Music review: Post-Zeppelin Robert Plant still rocks

Robert Plant Nine Lives (Rhino) Imagine the dilemma Robert Plant faced after Led Zeppelin crumbled in tragedy: Do you take the easy road and repeat the past or risk it all by trying something new? He chose the latter. With nine solo albums to his credit, Plant's rich and eclectic catalog is gathered in Rhino's sumptuous boxed set, Nine Lives. Are there shades of Zeppelin? Yes, of course. Plant's love affair with bluesy rock will always rear its gorgeous head — and he maintains much of his former band's creative spirit. He walks a different path on each effort with a rich array of sounds in his arsenal — Eastern, Celtic, folk, Spanish, jazz, African, Indian, psychedelic, and... you get the idea. The strikingly dark "Pictures at Eleven" and "The Principle of Moments" feature soft synthesizers and a mostly restrained Plant. A brief collaboration with Jimmy Page yielded a fun homage to '50s rock 'n' roll ("The Honeydrippers") before he hit a low with "Shaken 'n' Stirred." It is horrible '80s cheese, but be forgiving — it inspired Plant to regroup and record a trio of records that reminded us how great he could be. "Now and Zen" embraces mysticism yet remains wholly modern; "Manic Nirvana" is a dynamic rocker on which Plant can be both unleashed and controlled; and "Fate of Nations" showcases his introspective side backed by acoustic folk. Following an extended reunion with Page, Plant returned in the new millennium with a pair of Grammy-nominated records. He unveiled Dreamcatcher, a diverse collection of covers, in 2002 and the Middle Eastern-tinted "The Mighty Rearranger" in 2005 — easily two of his finest works. The set supplements each disc with a selection of bonus tracks, including live cuts and B-sides, and also contains a DVD with videos, live footage and interviews, as well as a 60-page booklet with photos and extensive liner notes on every phase of Plant's career. With plenty of highlights and just a smattering of lows, Nine Lives is a worthy journey through one man's adventurous musical vision. JOHN KOSIK, AP