What does it sound like?:
I never much liked Led Zeppelin – there, I’ve said it. I found their particular brand of tight-trousered rock’n’roll posturing very contrived. Robert Plant never impressed me as a front man. Rather than embodying the charisma of the West Coast free spirit he aspired to be, I always felt he looked like a builder’s labourer who couldn’t quite believe his luck. It’s probably sacrilegious to report that there are some Led Zep albums I have never listened to, and at this late stage of the day probably never will.
Then again, there are the solo albums, some of which from the 80s and 90s began to pique my interest, and which from as recently as Mighty Rearranger onwards became essential listening. There will be those of you on here who are familiar with Robert Plant’s entire musical history, back catalogue and influences, so I won’t attempt to draw any clever conclusions from my more cursory knowledge. The albums released as Strange Sensation, Band of Joy, Sensational Space Shifters and with Alison Krauss all demonstrate those influences whether they be Welsh mysticism, blues, desert blues, World Music, folk, Americana or rock’n’roll. On those recent solo albums, and on Raise the Roof and Raising Sand it’s a heady and compelling brew. Plant somehow now looks the part too; the tight-trousered pompadour has morphed into the grizzled grand old man of rock’n’roll, still sporting a crafty smile, but thoughtful, enigmatic and mannered, with a voice that sounds controlled and better than ever.
Which brings me to Saving Grace, the album named after the band Plant has been recording and playing with since 2019. It’s an album that reimagines and reinterprets songs written by an eclectic bunch of people, ranging from Blind Willie Johnson to The Low Anthem, but the style is embedded in English folk, even though it sports all of Plant’s musical influences and flourishes from his long and storied career. As such it is instantly recognisable as him. Apparently recorded over 6 years in studios in the Cotswolds and Welsh borders, it credits Suzy Dian on the cover and features other members of the Saving Grace band. Although it is nominally a Plant album, it feels like a collective effort, evidenced by the fact that lead vocals are shared. The tone is quiet, contemplative and brooding, often acoustic but with splashes of clanging electric guitars creating a moody soundscape that is both familiar and intoxicating. It is quite simply a fantastic album, a mere 40 minutes and 10 songs, but one of the best things that you will hear this year, a kind of Bonny Light Horseman with balls.
What does it all *mean*?
Another strong release from a rock’n’roll survivor who continues to reinvent himself without resting on his musical laurels.
Goes well with…
Any of Robert Plant’s recent solo albums.
Release Date:
September 2025
Might suit people who like…
Folk…..rock…..folk/rock…..oh, anything really.
Your opening salvo seems to imply that you’re going against the norm – but you’re not! It’s become clear – every time Zeppelin is mentioned – that a good section of the AW are more than happy to give ‘em a good kicking.
My reaction too. Hardly an outlier view
I like LZ but I’ve gotta be in tge mood and its a mood that comes infrequently.
I’ve liked some of his solo efforts. This clip sounds quite good. Sounds a bit Zep to me.
Thanks for the review.
.
NB: see comments below…
I am the same, not much love for LZ, but I quite like his solo stuff and have enjoyed solo (or with Krauss) concerts a lot.
It is a very good album indeed. The track shown is the nearest thing to screech mode across the whole disc, which the rest offering a far more pastoral side. Indeed, I would say that track is broadly unrepresentative, available mainly to appease those who only want him to play and sound like the old days.
I reckon the mystique of ‘Ver Zep is now passing hugely. You needed to be an adolescent in the 70s to really get them. The worst things about them (viz., screechy vocals, cough Axl, Coverdale, cough) were repeated well into the 80s and 90s, whilst Zeppelin’s occasional lightness of touch and range was generally lost. Zep live recordings benefit from judicious programming, and as soon as I could tape my LZ II to remove the drum solo from “Moby Dick”, and leave the super (if half-inched) bursts of “Watch Your Step”, I did. I don’t need 30 min workouts of “Dazed and Confused” any more, impressed as I was as a stoned teenager. JPJ lives with discrete dignity, and presumably never has to work again. The fact that Jimmy Page has done nothing particularly as good or better since the Zeppelin crashed doesn’t help.
Jimmy knows this, which is sad. But maybe more dignified than turning into “Deep Purple”. Not digging Americana or 60s west coast music, I didn’t expect to enjoy Plant’s more recent work, and he really needs to get a haircut, but this music is genuinely Plant, and the music is generally excellent.
Only someone from Wolverhampton could think there’s anything mystical about Wales. But anyway… it’s a good album, although not a million miles from what LZ would probably sound like now, I reckon.
On first listen, the album sounds outstanding. I’ve seen Saving Grace fairly recently and am going again in December. They were great the first time, and the quality of this album has really whetted my appetite for the seasonal show.
You’re right about Plant’s output in recent years. He seems to be able to use various collaborators to great purpose. I have seen him with Saving Grace and with the Sensational Space Shifters (who were absolutely fantastic), but it was interesting at Cropredy this year in that brief guest appearance – two Zep songs had the crowd in raptures. They are still incredibly popular.
As an aside, I have been going through my sister’s LPs this week after she got them out of long term storage and checking values on Discogs – guess what, the Led Zeppelin ones are probably the most valuable, only beaten by Nick Drake first pressings, but that’s a story for another time.
Gosh what’s happening here? Diminishing love for Led Zep – what’s next? Someone will say Richard Thompson isn’t really all that great and everyone will chime in saying yes they thought that all along.
Anyway I’ve listened to this record and it sounds like every other Plant solo album, worthy but a little boring. Led Zeppelin can still thrill me – Immigrant Song, Kashmir etc.
OTOH I just listened to 500 Songs Ep 2 of Dazed and Confused and Andrew Hickey severely puts the boot into Jimmy Page.