Raising Sand
from: Rounder
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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
Album Description:
The musical collaboration of the decade, Raising Sand is the sound of two iconic figures stepping out of their respective comfort zones and letting their instincts lead them across a brave new sonic landscape. Despite hailing from distinctly different backgrounds, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant share a maverick spirit and willingness to extend the boundaries of their respective genres. This spirit, expertly honed by producer T Bone Burnett, has resulted in an album pitched three steps beyond some cosmic collision of early urban blues, spacious West Texas country, and the untapped potential of the folk-rock revolution.
Supported by the unparalleled musicianship of Marc Ribot, Dennis Crouch, Mike Seeger, Jay Bellerose, Norman Blake, Greg Leisz, Patrick Warren, and Riley Baugus, Plant and Krauss -- as both solo and harmony vocalists -- tackle an intriguing selection of songs from such tunesmiths as Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Sam Phillips, Townes Van Zandt, The Everly Broth! ers, and Mel Tillis. Raising Sand finds Robert Plant and Alison Krauss exploring popular music's elemental roots while still sounding effortlessly, breath-takingly contemporary.
The song "Killing the Blues" is featured in the new JC Penney American Living Campaign.
Album Description:
UK-only Super jewel-case.
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
Album Description:
The musical collaboration of the decade, Raising Sand is the sound of two iconic figures stepping out of their respective comfort zones and letting their instincts lead them across a brave new sonic landscape. Despite hailing from distinctly different backgrounds, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant share a maverick spirit and willingness to extend the boundaries of their respective genres. This spirit, expertly honed by producer T Bone Burnett, has resulted in an album pitched three steps beyond some cosmic collision of early urban blues, spacious West Texas country, and the untapped potential of the folk-rock revolution.
Supported by the unparalleled musicianship of Marc Ribot, Dennis Crouch, Mike Seeger, Jay Bellerose, Norman Blake, Greg Leisz, Patrick Warren, and Riley Baugus, Plant and Krauss -- as both solo and harmony vocalists -- tackle an intriguing selection of songs from such tunesmiths as Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Sam Phillips, Townes Van Zandt, The Everly Broth! ers, and Mel Tillis. Raising Sand finds Robert Plant and Alison Krauss exploring popular music's elemental roots while still sounding effortlessly, breath-takingly contemporary.
The song "Killing the Blues" is featured in the new JC Penney American Living Campaign.
Album Description:
UK-only Super jewel-case.
Disc 1:
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Raising Sand
Raising Sandis a great collaboration album by the likes of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and was released to great reviews and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and also reached #5 in the UK. Songs that standout on the album are "Rich Woman", "Gone Gone Gone", "Please read the letter" and "Fortune Teller". The booklet is very nice and has all the lyrics included and for each track we get a list of whom and what they played on this track. 4/5.
Rating: 
- Plant and Krauss seduce us with melody and vulnerability.
Love this record.Plant keeps reinventing himself.Krauss' voice with Plant's is lovely combination.Then they throw in some T-Bone Burnett so I just can't resist falling for this record.
Rating: - Give this one a chance
I don't write reviews (I actually don't think I have ever written one), but I love reading them.I just happened to click on the reviews for this album and actually laughed out loud to some of the lower rated reviews.I laughed because if I had written a review for this album a year and a half ago it would have read a lot like those critiques.I bought this album and was super-psyched about it because I am a huge Robert Plant fan.I listened to it a couple of times and, like many others, found ... Read More
Rating: 
- Disappointed after all of the hype
After all I had read and seen regarding the Grammy winning recording featuring Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, I was excited to hear the album for myself (at long last).What a disappointment!My first complaint is that all of the songs sound as if they are wrapped in a velvet curtain: the sound is muffled, dark, slow, and uniform.This is a generally boring compilation of mediocre songs.Two songs change tempo and stand out as a bit brighter and more fun, but that does not make up for the rest ... Read More
Rating: - pure pleasure
I loved this the moment I heard it, and how is this possible?...
it just keeping surprising me, getting even better.
This does not get dull, the moods and sounds
just keep moving around touching every level; feeding body and soul.
It was worth the wait for this masterpiece.
- Raising SandRaising Sandis a great collaboration album by the likes of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and was released to great reviews and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 and also reached #5 in the UK. Songs that standout on the album are "Rich Woman", "Gone Gone Gone", "Please read the letter" and "Fortune Teller". The booklet is very nice and has all the lyrics included and for each track we get a list of whom and what they played on this track. 4/5.
- Plant and Krauss seduce us with melody and vulnerability.Love this record.Plant keeps reinventing himself.Krauss' voice with Plant's is lovely combination.Then they throw in some T-Bone Burnett so I just can't resist falling for this record.
- Give this one a chanceI don't write reviews (I actually don't think I have ever written one), but I love reading them.I just happened to click on the reviews for this album and actually laughed out loud to some of the lower rated reviews.I laughed because if I had written a review for this album a year and a half ago it would have read a lot like those critiques.I bought this album and was super-psyched about it because I am a huge Robert Plant fan.I listened to it a couple of times and, like many others, found ... Read More
- Disappointed after all of the hypeAfter all I had read and seen regarding the Grammy winning recording featuring Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, I was excited to hear the album for myself (at long last).What a disappointment!My first complaint is that all of the songs sound as if they are wrapped in a velvet curtain: the sound is muffled, dark, slow, and uniform.This is a generally boring compilation of mediocre songs.Two songs change tempo and stand out as a bit brighter and more fun, but that does not make up for the rest ... Read More
- pure pleasureI loved this the moment I heard it, and how is this possible?...
it just keeping surprising me, getting even better.
This does not get dull, the moods and sounds
just keep moving around touching every level; feeding body and soul.
It was worth the wait for this masterpiece.
