There is no denying the earned esteem that Led Zeppelin built up during their career. You can't get around the lasting influence they have had on the world of heavy music, be it rock, metal, or whatever. Their sound was firmly entrenched in blues-rock, but they pushed the boundaries with their experimentation and first rate song-writing. Their live shows just took them to the next level.

I have a special place in my heart for the band, although I have to claim ignorance to a lot of their output. I keep meaning to go back and fill in the holes. Anyway, even without my extensive Led Zeppelin experience, I have been exposed to much Zeppelin over the years by way of the radio. There are also countless collections of covers and tribute albums. So, with all that is already available, why should I care about Get the Led Out!? I mean, it doesn't even have a terribly good title.

Get the Led Out! is the brainchild of musician/composer/producer Brian Tarquin. His is a name I am unfamiliar with, but taking a quick look at his career, he has been involved in countless television shows, produced a number of collections, and released a number of solo albums. Yes, he has plenty of experience, and if the production quality is anything like what can be witnessed here, the man is quite good indeed.

What helps Tarquin's project stand out is that it is not just a series of straight up covers, no. This album repurposes Zep tunes to function without lyrics, working as rock instrumentals. Some are pretty close to their originals, while others offer up more experimentation and varying arrangements. While the album may not be necessary, it is not boring. Also, while Tarquin works primarily from the producer's chair, he does step into the recording booth to give his take on "Dazed and Confused." As for the rest of the cuts, Tarquin has brought together a collection of very talented guitarists, none of whom I am familiar with, save Randy Coven (Holy Mother, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai) and Leslie West (Mountain).

I cannot say there is anything particularly special about this album, and I doubt it will get all that many spins. Still, there is something attractive about a number of the re-arranged takes that appear here.