Anyone who couldn't see that Robert Plant was returning back to his bombastic Zeppelin roots on his 1988 release, NOW & ZEN, definitely got the hint on his fifth solo release two years later, MANIC NIRVANA. Sonically, the album was Plant's most rock-based solo release yet, with weighty guitar riffs serving as the basis for many of the songs.
While there's no mistaking MANIC NIRVANA for a Zep album (the production is a lot cleaner here than on their past classics), it was a welcome return back to the type of music that made a name for Plant in the first place. Tracks such as "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes on You)", "Nirvana", and "Tie Dye on the Highway" are pure hard rockers. Other highlights include "Anniversary" (which harkens back to Plant's earlier solo work), and the Middle Eastern-tinged "Watching You".

Dec 2006

Further upping Robert Plant's breathtaking hard rock fervor, 1990's 'Manic Nirvana' hit #13 and drew universal acclaim. Features the standouts 'Big Love,' 'Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes On You),' and 'Tie Dye On The Highway.' Three bonus cuts include 'Oompa (Watery Bint),' 'One Love,' and 'Don't Look Back.'

• Rolling Stone (5/17/90) - 4 Stars - Excellent "...this new sound is even more exciting than the old...may well be the singer's most important work to date."
  Q - 4 Stars - Excellent - Ranked by Q as the #8 Album of 1990.

Personnel: Robert Plant (vocals); Phil Johnstone (vocals, keyboards); Doug Boyle (guitar); Charlie Jones (bass); Chris Blackwell (drums).
Personnel: Robert Plant (vocals); Phil Johnstone (guitar, keyboards); Chris Blackwell (guitar, drums); Doug Boyle (guitar); Charlie Jones (bass guitar).
Recording information: 1990.
Anyone who couldn't see that Robert Plant was returning back to his bombastic Zeppelin roots on his 1988 release, NOW & ZEN, definitely got the hint on his fifth solo release two years later, MANIC NIRVANA. Sonically, the album was Plant's most rock-based solo release yet, with weighty guitar riffs serving as the basis for many of the songs.
While there's no mistaking MANIC NIRVANA for a Zep album (the production is a lot cleaner here than on their past classics), it was a welcome return back to the type of music that made a name for Plant in the first place. Tracks such as "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes on You)," "Nirvana," and "Tie Dye on the Highway" are pure hard rockers. Other highlights include "Anniversary" (which harkens back to Plant's earlier solo work), and the Middle Eastern-tinged "Watching You."

Even if Robert Plant had disappeared after the demise of Led Zeppelin, he'd still be lauded as one of rock's greatest vocalists. The fact that he had a healthy post-Zep solo career is a testament to his own artistic fortitude. Admittedly, Zeppelin fans wouldn't have been too far afield with Plant's first couple of early-'80s releases, but by 1985's SHAKEN 'N' STIRRED he had more in common with SECURITY-era Peter Gabriel than with '70s blues-rock. A detour with side project the Honeydrippers found Plant exploring his love of '50s rock & roll. By the 21st century, he was exploring roots of a different kind, effectively reinventing songs by the likes of the Youngbloods and Tim Buckley on the Grammy-nominated DREAMLAND. In 2007 he teamed up with bluegrass star, Alison Krauss, for RAISING SAND. The album--featuring covers of Gene Clark, Tom Waits, and the Everly Brothers amongst others--hit number 2 on the Billboard charts.