Fate Of Nations - Robert Plant (1993)

As a kid in the 80s and 90s, I didn’t really appreciate what Plant was doing or listen very closely. It sounded on the surface like a lot of perfunctory solo records by dinosaur rock acts, and I didn’t pay a lot of attention. (Except for one track that just entranced me for whatever reason. Great tune)

But if I’d paid more attention, I would have heard that Plant was still a restless spirit, looking to branch out and find new sounds to express himself rather than just living off his royalty checks. Still some slightly corny D&D type lyrics, but mixed with increasingly thoughtful considerations of getting older and love and loss.

Musically, he’s said that this album was to be a throwback to some of the psychedelic sound of his early peers. That may or may not show in the final product, but it does make for some interesting textures and cross cuts on an otherwise highly polished big label rock record.

The 21st century would suit Plant better than the end of the 20th. He’d be free to do collabs and form new bands to create whatever sound he conceived of instead of playing the aging rock star role.

Edit: a few days after I wrote this up, Vulture ran a nice interview with Plant talking about his feelings for his older work. I also missed until reading this that Richard Thompson is on guitar for Come Into My Life. wicked.

Tracks I Liked

Down To The Sea - Some of that psych energy

29 Palms - sounds like a Tom Petty song to me, but I love Tom Petty songs

If I Were A Carpenter - A solid cover of a 60s classic