NOW & ZEN [ROBERT PLANT]

With his fourth solo release, 1988's NOW & ZEN, Robert Plant finally began to let the influence of his former band Led Zeppelin seep into his current songwriting. While his first three solo albums had a more modern production and were keyboard or synth-based, NOW & ZEN signaled Plant's return to a more direct sound.

It's dominated by guitar (comparable at times to U2)--no doubt due to the fact that a whole new line-up is backing him. Highlights include the uptempo hit "Tall Cool One" (which features a cameo by his old buddy Jimmy Page, as well as several samples from past Zep classics), the majestic rock of "Heaven Knows," and the grand ballad "Ship of Fools."