Good to venture outside the lines | Raising Sand

A modern classic | Raising Sand | Robert Plant, Alison Krauss

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	• Raising Sand Robert Plant, Alison Krauss Rounder, 2007 average customer review:based on 494 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

an entertaining collaboration

I was channel surfing one day and stumbled upon Robert Plant and Alison Krauss performing together. I almost fell out of my chair! When I realized they produced an album, I snatched it up in a heartbeat.

I own all of Led Zeppelin's studio albums, so you can say I am a fan of Robert Plant's work. Previous to this album, I'd heard of Alison Krauss, but had never paid any attention to her work. The pieces performed on the television show (which included a few Zeppelin tunes that sadly didn't make it to the album) were enough to make me purchase this album. In my opinion, they also represent the stronger songs in the album ("Rich Woman," "Gone, Gone, Gone," and "Please Read the Letter").

Anyway, this album titters between country, blues, and rock. If you are a fan of two of those genres, you will probably enjoy this album.

On sound quality, this album is above average for newly-produced material. It has enough dynamic range that it will satisfy more discerning listeners. But, it falls short of appeasing audiophiles. They are long passages where the dynamic range is highly compressed and just plain loud, bordering on clipping. But, if you are like me, you will be paying too much attention to the excellent vocal talent of Plant and Krauss to care.

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Good to venture outside the lines

I think this is an album for the adventurous. I think it is good music for when one wants something not easily categorized and a bit on the dark side emotionally. But for others it may be unpleasant and a bit grating ( as it is for me unless I'm in just the right mood ).

A modern classic

I'm not sure what a "modern classic" really is. In fact, I'm not even sure it's an appropriate description for this album, since most of the songs on here were written a few decades ago. Even the production, thanks to T. Bone Burnett, seems (intentionally and beautifully) dated. As for Krauss and Plant's singing...well, let's just say there's something etheral there, something primitive, something that strikes a hidden chord in your soul and plucks your heartstrings.

It took me a while to get around to purchasing this record. I am neither a Robert Plant nor Alison Krauss fan, though I have long respected both artists as musical innovators (Krauss, especially, has been on the periphery of my radar, as I lean more towards the alternative country scene; Zeppelin, of course, is pretty much a mainstay on classic rock radio, which I listen to as much as I can). What first attracted me to this record was "Trampled Rose;" I have been a Tom Waits fan for a while now, and am always intrigued when someone has the guts to cover one of his tunes. Still, I put the album off.

Now that I have finally purchased it and listened to it, I'm glad I caved in. The album is a wonder. Its songs deal with woe and sorrow, and the vocals/production are designed to enhance that feeling of misery. Even the uptempo Everly Brothers remake conceals a dark heart. The sorrow is half the attraction--it's there, but it never fully overwhelms you, which means you can listen to this album in one long sitting (as I did) and not become overly depressed. Part of what keeps even the most sorrowful tunes bouyant is the interplay between Plant and Krauss; the Zeppelin frontman restrains himself, while the bluegrass songstress cuts loose. It's an intricate dance that producer Burnett captures in all its glory. RAISING SANDS is a must-have for music lovers. It's unique in today's musical landscape, and stands as a testament to what great musicians can do with great songs.

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