Customer Reviews

Zooma

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The quiet, "musician's musician" John Paul Jones, the man behind the thundering bass of Led Zeppelin, returns with his first solo project.

....P>This album took me a long time to appreciate. .... When you first hear it it's... abrasive, heavy, unforgiving... Only without the narrative voice of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

The album is essentially two instruments, the "multi stringed bass" which is a bass whose strings are doubled, and Drums. The effect is very much like Presence era Zeppelin, the Chuga Chuga in Achilles Last Stand has nothing to do with guitars, it's Johnesy all the way on an 8 string bass.

....Well, unshackled from the trebly noise making of his fellow bandmates, we have here the 8 string bass in all of it's glory. The Chapman Stick, Guitar, and Kyma (don't ask) all make appearances here, making noise more than anything else really.

The drumming is rock solid, and performed by Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello, who also performed drum duties on The Sporting Life and on tour with Jonesy. Very hard hitting, solid drumming. Just what you would expect Jonesy to look for in a drummer.

While many of the tracks are hard hitting riffs, a few are more subtle, the 3rd track features the softer side of the 8 string bass, and a later track (snake eyes, i think) showcases Jonesy's arranging skills and Lap steel skills. A lap steel solo fades into an orchestral piece. Very well done. Mandola also makes an appearance. In an online interview I saw Jonesy do a breath-taking acoustic Mandola version of "Going to California." "Bass and Drum" a track featuring the good ole Fender Jazz Bass and drums find Jonesy "Getting his Groove On."

.... Does it sound like Zeppelin? Well, in some ways, of course it does. When in interviews critics say "But don't you think it sounds a little Zeppelin influenced" Jonesy retorts "Don't you think Zeppelin was a little John Paul Jones influenced?" Ain't it the truth.

....

Actually, it deserves 4.5 stars - this record is very close to a masterpiece. When I bought this LP I didn't expect this kind of music, to be honest. I thought it had to be soft music, kinda Jon Lord's "Pictured Within". And I was so surprised after hearing "Zooma" for the first time! It's so POWERFUL and HEAVY! This album is obviously better than anything Plant or Page have done in past 10 years. OK, Robert Plant's "Manic Nirvana" and Jimmy Page's "Coverdale/Page" album were cool enough too. But "Zooma" is something completely different! Let's hope Mr. Jones will continue his solo career as it seems to be successful. I heard him saying that he already has some ideas about his second album. Personally I'd like to hear more keyboards and stuff like "Snake Eyes". But I'm sure that anything Mr. Jones will produce will sound great because he knows what he is doing! And for those who still hesitate... well, don't! Go and buy this album now! You won't be disappointed!

Depending on whether or not you are a fan of Led Zeppelin, this album will mean two different things to you. If you are familiar with Zeppelin's music, "Zooma" is a stirring reminder of his influence upon that music and how empty it would have sounded without him. If you aren't a fan, this CD might make you order the entire back catalogue.

John Paul Jones has done something incredible with his first solo attempt. He has written something unique, fresh, and ground breaking without cashing in on his past, but still managing to retain a flavor of all his musical experiences.

On "Zooma" you will not hear Zeppelin, although the percussion (written by Jones) reminds you of John Bonham pounding away, but Jones' influence on that band. The incredible effort and care taken in making this album is what you would hope for from his fellow band mates with thier individual solo attempts.

Jones has reflected and grown over the past twenty years. He has taken his experience during that time and written something that is shocking, moving, heart pounding, and emotional all in the same beat. It is a stirring reminder of what a true muscian who never sold out is still capable of doing all by his lonesome with the right tools. Listen to this body of work once as a CD, and then listen to it for the all of the things Jones does underneath the main sounds. It's all of the subtleness that truly defines this album, and what Jones does best (see any Led Zeppelin song).

"Zooma" is a must buy for any Led Zeppelin fan, Classic Rock fan, people who appreciate a solid rhythm section, or, well, anyone who loves music that touches the heart and the mind at the same time.

-Christopher Curry

We all miss the presence of John Bonham on any post Zep material, but I had no idea how much I missed John Paul Jones. After a mere 10 seconds of listening to his incredible Zooma CD, I knew immediately what was wrong with Page & Plant's efforts in the past 18 years. I have been a devoted, obsessive, Plant fan for too many years to recall, and to my suprise, I must admit Zooma has more drive, power, rush, intensity, depth & quality than nearly anything Plant or Page has put out. Buy this CD and pray Jimmy & Robert come to their senses that they need this master musician. Zooma stands alone remarkably well as an instrumental solo effort- and believe me, I'm not particularly in favor of a true reunion, but just imagine the possibilities.

I first heard John Paul Jones' solo music at a recent concert where he opened for King Crimson in Phoenix. In fact, his act was more impressive than KC's (they only played for about an hour!) Before then, I had only known him for his work with Led Zeppelin, where at times I feel he was shadowed by the grandeur of Jimmy Page's guitar and Robert Plant's amazing voice. From the very minute he stepped in the stage with the rest of his orchestra (he likes to call his trio that way) pure energy began to flow out of their instruments. The title track, "B. Fingers" and "Tidal" are simply dynamite: John Paul Jones' 10 string bass resounds throughout whichever room you play them. But the album is not just energy blasts: tracks such as "The Smile of your Shadow" where JPJ interprets a 12 string bass, a mandola and a bass lap steel, convey a sense of tranquility; and "Nosumi Blues"... well, is an outright blues tune. Accompanying JPJ on bass-related instruments and Pete Thomas on drums, is King Crimson's bassman, Trey Gunn, in a couple of tracks. Get this album if you're serious about rock music: it's an important piece in the collection of Led Zeppelin fans.

This CD is an excellent addition to your collection, and as stated by many other reviewers, very much shows the superb musicianship of John Paul Jones. That being said, I do have to say one negative thing that other reviewers seem to have left out. The songs can be a bit repetitive, especially since it is often one riff constantly replaying throughout the songs. This is fine in a band context because other musicians will add their own parts, but can hurt a solo CD. Anyways, enough bad stuff, this really is an enjoyable album. Highlights for me include the pummeling bassline of 'Zooma' and the mean blues/ symphonic rocker Snake Eyes.

You know how people say it's so amazing to see an old friend for the first time after many years apart? Well imagine being re-introduced to your shy, quiet, underdeveloped, and somewhat dorky girlfriend twenty-something years later with flowing blonde hair, giant jugs, and long legs that could make even the most conservative, limp priest drool profusely and ask to be excused during his sermon. Well this is kinda like that!! I, like so many others, expected my reunion with Jonesy to be a quiet, laidback affair. I sat down in my favorite chair with a frothy cold one, put my feet up, and pressed play only to be violently jolted from my position when the thunderous "Zooma" bass riff hit. Whoa! Heart attack city! Not really, just chest pains brought on by gassy build-up coupled with the crunch of Jonesy's 10-string. The rest of the album was excellent as well from the textured country-folkish rhythms of "Smile of Your Shadow" to the swirling, burning, churning "B. Fingers". What I like most about the album is that there are no vocals. I can't imagine Robert with his post-1979 electronically processed voice, trying to squeak above Jones and his drummers. BIG LOG!!!! Also, you can tell Jones is just having fun. He's playing the music he wants to play rather than resting on stuff done more than twenty years ago. He's not begging for the mass pop culture appeal bulls**t either (like some others). Out of all of the guys who were great in the sixties and seventies, Jonesy is one of the only ones who is still great; one of the only ones who didn't get sucked into the blackhole of eighties garbage and stay there. Oh yeah, and to Steely Dan and the Beegees(among others who I'll get around to in other reviews): You guys sucked in the seventies and you still suck. And to everyone: Just buy Zooma, you'll be real pleased if you've got any taste at all.

This is a fantastic instrumental rock album. The music is innovative, stirring and expertly played. As for the comment below that suggests it is "boring self indulgence," self indulgence is generally defined as catering to one's own appetites and desires. If Jones is guilty of that, it certainly paid off well. The opposite of this is catering to the masses, i.e. "selling out." I would rather listen to an album made with integrity than one designed just to reach the widest possible audience. If you want that, there are plenty of Backstreet Boys and Celine Dion CD's you can buy.

Beware the Quiet Ones......

This album puts to shame many a solo venture by two more celebrated musicians/performers. I own the first 5 solo albums by Plant, and actually I like them quite a lot. Particularly 'Shake 'n' Stirred' because the thing was so strange overall! I had to give him credit for coming up with an album that didn't really have choruses, or hooks, and just totally avoided the standard form of 'composition'. Plus it had Ritchie Hayward as a drummer on it. But one thing that can be said about Plant's solo career, is that he spent much of his time avoiding his Zeppelin past. Fair enough, and I give credit to the man for doing so. His first 3 albums have a minor taste of Zeppelinesque treatments, but I think most Zep fans, if they had actually been Zeppelin releases, would have said their band has gone to ....

And then you put on ZOOMA, and you realise it would actually make a great Zeppelin album. It's leagues beyond Manic Nirvana, The Page-Plant collaborations, and the different things both Page & Plant have done with the 25 years since Zeppelin called it quits. You start wondering after awhile listening to Jones's solo albums, if he ever really needs them again. His guitar playing is more reliable than Page's has been in years and years. His string arrangements and songwriting seems not to have waned in 25 years. His overall talent on a multitude of instruments has not been blindsided by adulation, by addiction, and by malaise.

ZOOMA would actually make a great Zeppelin album. Listen to Nosumi Blues, or Tidal, just for evidence on how actually good a Zeppelin album it would be. His next solo album The Thunderthief (2001) just was Zooma x 10. A wider range of music, and even more instruments the man seems to have mastered (apart from drums). I'm not completely sure, but I think the collection of songs on ZOOMA, would have had John Bonham giving an instant nod of approval, and a wink.

JPJ also has one of the most killer Bass Guitar sounds on wax/plastic. Whether it's 4, 8, 10 or 12 string bass, he could literally make a song with just Bass, and it would be absolutely riveting to listen to. If you have to buy this album just to hear his Bass sound, just do it. He's a one man band just on 10 and 12 string bass.

Zooma was one of the best purchases I made in 1999, and this album still gets regularly played in my home. More than Zeppelin albums actually.

Though I knew John Paul Jones had worked with those creating what is tagged "alternative music," I did not expect "Zooma" to be as rich and dense an experience as it is. JPL eschews the trappings of Led Zeppelin, something his surviving band mates have not really been able to do, and conjures us a fresh, vital set of compositions.

Mr. Jones offers plenty of variety: from the opening blast of the title track---as scary as any King Crimson onslaught---to the Ralph Towner-ish The Smile of Your Shadow, to the loose-limbed Bass' n' Drum. But the more ferocious numbers are the most fun to crank up as your bemused friends try to guess who the hell you have unleashed on them now.

I would not recommend this CD to anyone looking for a dose of nostalgia but for those who want to invigorate their music collection, "Zooma" will be an asset.