaks": "Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good / Now, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good / When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move." Possibly because Robert Plant wrote most of the lyrics here and was a serious student of Celtic folklore and mysticism at the time, a positive, upbeat quality often comes through even in fairly dire moments. While "Stairway to Heaven" is open to interpretation, it starts out cynical and snarky and ends up with hope of a happy resolution; even "Black Dog" leaves its dazed but wiser hero with the realization: "Need a girl to hold my hand / Won't tell me no lies / Make me a happy man."
  • Positive role models2
    The narrator of several songs, particularly "Going to California," shows good judgment in recognizing when he's in a bad situation and seeking out a better one. Led Zeppelin pioneered the hard-rock genre and lifestyle, and were prone to its excesses; drummer John Bonham died in 1980 after drinking heavily. On the other hand, singer and lyricist Robert Plant has remained vital and relevant for more than four decades, enjoying a solo career, a successful partnership with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page, and a brilliant collaboration with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss. Their album, Raising Sand, won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2009.
  • Violence1
    "The Battle of Evermore," which is about a cosmic conflict, involves swords, bows and arrows, and other weaponry, in poetic, non-gory terms.
  • Sex2
    Opening track "Black Dog" starts out "Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move / gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove / Oh, oh, child, said the way you swing / gonna make you burn, gonna make you sting / Hey, hey, baby, when you walk that way / watch your honey drip, I can't keep away" and includes a lot of sex-simulating grunting and moaning.
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What's the story?

This album, untitled but commonly referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, finds the band at the absolute top of its powers at the beginning of the '70s. Legendary guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham whip up a stunning, hypnotic brew, starting in the gutter with the sexed-up "Black Dog," checking out the "Stairway to Heaven,"  "Going to California," and winding down into the pounding rain that's going to break the levee and bring the flood down on them all.

Is it any good?

 

This is generally regarded as Led Zeppelin's best album, with topnotch songwriting, playing, and vocals in a range of styles, from blistering hard rock to wistfully sentimental ballad to smoldering blues. Not to mention their definitive classic, "Stairway to Heaven," the most requested song of all time on FM radio. Even the less famous tracks are interesting: the epic "The Battle of Evermore," featuring as guest vocalist Fairport Convention's Sandy Denny, shows Led Zep vocalist Robert Plant's fascination with Celtic history and mythology.

Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about the influence of this album: how many versions of "Stairway to Heaven," serious and otherwise, have you heard?

  • What do you know about guitarist Jimmy Page's work before and after Led Zeppelin? Do you have any favorites?

  • Quite a few of the songs here are classics, but their styles are very different -- which do you prefer? Do you think they still sound good today?

This review of Led Zeppelin IV was written by
Teen, 15 years old
July 13, 2012
AGE
8
 
Not as bad as the official review makes it.
First off, Led Zeppelin is my favorite band of all times, so this may be a tad biased. I'll try and keep my opinion out of it. Like the above review says, this is arguably Led's best album. The classic "Stairway to Heaven" was first released on this album, as well as "Black Dog." Black Dog is not as bad as the above review makes it sound. The so called "Grunting and Screeching" is barely noticeable, and when noticed, it doesn't sound sexual at all. Stairway to Heaven is (Probably) about a girl who dies and is ascending to heaven, although the purpose of the song is debated. All over a great album. I would recommend it to anybody who loves the hard rock stuff.
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Teen, 13 years old
September 2, 2012
AGE
13
 
Led to the Zep! to the len!
Led Zeppelin! Yay! this album rocks as well! Such as the greatest hits as: Stairway to Heaven and Black Dog but some of your kids may find this not their type.. and I have to agree first I do, now I love it! and amazingly but some kids may find there music tense such as robert plant's groans and such and screeches. Amazingly I have the exact Record Vinyl in it's case! and Its Awesome 9/10!!
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Teen, 16 years old
October 4, 2012
AGE
8
 
Let them live a little
Let your kid listen to this. Get them a head start in life with decent classic rock. I'm pretty sure most parents have grown up with this album. Let your kid live a little.
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This review of Led Zeppelin IV was written by
Artist:Led Zeppelin
Type:Album
Release date:November 8, 1971
Label:Atlantic
Genre:Rock
Parental advisory:No
Edited version available:No
This review of Led Zeppelin IV was written by
 
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