Product Details
- Binding: Audio CD
|
- EAN: 0011661907522
|
- Label: Rounder
|
- Manufacturer: Rounder
|
- Number of Discs: 1
|
- Product Group: Music
|
- Publisher: Rounder
|
- Release Date: 2007-10-23
|
- Studio: Rounder
|
- Title: Raising Sand
|
- UPC: 011661907522
|
Avg Customer Rating: 
Product Description: Perhaps only the fantasy duo of King Kong and Bambi could be a more bizarre pairing than Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Yet on Raising Sand, their haunting and brilliant collaboration, the Led Zeppelin screamer and Nashville's most hypnotic song whisperer seem made for each other. This, however, is not the howling Plant of "Whole Lotta Love," but a far more precise and softer singer than even the one who emerged with Dreamland (2002). No matter that Plant seems so subdued as to be on downers, for that's one of the keys to this most improbable meeting of musical galaxies--almost all of it seems slowed down, out of time, otherworldly, and at times downright David Lynch-ian, the product of an altered consciousness. Yet probably the main reason it all works so well is the choice of producer T Bone Burnette, the third star of the album, who culled mostly lesser-known material from some of the great writers of blues, country, folk, gospel, and R&B, including Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Milt Campbell, the Everly Brothers, Sam Phillips, and A.D. and Rosa Lee Watson. At times, Burnette's spare and deliberate soundscape--incisively crafted by guitarists Marc Ribot and Norman Blake, bassist Dennis Crouch, drummer Jay Bellerose, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Seeger, among others--is nearly as dreamy and subterranean as Daniel Lanois's work with Emmylou Harris (Wrecking Ball). Occasionally, Burnette opts for a fairly straightforward production while still reworking the original song (Plant's own "Please Read the Letter," Mel Tillis's "Stick with Me, Baby"). But much of the new flesh on these old bones is oddly unsettling, if not nightmarish. On the opening track of "Rich Woman," the soft-as-clouds vocals strike an optimistic mood, while the instrumental backing--loose snare, ominous bass line, and insinuating electric guitar lines--create a spooky, sinister undertow. Plant and Krauss trade out the solo and harmony vocals, and while they both venture into new waters here (Krauss as a mainstream blues mama, Plant as a gospel singer and honkytonker), she steals the show in Sam Phillips' new "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us," where a dramatic violin and tremulous banjo strike a foreboding gypsy tone. When Krauss begins this strange, seductive song in a voice so ethereal that angels will take note, you may stop breathing. That, among other reasons, makes Raising Sand an album to die for. --Alanna Nash
|
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Collaboration That Works !
As a fan of both Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, I initially thought this was a strange pairing, but found it to be an amazing collaboration. The music at once is old-school and contemporary at the same time. It reminds me of a new singer-songwriter I recently came across-Arrica Rose...her new album La La Lost melodic 70's folk with a touch of country...old-fashioned and modern.
|
Where is Alison ?
Got high Hopes but was a bit dissapointed by it all !
I think that the combination could have been tremendous but the album did not excite me at all .. I thought Alison could have tuned up better ..
But it is only me !
|
Intriguing and Refreshing!
I am a huge fan of Led Zeppelin, so I bought this album right away. Robert Plant sounds a lot different, of course, since this is a country album. However, not different in a bad way. He has a versatile style. Alison Krauss has a beautiful voice, and they are very harmonious. My faves on this album are "Rich Woman", "gone, gone, gone", and "Fortune Teller."
|
A Strange Pairing
I've been a fan of both Robert and Alison for too many years to mention; however, I would never have come up with this pairing. Admittedly, I was a bit of a skeptic when I saw the release of the album. When I first heard "Gone, Gone, Gone", I thought: Okay, this is not bad. Then I heard "Please Read The Letter". I was sold . . . hook, line and sinker.
I would place this album easily in my top twenty fave albums of all time, and that is saying something.
The music is evocative and bluesy and it just makes you . . . feel.
I could not recommend it more, if you are a music lover of any type, this is a must have for your collection. A wholly remarkable album which will linger in your ears and mind long after the last note plays.
|
Raising Sand
Great CD ! Especially "Killing the Blues"(from the JC Penney commercial)
My favorite however was "Your Long Journey" Can't get that tune out of my head.
|
|