'' In Through the Out Door '' divided contemporary critics and Led Zeppelin fans ; some found its synthesizer-influenced music inevitable but forward-thinking while others felt the band had forsaken their heavy , fast sound . According to Jimmy Page biographer Martin Power , " predictably , in the wake of punk , '' In Through the Out Door '' received a rough ride from some critics , with Zep 's veteran status in the music business now used as a stick with which to beat them . " Reviewing the album in '' Rolling Stone '' , Charles M. Young said Page 's diminishing creativity resulted in little good material to work with for Plant , whose lyrics Young found inane , and Bonham , whose drumming was viewed as heavy handed . This brought to the forefront the keyboard playing of Jones , who Young said " functions best behind Page , not in front of him " . Chris Bohn from '' Melody Maker '' said " the impressionable first play " of the record " had everyone in the office rolling around laughing " , while accusing the band of being " totally out of touch " and " displaying the first intimations of mortality " . By contrast , '' NME '' journalist Nick Kent argued that the album was " no epitaph " , believing its " potential points of departure " deserved further listening . Robert Christgau also wrote positively of the record in '' The Village Voice '' , observing the usual " lax in the lyrics department " , but regarding the album as the group 's best since '' Houses of the Holy '' ( 1973 ) . He said " the tuneful synthesizer pomp on side two confirms my long-held belief that this is a real good art-rock band " , while " the lollapalooza hooks on the first side confirms the world 's long-held belief that this is a real good hard rock band " . At the end of the year , '' In Through the Out Door '' was nominated for the 1980 American Music Awards , in the category of " Favorite Pop/Rock Album "
1980 American Music Awards
American Music Awards of 1980
In Through the Out Door