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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
How The West Was Won
Universal acclaim
Based on 14 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 118 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Atlantic
Release Date: 27 May 2003
Discs: 3 discs
Genre(s): Rock, Live
Summary
About 30 years too late, Led Zeppelin fans finally have a good live album to add to their collections. This 3-disc set is culled from live performances in Los Angeles and Long Beach in June 1972, and includes a 25-minute version of "Dazed and Confused," and a 23-minute take on "Whole Lotta Love."
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Robert Plant: Dreamland Robert Plant: Mighty Rearranger
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
Capture[s] a mighty band at the height of its gargantuan power.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Presents Led Zeppelin in all their ragged glory and heavy splendour. [Jul 2003, p.119]
Amazon.com
Zep faithful will welcome the belated release as evidence for enduring loyalty, but younger fans may find its diversity and dynamics even more enlightening.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
It's a masterclass in why they were, and still are, the greatest rock band to grace the Earth.
Read Full Review >Uncut
Jaw-dropping. [Jul 2003, p.136]
All Music Guide
Songs that have grown overly familiar through years of play seem fresh and new because of these vigorous, muscular performances.
Read Full Review >New York Magazine
How the West Was Won proves that Led Zeppelin was nearly peerless in creating gigantic, thunderous rock.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle
"Black Dog" and "Over the Hills and Far Away" back-to-back are gonzo.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
How the West Was Won serves up their muscle, sweaty heart and golden grandeur in an exhaustingly persuasive light. That, and a hundred of the best riffs you've ever heard.
Read Full Review >Mojo
The empathy between the four is palpable. [Jun 2003, p.113]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 118 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Eduardo R gave it a10:
It's one of the greatest live albumsin history. Every member of the band is inspired. The long guitar and drum solos are amazing. The only thing I can complain about is Robert Plant. He was great, but not perfect. Listen to BBC Sessions to understand what I'm talking about.
Royce L. gave it a10:
Great album great band. really captures Led Zeppelin live at their prime.
sam i gave it a10:
Easily the best live album I've ever listened to. Page's emotional guitar mixed with Bonham's idiosyncratic drums make this one of the best Led Zeppelin sets ever. I must admit I enjoyed some of the live versions better than their recorded counterparts; "Since I've Been Loving You" pours emotion from Plant's vocals and blew me away completely. Time and time again Led Zeppelin has proven themselves kings of hard rock; thirty years later, their performance at LA solidifies their music in the annals of eternity. No one has ever come close to this caliber of live performance, and I doubt anyone ever will.
Cormac gave it a10:
Superb. Jimmy Page is great, Robert Plant's voice is as charismatic as ever and John Bonham is a monster on the drums. John Paul Jones' bass was a little low, which is a shame. The songs are all great, similar enough that you know them but freshened up nicely. I could have done without the 25 minute version of Dazed and Confused to be honest and Moby Dick drags on a bit, but the Whole Lotta Love stretchout is great. Highlights of the album are probably Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Going to California, Over the Hills and Far Away, Whole lotta Love and Bring it on Home.
Mike H. gave it a10:
All four of them have a sensational vibe. They created new sounds in the songs, played other songs in songs, just amazing. They could had 20 more hits if they had still recording. This is the Bonzo of rock. Some of the songs like "Bring it on Home" are better here than in Coda. If you have a good set of speakers you can feel the energy of this collection of songs.
Robert J. gave it a10:
I have had these two 1972 shows(bootlegs) for years and it is good to hear an official release culled from those concerts. Unbelievable performance and probably the best live rock album of all time.
Nick N gave it a10:
I realize that giving perfect ratings to Led Zeppelin CDs has become an all-too-common cliche, but this really is a definitive live album, something that most LZ fans have been waiting DECADES for. The extended pieces never drag, the classics all sound sharp...there really aren't words to describe how PERFECT this album really is. Essential, must-own listening.
