Tracks:
1. Heaven Knows
2. Dance on My Own
3. Tall Cool One
4. The Way I Feel
5. Helen of Troy
6. Billy's Revenge
7. Ship of Fools
8. Why
9. White, Clean and Neat
10. Walking Towards Paradise (Bonus track)
4th solo album by ex-LED ZEPPELIN vocalist.
After years of trying to separate himself from his legendary status as Led
Zeppelin's frontman, Robert Plant finally reconciles with his past on Now & Zen.
He borrows a few Zeppelin riffs, and even enlists Jimmy Page to play guitar on
his hit "Tall Cool One." This album is also notable in that it marks his first
collaboration with keyboardist Phil Johnstone, who would continue to play and
write with Plant on subsequent albums. Musically, the album relies on standard
rock arrangements except that the vocals and drums are at the forefront and
keyboards instead of guitars are used to fill out the sound. Although most of
the album is comprised of mid-tempo songs aimed at rock radio, Plant includes
the lovely ballad "Ship of Fools," which demonstrates that he is more than
capable of vocal subtlety. Plant, who often uses mysterious (and mystical)
lyrics, writes some of his most direct songs, and the way in which the lyrics
complement the melodic arrangements are partially responsible for the commercial
success of Now & Zen. This is Robert Plant's best solo album, and a must-own for
fans of Led Zeppelin. (AMG review)
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