Physical Graffiti: A Classic Album Under Review (2008 Video) User Reviews

Great documentary on an excellent album

[grantss · 8/10 · 14 August 2021]

The making of Led Zeppelin's classic 1975 album 'Physical Graffiti'. Shows the band's history to that point, the musical trajectory they were on, influences that shaped the album and each song and the making of each song. Includes interviews with music critics and historians and a sound engineer who worked on the album.

Physical Graffiti is a seminal album in the history of rock music, giving the world the towering 'Kashmir' as well as many other rock classics. The quality of this documentary does a great service to the status of the album.

We have expert analysis of each song, including from a sound engineer who worked on the album. Led Zeppelin's history, especially in the context of this album, is covered in good detail.

The biggest surprise is that the documentary features Led Zeppelin music, including live performances. Zeppelin are notoriously cagey in allowing their music to be used in anything and I've seen documentaries of them that included none of their music! So actually having their music in the documentary was quite a coup.

On the downside, there's no interviews with the band members themselves. In addition, the experts can be a bit too zealous in their platitudes and sometimes feel like they're promoting the album rather than analysing it.

Where oh where is the music?

[blpkst · 1/10 · 4 February 2022]

Here's a clue for documentarians, if you are making a documentary about a band, include the band. Especially when it happens to be one of the greatest earth shattering bands to ever Grace the planet. I watched for 30 minutes to talking heads speaking about Led Zeppelin. I hoped to see pictures at the very least, archival footage of the band playing or being themselves. I bailed. Don't waste your time. One of the worst documentaries ever. If the music comes later that was a HUGE mistake.