Although it's hard to believe, Dread Zeppelin is back and bigger than ever. In fact, the boys who brought you "Zeppelin-inna-reggae-style" never really went away. Oh sure, Tortelvis left the band for a bit, and they appeared to drop out of sight and into a disco inferno. But, just like that mysterious, sideburned man buying Ho-ho's at the supermarket, Dread Zeppelin has re-appeared to prove that they're still alive and sweating even if they aren't in the spotlight anymore. They even snuck down to Jamaica to record in Bob Marley's Tuff Gong Studios.
No Quarter Pounder is Dread Zeppelin's fifth domestic album and their second on the independent label, Birdcage Records. Luckily, they're rambling on the same roads that made Un-Led-Ed such an instant classic. Leading the way is the rotund Tortelvis sporting his infamous snarled lip and sequined cape and jumpsuit ensemble. Backing up the King are Carl Jah, Rasta Li-mon, Ed Zeppelin, Jah Paul Jo, and Butt-boy along with Dread friends The Michael Jordanaires, Bun-E Slopes, and Jah Jah Gabor.
As always, No Quarter Pounder focuses on Led Zeppelin covers, and, although it may be sacrilege to say, "Ramble On" and "No Quarter" both blow away the Led Zeppelin originals. "No Quarter" is turned into a real power- house (as opposed to Led Zeppelin's psychedelic wanderings), and "Ramble On" features big horns, frilly back-up singers, and Tortelvis whipping his listeners into a drooling frenzy. When he sings, "Some times I feel so, so bloated baby, I know what I gotta do," you know the words are straight from his heart.
When plain Led Zeppelin covers aren't enough, the boys have a few tricks up their sleeves. Elvis standards such as "Viva Las Vegas" and "American Trilogy" get the Dread Zep treatment as does the sacred merging of "Houses of the Holy" with the Commodore's disco-funk classic, "Brick House". There are even a few Dread Zeppelin originals on No Quarter Pounder. "The Last Resort" is the theme song from the National Lampoon movie of the same name that features Dread Zeppelin as themselves. Plus, there is Tortelvis' personal struggle with the marriage of Lisa Marie and Michael. First, he croons out tears in the fusion jazz-funk of "Li'l Baby Elvis Jackson", and later Tortelvis reveals his personal fears in the bewildered call to "1-800- PSYCHIC PAL" where the marriage causes him to dream that someone has stolen all his food and put him on a diet.
Yes, No Quarter Pounder is classic Dread Zeppelin. The initial humor of the Dread concept may have worn off a bit after 5 albums, but this is an excellent bunch of musicians who have made a great album. They keep a straight face through the whole thing and allow the inherent humor to simmer to the surface. (It takes about 5 listens to realize Tortelvis is pondering the merits of secret sauce and cheese condiments in "No Quarter".) The subtle humor is a blessing though because it allows for multiple spins of the disc without the jokes getting old.
But hilarious or not, the ultimate redemption of Dread Zeppelin is that their covers are often better than the originals. There is an insane thrill in curling your lip and shaking those hips to the Led Zeppelin classics, and it's guaranteed you'll find yourself singing the Dread version of "How Many More Times" in the shower or on the way to work.
To find No Quarter Pounder, just take a trip down to your local record store. If they don't have it, try e-mailing Li-Mon@cerf.net or send a SASE to Birdcage Records, P.O. Box 784, Sierra Madre, CA 91024-0784 - USA.
